Maintain & Repair Your Summer Time Ice Makers. Although many companies are making the switch from plastic to paper products such as cardboard, it is important to recognise that cardboard also has its own environmental issues. Tip: To find products that are PFAS free and PFAS-Free Food, check out these resources: Purchasing Safer Compostable Food Service Ware and Avoiding Hidden Hazards: A Purchasers Guide to Safer Foodware. If dining out and planning on taking leftovers home, consider bringing your own container. Use Less Plastic While Dining Out or Getting Food to Go: Minimize waste by using less and saying no to single-use plastic items. It is a good alternative to bubble wrap as it is eco-friendly, recyclable, and re-usable. A recent report indicates that plastic contributes to greenhouse gas emissions at every stage of its lifecycle, from production to refining to the ways it is managed as a waste product.16, Extraction of the fossil fuels that are the building blocks of plastic is an environmentally depleting process, whether for petroleum-based plastics or those derived from natural gas. Producing plastic is cheap and hence can be done in bulk quantities. Can be used to build furniture, and safety coating on wires ,bottles and pipes. Its organized by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the Prince of Waless International Sustainability Unit, and funded by Wendy Schmidt, and innovative ideas are already emerging.76. Whether you need help solving quadratic equations, inspiration for the upcoming science fair or the latest update on a major storm, Sciencing is here to help. 2022. Consumers Can Make a Difference: Action Toolkit. There is a need for alternatives to petroleum-based plastic, for improved end-of-life functions (including degradable plastics, better recycling technologies and reusable packaging) and safer linings and coatings. Explore reusable options, where possible. A 2017 report by the Center for Environmental Health found that roughly 40 percent of canned food they tested from major super markets still contained BPA, although that was down from 67 percent in 2015.36. In the US, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maintains oversight over indirect food additives (chemicals) that may come into contact with food through packaging, but they have taken a generally permissive stance. To solve this, multi-material or multi-layered packaging is often used, like a paper takeout container lined with plastic. What if plastics could be used over and over? The Earth Day Network has created a calculator for estimating your plastic consumption and for making a plan to reduce it. Even with BPA-free plastic items (e.g. With that sip, you take in an undue amount of plastic, according to recent research. Several cities, from New York and Seattle to Freeport, Maine, and Encinitas, California, have similar legislation in place. 2022 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Ironically, though many of us are spending more time and money to eat the healthiest and most sustainably produced foods that we can find and afford, we frequently overlook the packaging in which this food is found. No matter what the compounds are, none have yet been proven safe for human consumption, and consume them is what we end up doing when we use plastic containers. It may be that none of the plastics are totally safe, but you can make good choices by using containers with one of the safe plastic RIC numbers. Avoid putting produce in the plastic bags provided by the grocery. PFAS are also found in a range of other products having nothing to do with food (including firefighting foam and apparel), but its worth noting that they make their way into our food through their other uses, by lingering in our soil and water.46, PFAS, sometimes called forever chemicals, have been linked to a range of negative health outcomes, including delayed learning, growth and behavior issues in children; reduced female fertility; endocrine system disruption; increased cholesterol levels; immune system disruption; and increased risk of cancer.47 Since PFAS do not biodegrade, they stay in the environment and the human body, gradually accumulating over time.48, Some US government agencies have identified PFAS as an important public health concern. 495051 Nineteen states have legislation and/or policies that regulate PFAS52 and the EPA has issued a national PFAS Action plan.53 In a rare (for these times) bipartisan effort, a group of US Senators recently introduced legislation that would require the EPA to declare PFAS to be hazardous substances eligible for funding from the EPA Superfund.54 The FDA is concerned enough about PFAS in our food that they are evaluating how it gets into our food through environmental contamination and through food packaging.55 In 2019, due to concerns about levels of PFAS in our drinking water, Congress introduced at least 20 bills that address PFAS limits or regulation in some way.56. It can be moulded into a transparent, translucent and opaque material. They clog waterways and float on reservoirs, polluting and making them unsightly. It is also said eating from plastic boxes