You might not have ever considered that having a plastic-free lifestyle was a real thing or something even worth doing. Plastic is heavily ingrained in our lives from the groceries that we buy, our bathroom supplies and cosmetics, electronics, detergents and cleaning products, furniture, and textiles. It's hidden in products that you aren't even aware about. It’s everywhere.
The Plastic Problem
1. Plastic is composed of many chemicals that are linked to health problems
Plastics are largely man-made and can contain a variety of chemicals including:
Bisphenol A (BPA): Used to make hard, clear plastic containers. These are also used in lining some metal cans in food packaging.
Phthalates: Used for making plastic soft and liquid oily. Found in many personal care products.
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE): Used as a flame retardant. Found in furniture, cushions, electronics, construction materials [1].
Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA): Used as a flame retardant. Found in textiles, electronics, and furniture [2].
These chemicals leach from plastic and are found to disrupt the endocrine (hormone) system. Humans are frequently exposed to these chemicals by coming into contact with plastic and ingesting and inhaling plastic particles without knowing it. The effects of these chemicals on the human body include earlier development (puberty) in females [3], decreased male fertility (low sperm count), cancer development [3], and changes in brain structure that affect sexual differentiation and behavior [4,5].
Plastic Pollution Coalition. 2019. Report: Plastic Threatens Human Health at a Global Scale. https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/blog/2019/2/20/report-plastic-threatens-human-health-at-a-global-scale
2. Little actually gets recycled
According to an EPA overview, of the 35,600+ tons of plastic generated in the United States in 2018, only 3,090 tons were recycled (about 8%). A lot of plastic can’t be recycled, so it goes directly into the landfill and/or makes its way into the ocean.
EPA. Plastics:Material-Specific Data. 2021. https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/plastics-material-specific-data
3. It breaks down into harmful microplastics in the environment
Microplastics are very small plastic particles that are either created with the purpose of being small (tiny plastic beads are used in cosmetics), or plastic breaks down into miniature particles over time. These plastics never biodegrade but rather accumulate. Humans end up ingesting and inhaling microplastics, and microplastics have been found in human placentas [6], lungs [7], and stool [8]. The detection of microplastics in the placenta indicate that there may be plastic-related consequences for fetuses. In mice, exposure to microplastics was associated with a decrease in body weight and total number of live births in addition to causing liver damage and microbiota issues [9,10].
4. It is directly killing wildlife
Because plastic doesn’t biodegrade, it stays in the environment, and products created decades ago are still in existence swirling in the ocean or piling up on land. Wildlife is exposed to the plastic, they get entangled and strangled, the plastic causes intestinal blockages and internal damage when wildlife accidentally eats it, and animals die [11]. Plastics in oceans are also becoming vessels for invasive species to attach to and drift to new locations [11]. These invasive species then outcompete native species.
What is Plastic-Free July?
As the name suggests, for the month of July, you reduce the amount of plastic that you buy, ideally buying none at all. The focus is on single-use plastics such as plastic bags, snack wrappers, plastic packaging, disposable cutlery, and non-reusable plastic bottles. These items often have a one-time use before being thrown away, contributing to the vast majority of plastic waste, pollution, and microplastics. Get started here.
While the individual might not make a dent in the global plastic production, individuals can cause ripples, and crowds can make a difference. By foregoing plastic, you are telling industries that you want an alternative. You are not contributing to the pollution that is building up in our waterways, and you are protecting yourself and family from harmful chemicals.
Within reason/Exceptions
There are some things that are hard to avoid and shouldn't be avoided, like medication. Also, access is important: some people live in areas where plastic-free alternatives simply don't exist. The ideal thing to do is to make changes to the best of your ability. Discover what swaps you can actually make. What is challenging and what isn’t? I personally find it OK to buy used items that are plastic because you’re not adding new plastic products to the system since it was already produced.
"We don't need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly."
