American Chemistry Council Responds to “The Plastic Detox” Documentary

WASHINGTON (March 16, 2026) - Today, Netflix released "The Plastic Detox" documentary. The following may be attributed to the American Chemistry Council:

"Every day, plastics and the chemistries used to make them help us to live safer, healthier lives in countless ways. From protecting our food and delivering clean drinking water, to the seatbelts, airbags, pads, helmets, and medical devices doctors rely on - plastics are vital.

"Precisely because these products are so important to our health and safety, they are highly regulated by more than a dozen federal laws that govern their safe manufacture and use. Today, any chemistry introduced or imported into the U.S. must undergo rigorous review and approval processes by agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

"Moreover, chemicals and plastics used in healthcare, food packaging and children's products are subject to additional layers of safety testing and oversight before they enter the market. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires manufacturers of food-contact plastics to provide extensive data on chemical migration and exposure that reflect the most severe temperature and time conditions of their intended use, such as microwaving, boiling, freezing and refilling. Children's toys and childcare articles are subject to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) requirements that include third-party testing, certification, tracking labels, and chemical limits.

"By largely omitting that context, the documentary leaves viewers without important information needed to evaluate its sweeping claims about the health impacts of plastics and chemicals. While the filmmakers acknowledge that the documentary was not a scientific study, discussions about chemicals should be informed by science. For instance, the high molecular weight phthalates DINP and DIDP were recently evaluated by the Biden administration's EPA, which determined that they 'do not pose unreasonable risk of injury to human health for consumers, the general population or to the environment.' Furthermore, BPA is among the most heavily researched and regulated chemistries used in industry today, with FDA's most recent evaluation of BPA finding that it is safe at the current levels occurring in foods.

"As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes, 'the presence of a chemical doesn't imply health risks.' Fertility is shaped by many well-established factors, including age, lifestyle, underlying medical conditions, and access to care. While personal stories can seem powerful, anecdotes from a small number of couples are not the same as rigorous scientific evidence.

"Additionally, viewers should know that "The Plastic Detox" was financed in association with Minderoo Pictures, part of the Minderoo Foundation, which is backed by a billionaire who made his fortune and maintains a controlling interest in Fortescue Metals Group, a metals mining company. Put simply, Minderoo campaigns against plastics, while its backers stand to financially benefit if that opposition drives greater use of metals."

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