Our lives are filled with plastic. It’s crept into nearly every single product we use and activity we partake in. Yet, despite this, we rarely see it anymore. As a society, we’ve come to take it for granted as part of our existence and give it little thought.
But do a brief experiment—two weeks without creating any plastic waste—and you very quickly learn that plastic is hiding in all sorts of places you’d never expect and a part of nearly everything you do on any given day.
After trying this experiment myself, I found myself wondering, How did this even happen? My grandparents didn’t grow up with plastic wrap, plastic bags, plastic toys, and plastic water bottles. What does it take to produce all this stuff? Where does it go? Are the chemicals in these items really bad for us and our children? If so, can we avoid them?
What I learned in researching plastic for Plastic Purge really floored me. Plastic is such a complex, interesting and even bizarre topic (I mean, who knew that the invention of plastic was partly the result of an effort to find a replacement for ivory in billiard balls?). And yes, the chemicals in some plastics are potentially harmful, and they are in our food, beverages, and bodies. Chemicals like BPA and phthalates that are found in some plastic products are endocrine disruptors which have been linked to birth defects, obesity, and cancer.
Through my research, I’ve decided that when it comes to plastic, there are three types of it in our lives: Good, Bad and Ugly.
The Good plastic is your phone, camera, computer, medical equipment, ski bindings, etc. These things last a long time and plastic makes possible, or greatly improves, their performance. Think about science and modern medicine; plastic is absolutely critical to their existence and continued advancement.
The Bad plastic is the products that get used many times, but may be emitting chemicals into your food, drink, or air. It’s nice to know that in some instances, like water bottles, there is a movement toward BPA-free products, but we are surrounded by items that contain these substances.
The Ugly is that plastic you hold in your possession for a very brief period of time before throwing it away, such as single-use products. It’s the type of plastic you tend to see littering streets, parks, and waterways. Plastic grocery bags are the king of ugly plastic. They’re so easy to avoid, but they’re causing so many problems, from floods driven by bags clogging drains to the death of marine life.
The things I’ve mentioned here are just the tip of the iceberg. Our relationship with plastic is a complex one, but that doesn’t mean it’s not manageable. In fact, it is pretty easy to get a handle on. For starters, consider simple ways to reduce your plastic use, like:
1. Bring reusable grocery bags.
2. Use a glass or stainless steel water bottle. Studies have shown that bottled water isn’t healthier than tap. Plus, research suggests that BPA free plastic water bottles might not be completely safe, either.
3. Get a reusable coffee cup. Your coffee will stay hotter longer and likely cost a bit less.
4. Ditch that PVC shower curtain; they’ve been shown to emit toxic compounds.
5. Be wary of taking receipts. They may contain BPA which can be absorbed through the skin.
For more, check out SanClement’s book, Plastic Purge, which is on shelves now.