Tag Archives: plastic

resources to reduce footprint

Resources To Reduce Your Ecological Footprint

by BPA, environment, , ,

Bioplastics may seem like an alternative to reduce plastic pollution. They are being touted as the best replacement because it is supposed to break down.  However, it turns out that many bioplastics are made with GMO corn. Since I try to avoid GMO foods it bothers me that this product is still finding its way into the environment.  

Some bio-degradable plastics have a mystery ingredient that helps them to break down faster.  Researching it on the internet I come up with the information that that chemical is “proprietary” and so does not need to be shared with the general public.  Other information states that it may “leave some toxic residue but the environmental impact is lessened.”  This, again, is not something that I want touching my food or in our environmentl.

Resources 

These are products which will help me continue to reduce my environmental impact; something I consider to be an important part of the balance to a holistic life.

Grocery Bagresources to reduce footprint

Bring reusable grocery bags!  One of my challenges these days is to not use the thin plastic bags that the grocery store gives out in the produce section. Here’s a great video on making produce bags from old t-shirts. 

Glass & Stainless Steel Straws

Plastic straws are definitely not a good choice for the environment; it turns out that Americans use as much as 500 million straws per day!  That’s a lot of plastic waste that’s not breaking down, getting into the environment, and possibly harming wildlife. To avoid plastic straws you can purchase reusable straws that are easy to wash and use again over and over.  There are a number companies making these straws in either glass, metal, or silicone.  The glass straws are available from a company called Strawsome.

Bring Your Own Takeout Container

When it comes to dining out there are a lot of companies who use styrofoam or plastic containers.  Definitely not an eco-friendly option. Other companies offer cardboard or recycled cardboard containers. While these are definitely a better option than plastic or styrofoam, they’re still single use containers and environmentally still have a higher impact.

A better option is to bring your own container from home. While it does take time and attention to remember to bring your own container this is a big win for the environment as you can wash and re-use your container over and over. Plus it’s one less disposable container winding up in the landfill. 

Cloth Napkins, Sandwich Bags

We do use cloth napkins in our house.  Not 100% of the time. When I have a party I confess I buy paper because I just don't have that many cloth napkins.  But on a daily basis it's cloth and we have a good size, mismatched collection.  

When talking about the idea of reusable sandwich bags I came across only one resource for food-safe plastic fabric.  If you decide to make your own reusable sandwich bags please do not use PUL or oilcloth, neither of those is acceptable for food contact.  

When it comes to wrapping sandwiches, or even covering foods in a container, one of the best options, instead of plastic wrap, is to use beeswrap. These are cloths that have been treated with beeswax in order to make a pliable, re-usable wrap. Although they are somewhat expensive at the grocery store, they’re actually quite easy to make at home using this DIY Beeswrap Kit (note: this kit includes a specially blended mix of beeswax, pine resin, jojoba, and coconut oil for a flexible, reusable food wrap, you simply add your own fabric).  

Gums

If you chew gum did you know that chances are you’re actually eating plastic? Yuck! That’s because most chewing gums are made with polyvinyl acetate.  Apparently, the only brand of gum currently available that is 100% chicle and plastic-free is my favorite Glee gum. According to their website Glee gum is: plastic free and has no artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives.  It’s also aspartame-free (it’s made with xylitol) as well as non-GMO and vegan. There’s not even any plastic in their packaging because they use cardboard.

One step at a time

When it comes to making these kinds of eco-friendy choices it can seem a bit overwhelming, especially if you’re trying to do it all at the same time.  When I’m working with clients I encourage them to remember that we make sustainable change by working on new habits one step at a time. If you try to change everything at once it's too much.  You are trying to remember and be consistent about too many things.  You are not learning and setting those new habits.  

Take me for example…while I may forget from time to time to put my bags back into the car I do use them the vast majority of the time.  I've also gotten very good about telling cashiers that I do not need a bag if I am only purchasing a few products and can easily carry them when I've forgotten my bags.  That was my first big eco-friendly step.  Little by little I added others.  You can do the same.  

