THE PLASTIC PROBLEM

Plastic is all around us. It forms much of the

packaging for our food and drink. For many of
us, it is throughout our home, our workplace, our
car, the bus we take to and from work. It can be
in our clothing, eyeglasses, teeth, toothbrush,
computers, phones, dishes, utensils, toys. The
list goes on, especially when you look around
and begin to notice the plastic in your life.
Plastic is versatile, lightweight, flexible, moisture
resistant, durable, strong and relatively
inexpensive. It can be chemical resistant, clear
or opaque, and practically unbreakable. These
are wonderful useful qualities, and plastic plays
many important roles in life on Earth, but the
widespread use of plastic is also causing

unprecedented environmental problems, and

harbours serious health risks especially for
children. Plastic should be used wisely, with
caution and only when suitable alternatives do
not exist or are not available.

What is Plastic and Where did

it Come From?
The term "plastic" derives from the Greek
"plastikos," meaning fit for molding, and
"plastos," meaning molded. In line with this root
etymology, and in the broadest sense, a plastic
is a material that at some stage in its
manufacture is able to be shaped by flow such
that it can be extruded, molded, cast, spun, or
applied as a coating.
Plastics are polymers (meaning "many parts" in
Greek), which are basically substances or
molecules made up of many repeating molecular

units, known as monomers (meaning "one part"

in Greek). Monomers of hydrogen and carbon
- hydrocarbons - are linked together in long
chains to form plastic polymers. The raw
hydrocarbon material for most synthetic plastics
is derived from petroleum, natural gas or coal.
The length and structural arrangement of the
polymer chains in part determines the properties
of the plastic. Densely packed polymers can
create a rigid plastic, whereas loosely spaced
ones can lead to a softer more pliable plastic.
However, the polymers alone rarely have the
physical qualities to be of practical value, so
most plastics contain various chemical additives
to facilitate the manufacturing process or
produce a particular desirable property, such as
flexibility or toughness. As we discuss below,
these chemical additives can be very
problematic from a health perspective.

The first documented plastic was created in 1855

by the British inventor and metallurgist Alexander
Parkes who used natural cellulose in
combination with nitric acid and chemical
solvents to create a plastic he patented as
"Parkesine." The first totally human-made,
completely synthetic plastic came about in 1907
when Belgian-born, New York-based Leo
Baekeland used hydrocarbon chemicals he
derived from coal to create Bakelite, which came
to be used in radio and television casings,
kitchenware and even toys.
And thus emerged the plastic era, especially
taking off following World War II when all kinds of
day to day household items began to be made of
plastics.

Environmental Problems

Environmentally, plastic is a growing disaster.

Most plastics are made from petroleum or
natural gas, non-renewable resources extracted
and processed using energy-intensive
techniques that destroy fragile ecosystems.
The manufacture of plastic, as well as its
destruction by incineration, pollutes air, land and
water and exposes workers to toxic chemicals,
including carcinogens.
Plastic packaging especially the ubiquitous
plastic bag is a significant source of landfill
waste and is regularly eaten by numerous
marine and land animals, to fatal consequences.
Synthetic plastic does not biodegrade. It just sits
and accumulates in landfills or pollutes the
environment. Plastics have become a municipal
waste nightmare, prompting local governments

all over the world to implement plastic bag, and

increasingly polystyrene (styrofoam), bans.
Plastic pollution may not even be visible to the
naked eye as research is showing that
microscopic plastic particles are present in the
air at various locations throughout the world and
in all major oceans. Plastic is now ubiquitous in
our terrestrial, aquatic and airborne
environments - that is, it's everywhere.
For more information and references on the
environmental issues related to plastics, see the
Plastic Types, Plastics & the Environment, and
Resources sections in our INFO menu.

Health Problems
In terms of health risks, the evidence is growing
that chemicals leached from plastics used in
cooking and food/drink storage are harmful to
human health. Some of the most disturbing of

these are hormone-mimicking, endocrine

disruptors, such as bisphenol A
(BPA) and phthalates.
The plastic polycarbonate - used for water
bottles and various other items requiring a hard,
clear plastic - is composed primarily
of BPA. Peer-reviewed scientific studies have
linked BPA to health problems that include
chromosomal and reproductive system
abnormalities, impaired brain and neurological
functions, cancer, cardiovascular system
damage, adult-onset diabetes, early puberty,
obesity and resistance to
chemotherapy. Exposure to BPA at a young age
can cause genetic damage, and BPA has been
linked to recurrent miscarriage in women.
The health risks of plastic are significantly
amplified in children, whose immune and organ

systems are developing and are more

vulnerable. The evidence of health risks from
certain plastics is increasingly appearing in
established, peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Of the thousands of chemical additives added to
plastics - and which manufacturers are not
required to disclose - one type commonly added
to plastics are "plasticizers," which are softening
agents making it easier for the polymer chains to
move and be flexible.
For example, the commonly used and extremely
toxic plastic polyvinyl chloride (PVC) can contain
up to 55% plasticizing additives by weight. These
are generally phthalate chemicals. Phthalates
are known to disrupt the endocrine system as
well, and have been linked to numerous health
conditions including cancers. Certain phthalates

have been banned in Europe and the U.S. for

use in certain products, such as toys.
For details and references on numerous types of
plastics, please see the Plastic Types section.
For more information and references on the
health issues related to plastics, see our Plastic
Types, Plastics & Health, and Resources
sections in our INFO menu.

