Plastic is a complex issue.
I don’t want to repeat other posts here. But I will reference and link to other sources who have presented the research in clear and understandable ways.
Bottom line, plastic is an unavoidable part of our daily lives. But that does not in any way mean it is perfectly safe and good.
From the beginnings of plastic in its extraction, to its use, to its end of life, plastic leaves it’s trace literally everywhere.
Kathryn Kellogg from Going Zero Waste has an excellent, easy-read post about how plastic is made. From its extraction from the ground to the various forms of plastic created, it’s not as wonderful as we want to believe. You can check it out here.
We hear lots of marketing about where fruits, veggies, and meat come from and what chemicals were or weren't used in growing or processing. But rarely do we hear about the safety standards used for the production of toys, containers, appliances, décor, packaging, and endless other plastic items in our day to day life.
Not all plastics are equal in their toxicity. Kathryn Kellogg addresses this in her post about the seven types of plastic. Please hop over and read it.
Besides the various types of plastics, there are also bioplastics that should be part of the discussion. Here is a short visual of information on bioplastic and what it really means.
Plastic toxicity has leached its way into everything.
Most often noted is the ocean. But did you know that the greatest problem with plastic is microplastics? Microplastics are exactly as they sound. Micro, small and unseen pieces of plastic.
The scary part? Microplastics are found in the most remote bodies of water and the most innocent and vulnerable of humans.
A quick google search will show you the studies of how much microplastic we eat and how microplastics have been found in umbilical cords. The most innocent among us have been corrupted by our addiction to plastic.
Another unseen danger of these microplastics? Remember back to the Going Zero Waste blog posts and the descriptions of different plastics and the dangers of them?
Certain plastics are carcinogens, neurotoxins, and act as endocrine disruptors. When you ingest microplastics through your drinking water and food, you don’t get to choose which plastics you ingest.
Plastics are a known danger, yet our dependency on plastics has not decreased, only increased.
Even worse, the negative effects of plastic affect those with the least impact on plastic pollution and consumption. Come back next week for a post about the inequality of environmental destruction.
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