News & Press
Biggest global brands use more virgin petrochemical plastic, missing their own targets
Today, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation released its fourth annual Global Commitment 2022 report, demonstrating that companies comprising 20% of the world’s producers of plastic packaging will miss their own 2025 targets for a circular economy. The report shows an overall increase in virgin plastic use by signatories in 2021 and a decrease in reusable plastic… Read more »
Maine-Based Coalition Calls for Action from the DEP on PFAS
A broad coalition of Maine farms, environmental nonprofits, wastewater treatment districts, tribal representatives, and religious leaders sent a letter calling on the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to reject the request put forward by an industry group dominated by out-of-state manufacturers asking for a blanket delay in reporting requirements under LD1503, An Act to Stop Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Pollution.… Read more »
Giant Petrochemical Plastic Consumer, Coca-Cola, Sponsors COP27
Ahead of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP27), the Egyptian government announced its sponsorship by the Coca-Cola company. Egypt is hosting the annual conference in Sharm-El Sheikh, from November 6-18, 2022. In response, Defend Our Health’s Senior Market Campaigner, Maya Rommwatt, said: “There’s absolutely no reason why COP27 should be sponsored by Coca-Cola,… Read more »
Defend Our Health Announces 2022 Environmental Health Leadership Awards
Awards presented to grassroots leaders, impacted farmers, Maine legislators, and environmental justice leaders Portland, Maine – On Sunday, Defend Our Health hosted community members and environmental health and justice leaders from across Maine at Broadturn Farm in Scarborough to present their annual environmental health leadership awards. This year’s award winners were selected for being outstanding members of… Read more »
EPA Puts Manufacturers of Toxic “Forever Chemicals” on Notice by Proposing PFOA and PFOS as Hazardous Substances
Defend Our Health celebrates new regulation and calls on EPA to extend its reach on PFAS The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made history today by proposing classifying PFOA and PFOS as Hazardous Substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), popularly known as the Superfund Law. This would be the first time in the… Read more »
Coca-Cola to take the “green” out of plastic bottles, but not the toxic chemicals
Coca-Cola & Pepsi ignore the health impacts and environmental injustice of its plastic bottles, while scrambling to recycle more of the 70 billion that are wasted every year in the U.S. The Coca-Cola Company recently announced plans to change its Sprite brand from green plastic bottles to clear plastic so that more can be recycled… Read more »
Expert review of PFAS health impacts directs Maine to offer free health monitoring to PFAS impacted communities
Statement from Adam Nordell, PFAS impacted farmer and Campaign Manager, Defend Our Health, in response to newly released review of medical literature on the toxic effects of PFAS “forever chemicals” and its implications for the State of Maine’s obligations to impacted Maine residents: “The health impacts described in this report are terrifying. This should give us all… Read more »
Plastic Bottles Threaten Children’s Health; Not Just a Waste Problem
Cancer-Causing Chemical Found in Every Plastic-Bottled Beverage Tested Beverage industry can’t recycle its way out of harmful plastic and environmental injustice Laboratory testing of popular beverages, including Pepsi and Coca-Cola brands, found unsafe levels of a highly toxic chemical used to make the plastic bottles for carbonated soft drinks, juices, energy drinks, and bottled water. The chemical leaches out of the… Read more »
Local Farmer Impacted by PFAS Pollution Joins Maine Environmental Health Nonprofit
Adam Nordell, impacted Maine resident and owner of Songbird Farm joins Defend Our Health as Campaign Manager Portland, Maine – This week, Defend Our Health is thrilled to welcome Adam Nordell to the team in the newly-created position of Campaign Manager – Maine Farmland Contamination. He will be responsible for helping to advance environmental health and secure justice for farmers… Read more »
Statement from Defend Our Health’s Deputy Director, Patrick MacRoy, on the US FDA’s May 19, 2022 decision to reject petitions to ban phthalates:
“The US FDA’s continued allowance of phthalates in food packaging flies in the face of good science and provides further demonstration that the agency is simply unwilling to fulfill its duty to protect our food from unsafe contaminants. It defies all reasonableness that chemicals banned over a decade ago from toys because of the harm… Read more »