Do you remember that campaign "Plastic Makes it Possible" from the late 90’s? Well there was certainly a time and a place for plastic, but from my perspective, for much of our daily use that ship has sailed for many reasons and there is extensive research indicating that we should all make the switch to safer materials. Environmentally speaking, the challenge is that plastics are artificial polymers that change in chemical composition when heated. This makes the process of turning them into another product (recycling) more challenging. Unlike metal and paper, which can be used again and again, plastic may get one additional life with proper recycling. The “Plastics Make It Possible” campaign has falsely given the public the perception that we can use plastic and not leave a toxic legacy for our children. The environment aside, research suggests that all plastics leak chemicals when scratched or heated. Research also strongly suggests that at certain exposure levels, some of … [Read more...]
