I like my products like I like my people, plastic free...

Toxic Free Lifestyle
Sep 12, 2020
8 min read

Image From

I am a big fan of making life easier and for most of my adult life I was a big fan of plastic. One of my first accounts when I worked in advertising was Tupperware and man I loved the way the products organized the kitchen - just what most 23 year olds are really excited about - ha. I was pretty sad when I started learning more about how bad plastic was for the Earth (both because I selfishly didn’t want to give it up and because I couldn’t believe how much plastic waste we are creating). But the more that I researched, the more I became fascinated (and scared) by its impact. So I wanted to gather some of the more interesting stats on plastic and why it’s worth making the change to reduce the amount of plastic we use and therefore make. As you will see from this quick overview there is so much we don’t know about the dangers of plastic but there is no question that there are major concerns and we need to do something to reduce our dependence on the current production of plastic. As we see the impacts of climate change all around us now it’s even more important to do what we can to lessen the negative impact on the environment. And lucky for us all, but especially a nerd like me who really loves a good organized space, there are lots of great (and fun) alternatives! So if you want to jump right to the alternatives, they're at the bottom of the blog...

History

According to The Science History Institute, John Wesley Hyatt, inspired by an offer of $10,000 for anyone who could provide a substitute for ivory, invented the first synthetic polymer in 1869 (other sources cite earlier attempts at making similar materials, but for the simplicity of this blog, we will acknowledge that Hyatt, at a minimum, was able to better market what he discovered). Apparently, he discovered that by treating cellulose, derived from cotton fiber, with camphor, he could create a material that could be shaped into a variety of things and made to imitate natural substances like ivory. This invention revolutionized what man was able to create and in many ways helped reduce the effect on animals and nature (i.e. ivory from elephants). Later, the first fully synthetic plastic, called Bakelite after its founder, Leo Baekeland, was produced in 1907. The word plastic originally meaning “pliable and easily shaped” only recently became a name for the category of materials called polymers. Polymers are made of long chains of molecules and while found naturally, humans now make synthetic polymers, sometimes using natural substances like cellulose, but more often using the plentiful carbon atoms provided by petroleum and other fossil fuels. The BBC states that “Baekeland used phenol, an acid derived from coal tar. His work opened the floodgates to a torrent of now-familiar synthetic plastics - polystyrene in 1929, polyester in 1930, polyvinylchloride (PVC) and polythene in 1933, nylon in 1935.” The rapid growth in global plastic production took off in the 1950s and according to the Our World in Data website, “over the next 65 years, annual production of plastics increased nearly 200-fold to 381 million tonnes in 2015. For context, this is roughly equivalent to the mass of two-thirds of the world population.”

Why it’s so Bad

The problems with plastic start in the production and ends in the fact that plastic doesn’t biodegrade. So we are causing major environmental impacts and only using around 35% of our plastic one time. The single-use plastic is known to be the most destructive due to its, by nature, single use and the expanding use of it worldwide. Plastic is also harmful in the following ways:

Production

Most plastic comes from either crude oil or natural gas. It is then refined and transported which are both not optimal for the environment. According to the Debris Free Oceans website, "This carbon-intensive process may consist of surface or underground mining for coal, or drilling wells used for pumping sand, water, or chemicals to release gas and oil. These processes generate direct emissions via methane leaking, fuel combustion, and the energy consumption required to power the invasive methods. Once the fossil fuels are extracted, they must be transported for the next phase of their life cycle. This is achieved using pipelines, often underground, which require extensive clearing of any surrounding trees. In effect, this first phase releases most of the carbon stored underground into our atmosphere and rids the surrounding environment of its natural carbon-capturing assets." It is widely recognized that plastic manufacturing is one of the worst greenhouse gas emitting industries.The image below from Debris Free Oceans shows this process in a visual format:

The potential good news is that it is currently estimated that about eight percent of world oil production goes to manufacturing plastics and since oil is a non-renewable source it is possible that a lack of resources will encourage a change in production habits, hopefully leading to healthier options.

Impact on Living Species

Plastic and the chemicals inherent in it are ending up in humans, animals, and groundwater and soil. According to an article published by Biological Sciences in 2009, "Over 260 species, including invertebrates, turtles, fish, seabirds and mammals, have been reported to ingest or become entangled in plastic debris, resulting in impaired movement and feeding, reduced reproductive output, lacerations, ulcers and death." And Environmental Heath News shares “once inside, plastic can pack a one-two punch by both clogging an animal's stomach and poisoning it with chemicals that have concentrated in the plastic. Some chemicals are then transferred to the food web when animals eat them.” Besides through the food web, chemicals from plastics are entering humans in their very use.

