PURPOSE:
Led by HCWH Europe, a community of maternity and paediatric healthcare providers have united across Europe to deliver Born Green Generation, a commitment to mitigating exposure of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) during pregnancy and infancy through plastic reducing initiatives. Midwifery led projects include transitioning from plastic to glass feeding bottles, introducing reusable cloth nappies and wipes and ensuring full efficacy of medical devices.

DISCUSSION:
The climate emergency is the greatest global health emergency (The Lancet, 2024a) and a frequent concern regarding climate change is the prevalence of fossil-origin derived plastics. The healthcare sector is responsible for 4.4% of global emissions (HCWH, 2019), and is one of the largest consumers of single use plastics (SUPs). As well as the emissions from the life cycle of plastics, the materials contain high levels of EDCs, adding additional health risks at the point of use.

EVIDENCE WHERE RELEVANT:
A growing body of evidence has discovered micro and nano-plastics in placental tissue, umbilical cords, amniotic fluid, meconium and breastmilk (Halfar et al, 2023; Lie et al, 2023; Xue et al, 2024) meaning plastics are now ubiquitous and exposure to EDCs is commonly occurring during the first 1,000 days, where a child’s environment impacts their formative development (WHO, 2016; UNICEF 2017; The Lancet, 2024b). Micro and nano plastics obstruct nutritional transfer at the placental barrier, leading to complications such as placental insufficiency, prematurity and IUGR. For the most vulnerable, additional care needs often means additional, prolonged EDC exposure from indwelling devices correlating to impaired respiratory and neurodevelopment (Panneel et al, 2022).

KEY MESSAGE:
Clinicians require greater awareness of the health and toxicity risks from plastics. Unnecessary EDC exposure is occurring in clinical settings despite availability of safer, plastic-free alternatives. Plastic reducing initiatives have demonstrated financial, health and environmental benefits. With global interest, Born Green Generation initiatives have impact potential the world over. Marginalized - refugees 2