This legislative session, we will be continuing our work to protect Vermonters from the health impacts of toxic chemicals and plastic pollution by building on recent bans of PFAS “forever chemicals” that pose a range of threats to human health and our environment. We will be building on work done by our Agency of Natural Resources to expand the state’s existing bans on PFAS in certain product categories, and will be supporting banning PFAS from dental floss, cleaning products, upholstered furniture, and fluorinated containers. We are encouraged to see a positive trend of more states taking action to address the health impacts of PFAS and plastic pollution. A recent report showed Vermont as a leader in this arena, and we plan to ensure that our state can continue to set a positive example by taking action to defend public health. 

Further, we plan to deepen our work on pesticide regulations, and are currently conducting research into additional steps the state can take to build on the recent phase-out of neonicotinoid pesticides. We are also working to focus more on solutions that will help reduce the amount and toxicity of plastic pollution in Vermont. Finally, we are looking to ban so-called “chemical recycling,” a polluting practice that is growing across the country.

Specifically, our 2025 toxic chemical reform priorities include:

• Adopt a policy to ban toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” from dental floss, cleaning products, fluorinated containers, and upholstered furniture.
• Work to reduce the amount and toxicity of plastic pollution and banning so-called “chemical recycling.”

Read more about our work to address the impacts of plastic & toxic chemical pollution here.