According to The Science History Institute: “These concerns focus on the additives (such as the much-discussed bisphenol A [BPA] and a class of chemicals called phthalates) that go into plastics during the manufacturing process, making them more flexible, durable, and transparent. Some scientists and members of the public are concerned about evidence that these chemicals leach out of plastics and into our food, water, and bodies. In very high doses these chemicals can disrupt the endocrine (or hormonal) system. Researchers worry particularly about the effects of these chemicals on children and what continued accumulation means for future generations.” And Environmental Health News states: “For example, phthalates are used as plasticizers in the manufacture of vinyl flooring and wall coverings, food packaging and medical devices. Eight out of every ten babies, and nearly all adults, have measurable levels of phthalates in their bodies. In addition, bisphenol A (BPA), found in polycarbonate bottles and the linings of food and beverage cans, can leach into food and drinks. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 93 percent of people had detectable levels of BPA in their urine.” The impact on ocean Life has gotten a lot of attention lately. According to National Geographic, the prediction that by mid-century, the oceans will contain more plastic waste than fish, ton for ton, has become one of the most-quoted statistics. They go on to cite research, "published in 2015, that estimates that 8 million metric tons of plastic ends up in the oceans every year. That is the equivalent to five grocery bags of plastic trash for every foot of coastline around the globe.”

Waste

Plastic accounts for about 10 percent of human generated waste, and most of it ends up in a landfill. According to the EPA in 2017, landfills received 26.8 million tons of plastic. This is a problem since plastic doesn’t biodegrade it lasts for years underground and the chemicals often sink into nearby land, contaminating groundwater. According to National Geographic: "of the 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic that has been produced, 6.3 billion metric tons has become plastic waste. Of that, only nine percent has been recycled. The vast majority—79 percent—is accumulating in landfills or sloughing off in the natural environment as litter. Meaning: at some point, much of it ends up in the oceans, the final sink. If present trends continue, by 2050, there will be 12 billion metric tons of plastic in landfills. That amount is 35,000 times as heavy as the Empire State Building." That's a lot of trash.

Simple Alternatives

If it isn’t already clear, I could go on and on about the dangers of plastic, but since I prefer to focus on the things we can control, in the nature of this blog, here are some simple alternatives to some of the more common plastic:

Plastic Bags - It is estimated that Americans use 100 billion plastic bags a year, which require 12 million barrels of oil to manufacture and that 100,000 marine animals are killed by plastic bags each year. The solution is fairly easy but also leads to unintended consequences - so if you switch to reusable shopping bags, keep in mind that you need to actually reuse them in order for them to be better for the environment (here’s an interesting article on how to pick the best bag). For me, that means I need to keep my bags in the front seat of my car so I will see them when I get to store and remember to use them!
Ziploc Bags - The average American family uses 500 Ziploc bags each year. Enter Stasher Bags. Stasher bags are made from platinum silicone which does not degrade over time. From freezer to microwave, from oven to dishwasher, Stasher bags are made to last, each one keeping thousands of single-use plastics out of our oceans and landfills. Get them here.
Plastic Water Bottles - According to Earth Day.org, humans buy about 1,000,000 plastic bottles per minute and only about 23% of plastic bottles are recycled within the U.S. So it’s a no brainer to get a really good water bottle and remember to take it places with you. I’ve tried a lot of different ones and always come back to my Hydro Flask.
Plastic Food Storage - Given my admitted love for Tupperware it was important for me to find a food storage system that was safer and convenient. And once I discovered the glass storage containers, I have not looked back! They don’t stain like plastic, can be heated in the oven and microwave, frozen, washed in the dishwasher and are nearly impossible to break. My current favorite are the Pyrex ones - mainly because the lids are flat and therefore easier to store. You can find them here.
Plastic Wrap - While it’s convenient, plastic wrap (aka Saran Wrap) is not good for the environment. The best alternative I have found is Bees Wax Food Wrap. I love the designs, the idea and it is reusable. You can use the warmth of your hands to wrap the beeswax wrap around bread, fruit or some other food. To wrap it over a bowl or cup, you simply squeeze the wrap in your arms. This will warm the wrap up and form a ball. Once the wrap is warmed, it's ready to stick! After beeswax cools, it holds its seal.
Plastic Straws - I just mentioned this in a recent newsletter, but metal straws are an easy and simple swap. You can reuse them, clean them and they keep the drink cold. You can find some here.
Trash Bags - This one was a hard one for our family to completely give up and to keep my husband happy we only use the reusable bags for the recycling and then use compost friendly trash bags for the real trash. I like these 100% recycled bags and these reusable bags. You can get lots of plastic free alternatives at Grove Collaborative - this link gives you $10 off your first order.