Outputs

The proposed exemption of medical plastics from the Global Plastics Treaty risks undermining health and environmental protections, ignoring harmful impacts, and prioritizing commercial interests over sustainable, safe, and equitable health care.

Diagnostic waste from single-use tests poses serious environmental and health risks in low-resource settings. Responsibility must shift from under-resourced governments to manufacturers, integrating waste management into diagnostic design and global health policy.

Modern health care’s reliance on disposable equipment contributes significantly to climate change. This wasteful practice, driven by fear and efficiency – not necessity – undermines sustainability and demands a return to reusable alternatives.

The shift from reusable to disposable medical masks since the 1960s reflects a broader “throwaway culture,” prioritizing convenience and cost over sustainability, leaving modern health systems vulnerable during pandemics.