can cause cancer. Its used in milk, juice, and water jugs, and in food-grade buckets used for long-term food storage. In fact, we could be ingesting more than 200 particles a week, just from our plastic food storage units. Shop at a Zero Waste Grocery Store: Some communities now have zero waste grocery stores. Please note, comments must be approved before they are published. Children weigh less than adults; this means that they eat, drink, and breathe more per body weight. Better packaging materials and better design could mean less waste and fewer harmful chemicals and these are goals that can be achieved side by side. All in all, there is no one size fits all and one needs to look at each companys needs individually to decide what the best way forward is. Once they take the shape of a particular object, it must be used as it is. Maryland became the first state to prohibit restaurants, cafes, food trucks and supermarkets from packaging foods in foam containers. A variety of toxic chemicals are released while producing plastic. Our goal is to make science relevant and fun for everyone. Safer Made is a venture capital fund that invests in safer products and technologies and works with brand manufacturers and retailers that lead in safety and sustainability. Is plastic harmful to humans? This means only some of the plastic you use and discard can be placed into household/curbside recycling bins. 4. As of 2020, no BPI-certified compostable paper products can contain PFAS linings, which means BPI-certified products are compostable and free of a dangerous additive that never biodegrades (although there is now evidence that BPI-certified molded fiber bowls may contain PFAS). The manufacturing process that is required to turn that ethane into plastic is energy-intensive and pollutes the air, soil and water of nearby communities communities already suffering from the environmental and public health impacts of natural gas fracking.1718. Most plastic items have a code, but not all do. It contaminates water bodies and releases toxic substances into the air, water and soil. And thats not all. Known as plasticizers, phthalates increase the flexibility of plastics to make them less brittle; if a plastic product is bendable, it is most likely made with phthalates.40 In food packaging, phthalates are commonly used in plastic food containers and some plastic wraps, like cellophane.41, Exposure to phthalates in humans occurs through leaching from food packaging and plastic wrap, especially when the packaging is exposed to heat such as in the microwave (and to a lesser degree through dust particles contaminated by phthalates).42 High fat foods such as meat and dairy are particularly susceptible to phthalate contamination when exposed to heat.43. Glass containers also wont break in colder temperatures or leach chemicals into the food, even when frozen for longer periods. Molded fiber packaging meaning paper or cardboard is very common in single-use food service items, such as cups, plates, bowls and trays. PP plastic stands up well to heat, acids, and grease. View this VOX/UC Climate Lab video for more good strategies. Other #7 plastics, such as the polylactic acid (PLA) ones, are considered safe to use. If you are purchasing an item that is packaged in plastic, check the bottom of the product youre considering purchasing. Some manufacturers prefer the lighter PP plastic over HDPE for dairy and deli packaging because it costs less to produce and transport. These are as follows: Plastics may provide a number of easy advantages for businesses as mentioned above, but this does not mean the cons should be disregarded. You may notice plastics in the grocery store (like bottles, for instance) being marketed as BPA-free. . For safety reasons damaged plastic containers should be thrown out. The site also provides information about where to buy in bulk. Shouldnt our food packaging be just as good for our health and the planet as the actual food? Contactour packaging experts today for more information on cardboard and plastic, and which would be the best solution for you and your business. Weve come to expect that a lot of our food will be packaged and served to us in a single-use fashion, and its gotten to the point where its hard to imagine another way to sell, transport or eat food. Plastic is in our rivers and oceans not just in the visible trash we throw out that ends up there, but in the micro-world, with filaments leached into our food and water sources. If consumers are able to afford alternatives, we feel confident that people can transition to reusable materials. Ask your coffee shop if they would be willing to switch to another type of lid thats better for human health and the environment. Your best bet is generally to look for glass alternatives or TetraPaks (multilayered cardboard packaging), where available. Its also not recyclable in many programs. Some plastics may not be able to take heavy loads and may deform or break due to the