Emerging research shows that plant-based plastics — just like petroleum-based plastics — contain many thousands of synthetic chemicals, with large numbers of them extremely toxic. However, the bioplastics industry strongly denies that bio-based plastics contain hazardous substances.
Read moreMONGABAY | As the world swims in plastic, some offer an answer: Ban the toxic two →
Anti-plastic campaigners have achieved limited initial success in passing bans based on the toxic health effects of some plastic types, especially those that contain known carcinogens and hormone-disrupting chemicals.
Some activists say that two of the most toxic types of plastic, polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) should be completely banned. But so far, bans of polystyrene in Zimbabwe, Scotland and elsewhere have focused only on certain products, such as takeout containers.
PVC is used in medical devices and children’s products, despite its well-known toxicity. PVC and polystyrene are both used in consumer construction, where they can leach chemicals into water or home air, or release particles into the wider environment.
The U.S. EPA is reviewing vinyl chloride, PVC’s main ingredient and a known carcinogen, but the outcome won’t be known for several years and may only affect U.S. production, not imported products made of PVC. More than 60 nations want a ban on “problematic plastics” by the global plastics treaty now being negotiated.
Yes! | Don't Let Consumerism Co-opt the Zero-Waste Movement →
Loop taps into the trendy and aspirational zero waste movement, in which consumers obsessively catalog their household’s output and try to get it down to the volume of a mason jar. Vowing to minimize one’s consumption and waste is a natural reaction to seeing viral photos of sea turtles strangled by beverage rings and a seahorse wrapped around a Q-tip. Well, it’s a natural reaction if you feel like the only power you have is over your family’s grocery shopping list—because you’ve been systematically blocked from decision-making positions in government or consumer product corporations.
Read moreVox | No Online Shopping Company Can Figure Out How to Quit This One Plastic Bag →
In 2018, the healthy meal-kit service Sun Basket swapped out their recycled plastic box-liner material for Sealed Air TempGuard, a liner made of recycled paper sandwiched between two sheets of kraft paper. Fully curbside recyclable, even when wet, it allowed Sun Basket to reduce its box size by about 25 percent and reduce the carbon footprint of shipping, not to mention reduce the amount of plastic in their shipment. Customers were pleased. “Kudos to your packaging folks for coming up with this concept,” one couple wrote in.
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