Calling for a toxic free future for our children – Green Baby Day 12 June 2024
Wen, the Women’s Environmental Network, is calling for a sustainable and toxic free future for babies and children on Green Baby Day, 12 June 2024.
The Green Baby survey from Wen shows parents are concerned about toxic chemicals in baby products with 9 out of 10 (90%) concerned or very concerned they can harm health. Respondents thought harmful chemicals in baby products should be banned (89%) or assumed they had been already (11%), with over three quarters (77%) thinking the UK government is not doing enough to protect us from harmful chemicals.
The vast majority (95%) of the respondents to the online survey thought we have a right to a toxic free future and exposure to toxic chemicals, air pollution and the impacts of climate change are top concerns in relation to babies and children’s health.
This is the second year of Wen’s Green Baby campaign, and the focus for Green Baby Day 2024 is toxic chemicals, especially those present in baby products. The campaign is calling for toxic chemicals to be on the public health agenda, while also ensuring governments and companies safeguard our health and that of future generations.
Green Baby Day, supported by Weleda, empowers parents and carers to make healthy, eco-friendly and affordable choices to minimise exposure to toxic chemicals, and focuses attention on the need to ensure effective chemicals regulation to protect current and future generations, especially post Brexit.
A review of UK Chemicals regulations three years post Brexit reveals the UK is virtually at a standstill when it comes to banning and regulating toxic chemicals. In some areas the UK has gone backwards. Meaning EU citizens are better protected than in Britain. Wen and Weleda believe we deserve better.
Wen’s Expert Health Advisor Helen Lynn commented:
“We are sleepwalking into the next health emergency, with the government and business ignoring the clear link between exposure to toxic chemicals and adverse health impacts for babies and children. The developing foetus is particularly sensitive to even minute levels of certain chemicals that can cause cancers, birth defects and reduce fertility. The UK now lags behind in regulation of toxic chemicals and so it is key that we lobby our governments and policy makers to make the right decisions to keep us safe.”
There are tens of thousands of chemicals in regular commercial use, many with little health and safety information, with the potential to harm health, fertility, the health of children and future generations. Children are particularly vulnerable, but to the developing foetus even small exposures can have serious and lifelong health consequences especially at specific times during pregnancy.
Jayn Sterland, Managing Director of Weleda UK, added:
“Of particular concern to Weleda, as a pregnancy and baby skin care manufacturer, are the Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) found in personal care products, which have the potential not only to negatively impact our own hormones (for example thyroid health) but that of future generations. For example the EDC triclosan can still be found in some antibacterial washes and oral care products – exposure during pregnancy is of particular concern as it has been shown to cross the placenta.”
The awareness day will be marked by a discussion panel asking ‘Why aren’t toxic chemicals on the public health agenda?’, taking place online with high-profile speakers including obstetrician and Scientific Advisor to Global Maternal health and Tommy’s Charity, Dr Karen Joash, Green Party peer Baroness Natalie Bennett, Seyi Falodun-Liburd from We Level Up, Susanne Astic, Policy and Advocacy Advisor on Children’s Rights and Chemicals, CRIN. The panel will be chaired by Wen’s Expert Health Advisor Helen Lynn. Tickets are free and are available at wen.org.uk/events
NOTES TO EDITORS
Why Green Baby?
Exposure to toxic chemicals and pesticides is a feature of everyday lives in our homes, workplaces and in the wider environment. There are tens of thousands of chemicals in regular commercial use, many with little health and safety information, with the potential to harm our health, our fertility, the health of our children and future generations. Children are particularly vulnerable, but to the developing foetus even small exposures can have serious lifelong health consequences especially at specific times of the pregnancy.
Prebirth or early life exposure to certain chemicals has been linked to a range of diseases including cancer, birth defects, fertility, developmental, neurological, and immune disorders. Harmful chemicals can adversely impact our respiratory, reproductive, cardiovascular and urinary systems, and disrupt our endocrine system (our body’s network of hormone producing organs and glands, controlling all our vital functions – from growth and development, to metabolism and reproduction).
These chemicals and even microplastics from consumer products have a nasty habit of ending up where they shouldn’t. Recent examples include microplastic in baby poo and 109 toxic chemicals such as flame retardants, cosmetics ingredients, and plasticisers found in maternal and umbilical cord blood, including 55 that had never been found in people before.
Hormone-disrupting chemicals such as Bisphenols have been found in 60% of 121 children’s products tested including baby blankets, baby bottles or sipping cups, and teething toys. And ‘forever chemicals’ such as PFAS can affect foetal and maternal health.
It has also become increasingly difficult to conceive initially with sperm counts more than halved in the last 40 years – a decline of 60% since 1973. Women have experienced a significant increase in impaired fecundity [the ability to have children]; unfortunately, this is not restricted to older women, as the largest increase is among younger women. This has been linked to many of the harmful chemicals.
A review of UK Chemicals regulations 3 years post Brexit reveals the UK is virtually at a standstill when it comes to banning and regulating toxic chemicals. In some areas the UK has gone backwards. Meaning EU citizens are better protected than we are in Britain. Wen and Weleda believe we deserve better.
For further information about Green Baby Day please contact Wen’s press officer
Kate Beard on 07950 585284 or katebeardcomms@gmail.com
For more details about the Weleda Baby range please visit www.weleda.co.uk
or contact weleda@brandstandcomms.com
To find out more about Green Baby Day including fact sheets, go to https://www.wen.org.uk/greenbabyday
#GreenBabyDay @wen_uk @weledababyuk
Download the full press release