load. https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/3/7/e1700782, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jun/28/a-million-a-minute-worlds-plastic-bottle-binge-as-dangerous-as-climate-change, https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2019/03/china-has-stopped-accepting-our-trash/584131/, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749118317901?d, https://www.npr.org/2019/03/18/704471596/stomach-of-dead-whale-contained-nothing-but-plastic, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/apr/15/winds-can-carry-microplastics-anywhere-and-everywhere, https://thefern.org/2019/09/todays-special-grilled-salmon-laced-with-plastic/, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-22939-w, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.368, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6128618/, https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Plastic-and-Climate-FINAL-2019.pdf, 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https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/1171946, https://academic.oup.com/endo/article-abstract/132/6/2279/3034917, https://www.ceh.org/wp-content/uploads/Kicking-the-Can-report-final-1.pdf, https://www.epa.gov/saferchoice/partnership-evaluate-alternatives-bisphenol-thermal-paper, https://echa.europa.eu/safer-alternatives-for-bisphenol-a, https://www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/Phthalates_FactSheet.html, https://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/chemicals-and-contaminants/phthalates, https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/assets/docs/j_q/phthalates_the_everywhere_chemical_handout_508.pdf, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4050989/, https://www.epa.gov/pfas/basic-information-pfas, https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/health-effects.html, https://www.epa.gov/pfas/basic-information-pfas#health, https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-what-you-need-know-infographic, https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2019-02/documents/pfas_action_plan_021319_508compliant_1.pdf, 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https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652618313325?via%3Dihub, https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2016/gc/c6gc00501b/unauth#!divAbstract, https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/3/7/e1700782.full, https://www.news.ucsb.edu/2017/018137/plastic-planet, https://www.ocregister.com/2019/05/17/your-recyclables-are-going-to-the-dump-heres-why/, https://www.cookinglight.com/news/reusable-containers-groceries-haagen-daas-orange-juice-deoderant, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41557-019-0249-2, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/02/is-there-life-after-plastic-the-new-inventions-promising-a-cleaner-world, https://news.psu.edu/story/483742/2017/09/20/research/new-biomaterial-could-replace-plastic-laminates-greatly-reduce, https://www.fastcompany.com/90388590/this-startup-created-compostable-plastic-wrap-out-of-shellfish-shells, https://www.greenbiz.com/article/5-innovations-could-end-plastic-waste, https://www.surfrider.org/coastal-blog/entry/2018-year-in-review-surfrider-smashes-victory-mark, https://www.businessinsider.com/california-straw-ban-restaurants-what-you-need-to-know-2018-9, https://www.businessinsider.com/plastic-straw-ban-why-are-there-so-many-2018-7, https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.estlett.6b00068, https://www.natureworksllc.com/~/media/the_ingeo_journey/endoflife_options/landfill/assessment-of-anaerobic-degradation-of-ingeo-polylactides-under-accelerated-landfill-conditions_pdf.pdf. This plastic is sometimes recyclable, and is becoming more acceptable in recycling programs. Bisphenols specifically (particularly BPA) have been identified as endocrine-disrupting and linked to obesity. Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection. Although some of the plastics are recycled, most remain uncollected in dump sites and pollute the environment. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. However, as discussed stacking difficulties may occur, particularly if the box cannot handle the weight of the content. This is due to the intermolecular bonds that constitute plastics, whose structure ensures that the plastics neither corrode nor decompose. plastic bags to safely store frozen food for its recommended storage time. Chemicals that could be harmful to our health are in most types of food packaging, including plastic, metal and fiber. Metal packaging like cans, used for long term food storage, has the challenge of being susceptible to corrosion, especially from acidic foods, like tomatoes. These plastics, once predominantly made from crude oil, but now increasingly from natural gas, have become the dominant materials because of their unique functional properties and low cost. There are cans of beans, cartons of milk, plastic containers of yogurt, bags of chips and plastic-wrapped meat on foam trays. Microplastics can make their way into soil through flooding, littering and by being deposited through the atmosphere. If you forget, choose paper over plastic bags and make sure those paper bags end up in the paper recycling bin. What Does the Manchin-Schumer Deal Mean for