The problem with plastics isn’t just the pollution of our environment – the toxic chemicals used in plastics and the production of plastics are just as concerning.

Yesterday the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) released a new report, ‘Turning the Plastic Tide’, which unwraps the story behind the chemicals in plastics that put our health at risk.

All plastics are made from complex mixtures of chemicals. Many of them, such as bisphenols, phthalates, flame retardants and fluorinated substances, can have serious impacts on our health. Some of these chemicals can interfere with the body’s sensitive hormone system. Others have been linked to a range of health concerns including certain cancers, thyroid disease and obesity.