This spring, over 130 people of faith asked the Department of Ecology to speed up the phase out of PFAS in food packaging. They heard us and changed their timeline, thanks to you! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This action was a follow up to the Healthy Food Packaging Act that Earth Ministry\/WAIPL helped pass in 2018. This bill banned food packaging containing toxic PFAS chemicals, which are linked to a slew of human health issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Department of Ecology is now implementing that law by conducting a series of \u201calternatives assessments\u201d before retailers are required to stop using food packaging with PFAS. Unfortunately, this process is slow going and Ecology just finished their first PFAS food packaging alternatives assessment. The result will ban PFAS in wraps and liners, plates, food bowls, and pizza boxes in 2023 \u2013 but there are six other product categories that will not yet be regulated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ecology accepted comments on the scope of their second PFAS alternatives assessment through June 30, 2021. People of faith commented that getting these toxic chemicals out of our food packaging is important to faith communities and in alignment with our value of environmental justice. Not only does PFAS in food packaging pose health risks for consumers, it is also a serious environmental justice concern for the communities in which these chemicals are manufactured. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In July 2021 the Department of Ecology announced that they are speeding up the timeline for the second alternatives assessment of PFAS in food packaging. They stated that stakeholder input led them to rethink their timeline and approach \u2013 this is a direct result of the Earth Ministry\/WAIPL community speaking out! The second alternatives assessment will now be published by the end of 2021 instead of by mid-2022. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Time is of the essence with the issue of PFAS chemicals. A recent study by our partners at Toxic Free Future showed PFAS in the breast milk of all women tested. Safe and suitable alternatives for PFAS in food packaging are available and in use. It is beyond time to strengthen our regulation of these toxic chemicals, and you helped make that happen. Thank you for joining Earth Ministry\/WAIPL in this faithful advocacy for safer food packaging across Washington!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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