Clean Energy? Additionally, polythene bags are easily carried by wind, something that makes them almost impossible to collect for recycling. But is it fast enough? We have you covered with this list of tips: Use Less Plastic in Your Kitchen: Reuse freebies, like bread bags or yogurt containers. California became the first state to restrict the use of plastic straws, barring their use in full service restaurants (although they are available upon request).78 Other states and a growing number of cities have followed suit. In some cases, materials may technically have the ability to be recycled or composted, but that does not mean that the appropriate infrastructure exists or that the materials are properly separated and eventually recycled or composted. Plastic packaging makes our lives more convenient, but at what expense? Understanding the terms is essential to understanding the best way to make sure packaging doesnt end up in the environment. If youre wedded to canned goods, look for Eden Foods, which has provided Bisphenol-free cans for a couple of decades. Both Paper and cardboard are seen by many brands as the quick solution to help them achieve their plastic reduction targets. Forsythia Foundation believes in putting the full spectrum of philanthropic capital time, networks, grants, and investments to work. Chemicals like these have been linked to cancers, weakened immune systems, organ problems, and developmental delays in kids. So, while BPA-free cans are increasingly commonplace, a significant percentage of canned foods still use BPA. This also means they cannot be used as protective barrier for furnaces. Start by looking for glass and metal alternatives, which are generally easier to recycle. Click here to view a larger version of this graphic, once predominantly made from crude oil, but now increasingly from natural gas, four strategies for reducing the carbon footprint of plastic, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Many municipalities have deemed recycling polystyrene too challenging and costly to make it worth their while, including some products that had not been widely known to contain them, Purchasing Safer Compostable Food Service Ware, Avoiding Hidden Hazards: A Purchasers Guide to Safer Foodware, although there is now evidence that BPI-certified molded fiber bowls may contain PFAS, National Conference State Legislatures policy page, state lawmakers have introduced nearly 100 bills related to plastic bags. This plastic is not always accepted for recycling, so check with your local recycling program first. A lot of this comes from our takeout containers. Plastic containers are easily stacked, and sometimes the lids can be stored inside one container. Thermosetting plasticThis is also known as thermoset polymers and such types of plastic cannot be remoulded with the help of heat. Even though they are not yet recyclable, bioplastics do break down much better than regular plastics when properly composted, making them much more eco-friendly. Its durability means that it never disappears. We can use less packaging ourselves, but we can also ask food companies to do better for people and for the environment. Due to its being lightweight, recycling polystyrene in traditional systems is difficult, expensive and in some cases impossible, which makes it even more likely to end up as litter or in landfills. Keep in mind that the manufacturers set the dishwasher and microwave safe labels on your containers, not a governmental regulatory body like the FDA. Studies have found that recycling can introduce hazardous chemicals into other materials, meaning our best option is to stop producing plastic containers. As consumers, we have an opportunity to choose the materials we feel most comfortable with and to ask companies and retailers to do better. Uniform standards for packaging would be beneficial for a number of reasons. It also can be susceptible to liquid damages, with water much more likely to seep into the box and damage the contents. At Swiftpak, we would recommend trying our polylactic acid (PLA) packaging as it is made from the renewable source, cornstarch, and so decomposes well in the presence of acids. You can review our, Plastic vs Paper Packaging: The Pros and Cons. Improper disposal of these packaging products leads to these harmful compounds finding their way to water bodies, where they dissolve over a long time due to their non-biodegradable nature. Some people like to store drinking water in used milk jugs. Biodegradable and compostable are terms that are sometimes used by companies in marketing materials to greenwash their products. One example is polycarbonate, a common #7 plastic found in reusable water bottles or baby bottles. Perfluorinated chemicals (PFAS), in use since the 1940s, are a class of synthetic chemicals used primarily on fiber-based food packaging, including on paper plates, bowls, cardboard clamshells and other kinds of food packaging to make them water and oil-resistant. And while no one likes the idea of consuming plastic, most of us still shrug and throw that container in the microwave.

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