This year’s Green Baby Day on 12 June will see the Women’s Environmental Network (Wen) call for a sustainable and toxic-free future for babies and children.

Green Baby Day, supported by Weleda, aims to empower parents and carers to make healthy, eco-friendly and affordable choices to minimize exposure to toxic chemicals and highlights the need to ensure effective chemicals regulation to protect current and future generations, especially post Brexit.

This is the second year of the Green Baby campaign, and the focus for Green Baby Day 2024 is toxic chemicals which Wen stresses must be put on the public health agenda. The network cites a review of UK Chemicals regulations three years after Brexit revealing that the UK is virtually at a standstill when it comes to banning and regulating toxic chemicals, and in some areas has taken backward steps.

Wen’s Green Baby online survey found that 90% of parents are concerned or very concerned that toxic chemicals in baby products can harm health; 89% want harmful chemicals in baby products to be banned, with 11% assuming they already had been banned; and 77% think the UK Government isn’t doing enough to protect the population from harmful chemicals; and 95% think the UK has a right to a toxic-free future.

“We are sleepwalking into the next health emergency, with the Government and business ignoring the clear link between exposure to toxic chemicals and adverse health impacts for babies and children,” says Wen’s expert health advisor, Helen Lynn. “The developing foetus is particularly sensitive to even minute levels of certain chemicals that can cause cancers, birth defects and reduce fertility. The UK now lags behind in regulation of toxic chemicals and so it is key that we lobby our governments and policymakers to make the right decisions to keep us safe.”

Adds Jayn Sterland, MD of Weleda UK: “Of particular concern to Weleda, as a pregnancy and baby skin care manufacturer, are the endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) found in personal care products, which have the potential not only to negatively impact our own hormones (for example thyroid health) but that of future generations. For example the EDC triclosan can still be found in some antibacterial washes and oral care products – exposure during pregnancy is of particular concern as it has been shown to cross the placenta.”

The awareness day will feature a discussion panel asking ‘Why aren’t toxic chemicals on the public health agenda?’. Chaired by Lynn, the talk takes place at 6pm on 12 June at Amnesty International in London with speakers including: obstetrician and scientific advisor to Global Black Maternal Health and Tommy’s charity, Dr Karen Joash; Green Party peer Baroness Natalie Bennett; Seyi Falodun-Liburd from We Level Up; and Susanne Astic, policy and advocacy advisor on children’s rights and chemicals, CRIN.

The event will include a Q&A session, stalls, food and refreshments. Tickets are available at wen.org.uk/events.