-Zero Waste Chef, Anne-Marie Bonneau
Common swaps
Use reusable shopping bags instead of plastic bags
Use reusable water bottles instead of disposable plastic bottles
Use plastic-free decorations, avoiding balloons and confetti
Choose food in bulk or loose (not packaged)
Use bar soap/shampoo instead of liquid soap/shampoo
Use wooden toothbrushes
Try refillable floss. These can come in glass jars instead of plastic
Make your own toothpaste or try toothpaste tablets instead of using plastic tubes of paste
Buy toilet paper in paper rolls instead of plastic
Use stainless steel razors instead of disposable plastic ones
Avoid takeout containers and bring your own Tupperware
Have on hand: reusable utensils and coffee cups for when you are traveling or at work
Store food in Tupperware without plastic wrap, or use reusable beeswax wrap
Buy food in glass jars or cardboard that would normally come in plastic (peanut butter, honey, milk, eggs, etc)
DIY when possible (homemade laundry detergent is easy!)
Get Inspired
What to Expect
It can be a little frustrating. We all have routines with food items and products that we wouldn’t want to part with.
You should expect:
To be surprised by the amount of things that have plastic you aren’t aware of or never think about
To be inconvenienced while you figure it out (and that's okay!)
To feel good that you are using more natural products/ eating more natural foods
To feel glad that you are doing something to help the planet
Check out https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/ for a full list of easy swaps and ways to get involved in reducing plastic at home, work, school, and in your community.
References
1. Siddiqi, M.A.; Laessig, R.H.; Reed, K.D. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs): new pollutants-old diseases. Clin. Med. Res. 2003, 1, 281–290, doi:10.3121/cmr.1.4.281.
2. Zhou, H.; Yin, N.; Faiola, F. Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA): A controversial environmental pollutant. J. Environ. Sci. 2020, 97, 54–66, doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jes.2020.04.039.
3. Lucaccioni, L.; Trevisani, V.; Marrozzini, L.; Bertoncelli, N.; Predieri, B.; Lugli, L.; Berardi, A.; Iughetti, L. Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Their Effects during Female Puberty: A Review of Current Evidence. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21, 2078, doi:10.3390/ijms21062078.
4. Palanza, P.; Gioiosa, L.; vom Saal, F.S.; Parmigiani, S. Effects of developmental exposure to bisphenol A on brain and behavior in mice. Environ. Res. 2008, 108, 150–157, doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2008.07.023.
5. Rubin, B.S.; Lenkowski, J.R.; Schaeberle, C.M.; Vandenberg, L.N.; Ronsheim, P.M.; Soto, A.M. Evidence of Altered Brain Sexual Differentiation in Mice Exposed Perinatally to Low, Environmentally Relevant Levels of Bisphenol A. Endocrinology 2006, 147, 3681–3691, doi:10.1210/en.2006-0189.
6. Ragusa, A.; Svelato, A.; Santacroce, C.; Catalano, P.; Notarstefano, V.; Carnevali, O.; Papa, F.; Rongioletti, M.C.A.; Baiocco, F.; Draghi, S.; et al. Plasticenta: First evidence of microplastics in human placenta. Environ. Int. 2021, 146, 106274, doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.106274.
7. Amato-Lourenço, L.F.; Carvalho-Oliveira, R.; Júnior, G.R.; dos Santos Galvão, L.; Ando, R.A.; Mauad, T. Presence of airborne microplastics in human lung tissue. J. Hazard. Mater. 2021, 416, 126124, doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126124.
8. Schwabl, P.; Köppel, S.; Königshofer, P.; Bucsics, T.; Trauner, M.; Reiberger, T.; Liebmann, B. Detection of various microplastics in human stool: a prospective case series. Ann. Intern. Med.2019, 171, 453–457.
9. Park, E.-J.; Han, J.-S.; Park, E.-J.; Seong, E.; Lee, G.-H.; Kim, D.-W.; Son, H.-Y.; Han, H.-Y.; Lee, B.-S. Repeated-oral dose toxicity of polyethylene microplastics and the possible implications on reproduction and development of the next generation. Toxicol. Lett. 2020, 324, 75–85.
10. D’Angelo, S.; Meccariello, R. Microplastics: A Threat for Male Fertility. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 2392, doi:10.3390/ijerph18052392.
11. Sigler, M. The Effects of Plastic Pollution on Aquatic Wildlife: Current Situations and Future Solutions. Water, Air, Soil Pollut. 2014, 225, 2184, doi:10.1007/s11270-014-2184-6.
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