Alternatives to Plastic do
Exist -- so does Empowered
Action!
What you have just read may have depressed
you to no end. No, no, no. Don't despair! Feel
empowered and educated. And don't just take
our word on the plastic problem; follow some of
the links in our Resources section and do more
of your own research on the issues. It is time for
all of us to take action and do our part to

decrease our use of plastics and help solve the

problems of plastic pollution.
There is a huge and growing community of likeminded folks out there all over the world who are
working with you to decrease plastic use and
pollution and create tangible change at all levels
- personal, local, regional, national, global...
Please take a look at our Action section for ways
that you can make a difference through
individual actions in your own life and by
supporting organizations working for change.
And there are many alternatives to plastics now
available. Our Plastic Alternatives section
highlights and provides information on numerous
alternatives ranging from glass, wood and
stainless steel to wool, hemp and cotton.
A key aspect of our Vision and Quest is to
help people find safe, high quality, ethically

sourced, Earth-friendly alternatives to plastic

products. That is why our Store exists, so please
feel free to browse the Store at your leisure. And
if you can't find what you are looking for,
please let us know. We are always adding new
alternatives to plastics to our product line.
Thank you for visiting, and all the best on your
plastic-free journey!

Key references for the above text:

Anthony L. Andrady, ed. Plastics and the

Environment. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons,

2003.

E.S. Stevens. Green Plastics: An

Introduction to the New Science of
Biodegradeable Plastics. Princeton & Oxford:
Princeton University Press, 2002.

Richard C. Thompson, Shanna H. Swan,

Charles J. Moore, Frederick S. vom Saal. "Our
Plastic Age." Philosophical Transactions of the
Royal Society B. Vol. 364, No. 1526, 27 July
2009, pp. 1973-1976.
IMPORTANT NOTES: While we strive to provide
as accurate and balanced information as
possible on our website, Life Without Plastic
cannot guarantee its accuracy or completness
because there is always more research to do,
and more up-to-date research studies emerging
-- and this is especially the case regarding
research on the health and environmental effects
of plastics. As indicated in our Terms &
Conditions, none of the information presented on
this website is intended to be professional advice
or to constitute a professional service to the
individual reader. All matters regarding health
require medical supervision, and the information

presented on this website is not intended as a

substitute for consulting with your physician.
Throughout our website, some technical
terminology is used. In the interest of making the
articles accessible and not too long, dry, or
complex, technical terms may be hyper-linked to
more detailed explanations and relevant
reference material provided inWikipedia. Please
keep in mind that Wikipedia articles are written
collaboratively by volunteers from all over the
world and thus may contain inaccuracies. Life
Without Plastic makes no guarantee of the
validity of the information presented in Wikipedia
articles to which we provide links. We suggest
you read the Wikipedia General
Disclaimer before relying on any information
presented in a Wikipedia article.

 2014 Mama Mundo Inc. All Rights Reserved.

No part of this text may be reproduced without
the prior written permission of Mama Mundo
V

Reduce Waste at
Tailgates
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Tailgating at sports events can be as big a
draw as the game itself, as fans gather in
parking lots across the country for food,
drinks, and fun. But unfortunately, all that
celebrating can lead to lots of food and
packaging waste. In fact, according to the

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,

some large college stadiums can generate
100 tons of waste per game.
Tailgating doesnt have to result in trash
bags full of wasted food and packaging.
Here are some simple steps you can take at
your tailgates to reduce waste on game day
and divert valuable material from landfills:
Airtight Packaging
By choosing airtight packaging, such as
zipper bags, factory-sealed pouches, cling
wrap, and reusable storage containers, you
can help keep food fresh and free of
contaminates that could cause spoilage
making it less likely that food will need to
be thrown out.

Minimalist Packaging
Recent innovations in plastics are leading
to new, minimalist packaging designs that
can protect food with less material, which
helps reduce packaging waste. When
shopping for your next tailgate, look for
thin, lightweight pouches and bags for
game day foods, such as nuts, cheeses, and
deli meats, just to name a few.
Lightweight Bottles and Containers
When buying beverages, remember that
lightweight plastic bottles and containers
are shatter-resistant, which contributes to
safety and helps prevent waste. They also
typically use less material than
alternatives, resulting in less packaging

wasteplus, theyre accepted for

recycling in most communities.
Recycling
Remember to recycle! Place clearly
labeled recycling bags or bins at your
tailgate to remind everyone to recycle used
plastic packaging and other recyclables.
More and more, everyday plastic bottles
and containers can be recycled in curbside
programs, including beverage bottles,
ketchup and mustard bottles, containers for
sour cream and dip, deli containers, caps
and lids, and so much more! Even plastic
bags and wrapsgrocery bags, zipper
bags, bread and bun bags, wraps for cases
of water and soft drinkscan be returned

to participating grocery and retail stores

for recycling. To find out whats accepted
for recycling in your area, check your
communitys website or
visit iwanttoberecycled.org or Earth911.co
m.
Recycled Products
To help divert valuable materials from
landfills, seek out products made with
recycled plastics. Thanks to increased
plastics recycling, its easier than ever to
find tailgating essentials made with
recycled plastics, such as coolers, serving
utensils, plates, cups, and bowls.