Pick one thing that is important to you.  Practice and develop that habit.  When you are comfortable that you are utilizing it the majority of the time, move on to another one.  Slow and steady is the way to make effective, long-lasting, positive change.

 

There's so much plastic in our environment that we often don't even see it. It's become part of the background.

Read on to learn more about BPA, where it hides, and some strategies for supporting your health amidst the sea of plastic that surrounds us.

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Related story: Can You Recycle #5 Plastics?

[expand title="Sources"]

"No One Knew How Many Plastic Straws Americans Use Every Day. Then A 9-Year-Old Kid Did The Math". Money, 2022, https://money.com/how-many-plastic-straws-used-every-day/.

Terry, Beth. "Chewing On Plastic? Yum! » My Plastic-Free Life". My Plastic-Free Life, 2010, https://myplasticfreelife.com/2010/01/chewing-on-plastic-yum/

[/expand]

 
Recycle #5 Plastics

Can You Recycle #5 Plastics?

by BPA,

 

Are you wish-cycling?

 

The recycling symbol on the bottom of the plastic doesn’t necessarily mean that it can automatically be thrown into your recycling bin. The number five grade of plastic indicates polypropylene (PP). 

It is found in a wide number of containers including yogurts, cottage cheese, cream cheese, ricotta cheese, margarine (although you should not eat this), as well as some ice cream containers. It also includes toothbrushes, plastic plates, medicine bottles, ketchup bottles, and more. They are even in your Brita water filter.  

Wish-cycling is the practice of throwing everything, even these #5 plastics, into your recycling bin in the hopes that it will all be recycled. Unfortunately, because they can’t be recycled it can either slow down the line or contaminate it to the point that all the other products cannot be recycled either.

Recycling PP

There are a few options to recycle number five plastics. One of which is Preserve, a company based in Cortland, NY. 

Preserve sells products made from recycled #5's such as toothbrushes, razors, tableware and kitchenware.  And when you are done using those products they can be recycled even further into plastic lumber.  All of their products are designed to stay out of the landfill and reduce environmental impact.

They also have a recycling program and they want your #5 plastic products. According to Preserve their recycled products use 54% less water and 75% less oil than creating virgin plastic; they also release 64% less greenhouse gasses. After using the product you clean it and then deliver it to your nearest Whole Foods. 

If you don't have a Whole Foods near you, Preserve will accept mailed packages of #5 plastics.  This is a great way to help save the planet and to help support recycling efforts.  Although Preserve does not reimburse for mailing costs you could consider banding together with a group of friends and mailing a large amount together.  Shipments must be by ground and should be sent to:

 

Preserve Gimme 5 

823 NYS Rte 13 

Cortland, NY 13045

 
 

The sad truth is that you can't avoid exposure to plastics and BPA. It's too pervasive in our environment. You can, however, be aware of where it can be found and make positive changes. Learn more in my e-book!

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Related story: Using Plastic Containers Could Be Making You Fat
Plastic Containers Making You Fat

Using Plastic Containers Could Be Making You Fat

by BPA, , ,

Plastic, it's all around us, a significant part of our modern lives. From hangers to toothbrushes, hairbrushes, storage containers, toys, and decorative accessories we live our lives surrounded by plastic. 

One plastic ingredient that is still receiving a lot of news coverage is Bisphenol A, also known as BPA. 

What exactly is BPA? 

BPA is a building block for making plastic and plastic additives. Discovered in 1891 it is highly used in polycarbonate plastic items such as shatterproof bottles, CD's and DVD's, eyeglass lenses, and medical and dental equipment. It has also infiltrated our food packaging which can bring serious health risks.

A large part of the concern about BPA is that it is now known to be part of a category of endocrine interrupting chemicals called obesogens. Simply put an obesogen gets into our body and causes harm by reprogramming stem cells to turn into fat cells, or altering gene function. 

