Women and Chemicals

Addressing gender in chemicals management is not just about presence—it’s about influence

Toxicity throughout the life cycle of plastics affects our health, leading to infertility and irreversible disorders, particularly in women.

Women leaders educate families and local communities about toxic chemical health threats, care for children suffering from exposure, and generate data that justify the urgency of addressing the health effects of toxic chemicals.

HEJSupport is happy to announce our Session on Women and Chemicals, wich is jointly organized with WECF, AWHHE and ToxicsLink.

The report by the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and toxics highlights the human rights implications of toxic additives in plastics and the life cycle stages of plastic, including the rights of women, children, workers, and indigenous peoples.

The second edition of HEJ!Youth’s international magazine focuses on a variety of issues related to chemicals exposure on women.

HEJSupport new on-line information resource on sustainability related topics in the textile and fashion industry provides a platform for progressive voices willing to share their vision and ideas on different aspects of sustainability in the textile and garment industry.

In May 2021, HEJSupport was an invited scholar to speak at the Caribbean Poison Prevention Week webinar on “Gender and Chemicals”.

With this course we hope to expand the discussion about the future of SAICM beyond 2020 and involve many people and organizations from around the world into the conversation.

Did you know? Talc-based baby powder is linked to ovarian cancer. J&J knows, yet it refuses to stop pushing this dangerous product to Black and Brown women around the world.

The fact sheet provides a quick overview of examples of texts in international agreements and national legislation that emphasize a gender perspective.

On June 17, 2020 HEJSupport held a webinar on the topic of women and mercury. HEJSupport brought together internationally recognized experts to share new approaches to minimize mercury exposure and highlight the needs and voices of women.

This webinar brings together international experts to discuss ways to minimize the impact of mercury on women.

Find a list of legal texts and information sources from international organisations.

We are happy to announce our new webinar series on women and chemicals. Learn more about the topic and contribute to the global discussion.

Despite thousands of studies that highlight its health effects, the global BPA market continues to increase at about 3 percent per year and is projected to top seven million tons by the end of 2023.

HEJSupport together with Women`s Voices for the Earth and Women Environmental Network hosted a webinar on plastic- and toxic-free menstruation products. You can find the presentations here.

HEJSupport announces a new project on toxic chemicals, health, and plastic pollution. The project entitled “Plastic and Toxic Free Period” is supported by Funding for Social Change Ltd and is part of a broad initiative on plastic and toxic free disposable and reusable menstrual products.

We are happy to announce the launch of a new website, www.ptfperiod.info Our new website is designed to inform people who menstruate about plastic and toxic chemicals in hygienic products, their health and environmental effects, and the availability of more sustainable, plastic and toxic free options on the market. The site involves global perspectives and provides a platform for NGOs and individuals to share their stories, activities and good practice examples.

It is assumed that personal care products are designed not only to simplify the life of a modern woman, but also to protect them against external pollution, hinder the development of bacteria, and generally stand guard over women’s health. However, in practice this is far from the case.

The growing levels of plastic litter impacts the life of local communities by putting the biodiversity, ecosystems, fisheries, tourism and people’s health at risk, with women and children affected the most.

Gender equality is a basic human rights and development issue as underlined in a number of international and regional human rights instruments. The course will help you better understand the global international frameworks related to gender and environment, including the link between gender, biodiversity, climate change, land degradation, international waters, and chemicals and waste.

HEJSupport is happy to announce a new project on toxic chemicals, health, and plastic pollution. The project entitled “Plastic and Toxic Free Period” is supported by Funding for Social Change Ltd and is part of a broad initiative on plastic and toxic free disposable and reusable menstrual products involving Women’s Voices for the Earth (WVE), Women’s Environmental Network (WEN), Environmenstrual Coalition and many others.

HEJSupport published a new fact sheet based on the findings of a small survey among women in Canada. We asked them about their purchase patters when buying feminine hygiene products.

HEjSupport is proud that its co-directors are among the women to be featured in the IPEN film honoring women working for a toxic free future.

This International Women’s Day HEJSupport calls on people around the world to show support and commitment to the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG5) to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

HEJSupport Co-Director Olga Speranskaya co-authored an article, in her capacity

It is important to change corporate behavior, including highlighting better alternatives for personal hygienic products. The multi-billion-dollar industry that manufactures feminine and other hygienic products, profits from the dominance of disposable products. In many countries, both in developing and developed ones, the feminine hygiene industry has successfully convinced women that their period is something which should be kept hidden and related hygienic products should be quickly disposed of.

The challenge: Most of female sanitary products contain up to 90% plastic and toxic chemicals. The average woman will use 12,000 to 16,000 disposable feminine hygiene products in her lifetime and it can take up to 100 years or more for something like a plastic pad or applicator to break down. HEJSupport is working together with other NGOs for toxic- and plastic-free periods.

HEJSupport is happy to announce a new issue of Women