- During his visit to Mexico, UN Special Rapporteur on Toxic Substances calls on authorities to use scientific evidence to inform and create effective regulatory standards and public policies
- Countries must move forward with concrete measures to ban single-use plastics and address the pollution they generate
Mexico City, March 20, 2026. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on toxic substances and human rights, Marcos A. Orellana, issued a public statement expressing his concern that efforts are being made to consider the injunction filed and won by civil society organizations—which seeks to ban single-use plastics in our country—as fulfilled the requirements under the General Law on the Circular Economy (LGEC).
This statement is particularly significant because a court ruling rendered upon a lawsuit brought by Greenpeace Mexico, El Poder del Consumidor, and Acción Ecológica—along with Fronteras Comunes, No Es Basura, and Asociación Ecológica Santo Tomás—recognized the State’s obligation to adopt effective measures against the impacts of single-use plastics, including the possibility of banning them to guarantee the human rights to a healthy environment and to health.
However, civil society organizations have warned that this ruling could be undermined if the judge considers fulfilling regulatory frameworks such as the LGEC to be sufficient enough for compliance with the ruling. Such frameworks do not establish clear restrictions on single-use products or effective measures to reduce their production and consumption, contrary to what the legislative branch has sought to lead the public to believe.
The rapporteur acknowledged that the LGEC does not ban single-use plastics and therefore cannot be considered sufficient to comply with the constitutional protection, as they are different approaches. He also noted that Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) falls short and must be strengthened, since under that law, EPR is not accompanied by financial contributions from industry for waste management, and this must be increased.
At a press conference, he warned that the circular economy has potential if it is chemically safe; however, civil society emphasizes that this does not apply in Mexico, as the circular economy model promoted by the Federal Government includes pyrolysis, which is not chemically safe—a euphemism that hides the impacts of toxic processes.
These statements come amid growing scientific evidence regarding the impacts, throughout the entire life cycle of plastics and microplastics, on ecosystems, human health, and the exercise of human rights.
Orellana also highlighted that there is an increase in waste imports to Mexico, which may be used for co-processing to generate cheap fuel for industry, but which affects people’s health; thus, cheap fuel ends up being costly for people, and this approach follows the linear economy model and is not sustainable.
The signatory civil society organizations affirm that the Federal Government and the Legislative Branch must address this statement by creating and implementing public policies and regulations, including reforms to the General Law for the Prevention and Comprehensive Management of Waste (LGPGIR), aimed at the phased elimination of single-use plastics and the prevention of exposure to toxic chemicals.
Likewise, it is essential to reject false solutions that exacerbate the environmental and health crisis, such as incineration, pyrolysis, co-processing, and waste-to-energy.
Various studies have shown that these materials, designed for short-term use but with long-lasting environmental persistence, break down into microplastics that contaminate water, soil, and food, causing constant exposure for people and wildlife.
In addition to physical pollution, plastics contain a wide range of hazardous, and potentially hazardous chemicals. Research has documented the presence of compounds such as phthalates, bisphenols, and heavy metals—including lead—in packaging and containers intended for food contact. Added to this are compounds from the group of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as “forever chemicals,” such as perfluoroalkyl sulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid, which are known for their high environmental persistence and biocumulative effects on human health.
Collectively, it is estimated that more than 4,200 potentially hazardous chemicals are present or used in the production of plastics, most of which are not subject to specific regulations regarding packaging intended for food contact.
This issue takes on greater significance when considering that these compounds have already been detected in the human body. At least 1,396 chemicals related to food contact materials have been identified in the body, and available evidence links exposure to them with neurodevelopmental disorders, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. Taken together, this evidence supports the view that plastic pollution should also be considered a health problem due to the exposure to toxic substances.
Furthermore, the country faces an unaddressed environmental and health emergency stemming from the saturation and irregularity of landfills and waste disposal sites, which is already causing harm to the population’s health.
There are currently 2,338 recognized landfills or final disposal sites in the country. However, there is no precise data on the amount of waste they receive, as only 7.2% have scales and only 14.4% have access control. Nor is there any guarantee of environmental protection, as only 13.7% have geomembranes to isolate waste from the soil; 18% capture leachate; and 14.4% treat these liquids in some way.
Given this situation, the Special Rapporteur’s statement reinforces the need for public policies in Mexico to align with the highest international standards regarding human rights and toxic substances. It also represents a call to strengthen the legislative debate to move toward production and consumption models that prioritize the protection of public health, the reduction of plastic pollution, and the prevention of exposure to hazardous substances.
Signatory organizations:
Greenpeace Mexico A.C.
El Poder del Consumidor
Acción Ecológica
Fronteras Comunes
No Es Basura
Asociación Ecológica Santo Tomás
#BreakFreeFromPlastic (BFFP) is a global movement envisioning a future free from plastic pollution. Since its launch in 2016, more than 3500 member organizations and 11,000 individual supporters in 186 countries have joined the movement to demand massive reductions in single-use plastics and push for lasting solutions to the plastic pollution crisis. BFFP member organizations and individuals share the values of environmental protection and social justice and work together through a holistic approach to bring about systemic change. This means tackling plastic pollution across the whole plastics value chain—from extraction to disposal—focusing on prevention rather than cure and providing effective solutions.