A study published in 2009 in Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology stated, “The recent dramatic rise in obesity rates is an alarming global health trend that consumes an ever increasing portion of health care budgets in Western countries. Recent research implicates environmental risk factors…evidence points to endocrine disrupting chemicals that interfere with the body's adipose tissue biology, endocrine hormone systems or central hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis as suspects in derailing the homeostatic mechanisms important to weight control.” 

In plain English, our exposure to BPA may be one of the factors that is contributing to the growing epidemic of obesity.

Obesogens also have the ability to mimic estrogen and its effects on the body. This estrogenic effect may be linked to reproductive abnormalities, breast cancer, prostate cancer and even diabetes. Unfortunately, in spite of the knowledge of how bad BPA is for us, it still permeates our food chain. At the end of 2010 Canada acknowledged BPA as a toxic substance for both humans and for the environment; their government is working to remove it from use.

The use of BPA in our modern environment can be overwhelming. One high exposure source of BPA is the thermal paper lining credit card receipts, the BPA makes the paper printable. Unfortunately it also flakes off easily when we touch the paper, allowing transfer to anything you touch or ingest afterwards.  When you receive credit card receipts fold them inward so that the printed side (the side with the BPA lining) is more contained.  If the receipt is printed on both sides, which is happening more and more, try to handle the receipt as little as possible.

 

What can you do to decrease your exposure

1.Avoid products that are known to be most contaminated by BPA. Canned foods are a big health hazard as the lining in most cans has BPA in it. 

There are a few brands that claim to be BPA free but unfortunately, an article from Consumer Reports, December 2009, showed that some companies which claimed to have BPA free cans still had trace amounts of the chemical in their product. The report went on to state that those foods in plastic containers with metal pull-off lids, specifically Chef Boyardee Beef Ravioli in Tomato and Meat Sauce, had BPA levels that were 1.5 times higher than the same product in a metal can.

2. In addition to canned foods, plastics that are marked with a number 7 recycling code and any unmarked plastic containers are highly likely to be made with BPA.

Even products in glass jars may contain BPA in the lid. As a matter of fact those people who process their own food at home thinking that they are avoiding exposure may not be aware that Jarden Home Brands, the manufacturer of Ball, Kerr, Golden Harvest, and Bernardin brands, admits that there is some BPA in its lids. 

Although it is a small amount, BPA is most highly released under heat and pressure, both conditions which are met during the canning process. (In fairness it is important to note that the plastic storage lids made by Jarden do not specifically contain BPA) It is important to avoid these containers in order to reduce your exposure. Soups and other products are now available in cardboard packaging which does not have BPA. 

3. Other BPA containing products can include plastic bottles, plastic lined metal bottles, sippy cups, a lot of microwavable cookware, and plastic bags. 

Using unlined stainless steel drinking bottles and cups can avoid exposure. When purchasing lunch-meats at the deli, re-wrap them into wax paper or food safe BPA free containers (either glass or metal). If possible choose containers that have metal, wood, glass, or silicone lids in order to avoid the exposure to plastic.

4. Nutritionally, aside from removing as much BPA from your environment as possible, one of the dietary changes you can make is to increase your intake of folate.

Research from Duke University shows that increased folate intake by pregnant mice negated the harmful effects of BPA exposure. Good sources of folic acid are dark leafy greens such as kale, spinach, romaine lettuce, swiss chard, mustard greens and turnip greens. Folate can also be found in asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, and lentils. Adding generous amounts of these whole foods to your diet is a healthy way to help protect your health.

It is important to be mindful of the different ways that BPA exposure exists in your environment. With these tips, you can help limit and control your exposure.

In addition to being a hormone disruptor, early exposure to BPA and other chemicals – even ones developed to be environmentally friendly – can increase the risk of issues such as anxiety, depression, inattentive behavior, aggression, and hyperactivity.

Learn how to decrease your exposure to these toxins! Discover which detoxifying foods can help your body release them.

This eBook comes with a free bonus section covering edible packaging.

Get a Copy!
Related story: Can You Recycle #5 Plastics?