A series of reports published by the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) in March 2026 outlines concerns about phthalate and bisphenol exposure to the people and environments of countries around the world. Each report was written by IPEN members from the relevant country describing the local context, regulations, and data available to them. The series includes country-based reports and summaries from Argentina, Bangladesh, Benin, Brazil, Cameroon, Congo, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Philippines, Serbia, Tajikistan, Tanzania, and Tunisia, as well as earlier global reporting on phthalates.
Phthalates are mainly used to soften plastics and occur in products including toys, food packaging, medical devices, flooring, and construction materials. Bisphenols are used in polycarbonate plastics, epoxy resin linings, and thermal paper. The series focuses on these chemicals because in addition to being widely used they have evidence linking them to endocrine-disrupting effects and potential harms to fertility, reproductive health, and other health outcomes.
The Philippines as an example
The reports generally find that current regulations address only limited uses. In the Philippines for example, six phthalates are restricted in toys and some childcare articles, while bisphenol A (BPA, CAS 80-05-7) is banned only in baby bottles and sippy cups. The authors of the report argue that this leaves many consumer products and newer bisphenol substitutes, such as bisphenol S (BPS, 80-09-1) and bisphenol F (BPF, CAS 620-92-8), insufficiently controlled.
To move forward, the report recommends that the Philippine government:
- Develop a comprehensive, rights-based chemical safety framework.
- Expand phthalate restrictions to include all children’s products and other high-exposure consumer goods.
- Broaden bisphenol controls, including food-contact materials, thermal paper, and replacement chemicals such as BPS and BPF.
- Strengthen monitoring, testing, enforcement, and public disclosure.
- Prioritize protection for children, pregnant people, low-income communities, and other groups likely to face higher exposure burdens.
- Support legally binding global controls on toxic plastic chemicals.
- Promote upstream interventions, phase out hazardous chemicals, and support circular economy approaches that are toxic-free by design.
References
IPEN (March 10, 2026). “Toxic plastic chemicals: Phthalates and bisphenols.”
Geminn Louis C. Apostol, et al. (March 2026). “Country situation report: Phthalates and Bisphenols in the Philippines.” International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN)
