Healthy Resolutions Project: Going Plastic-Free
Plastics is found in just about everything! From toothbrushes to computers to the jugs our milk come in. But the truth is plastics contain dozens of harmful chemicals that are linked to serious health effects.
We’ve heard a lot of bisphenol-A or BPA a lot in the news in the last few years due to its disruptive nature to the regular production of hormones. But there are actually many other chemicals in plastics that we don’t hear about, such as phthalates, which are also endocrine-disruptors. Our endocrine system plays a very important role and when it’s not working properly it can lead to serious health issues such as obesity, diabetes, infertility, neurological disorders, and impairment of the immune system. And there is mounting evidence that shows our increased use of plastics over the decades may be contributing to the rise in these types of illnesses.
So, for this Healthy Resolutions Project post, I am recommending to go plastic-free as much as possible. This is especially important when it comes to items that come into contact with food and with products that will be absorbed into your skin. Here are some common household items where plastic-free options are easily available:
- Food containers and beverage bottles: choose glass or stainless steel containers
- Saran wrap: choose beeswax wraps
- Produce bags and Ziploc bags: Choose beeswax lunch bags or silicone bags or reusable BPA and phthalate-free snack bags
- Personal care and cleaning products: choose products stored in glass or stainless steel containers
- Toothbrushes and dental floss: choose toothbrushes made of compostable materials such as bamboo and dental floss made of natural wax and natural fiber. I’ve seen floss made of silk, bamboo, and corn maize.
- Clothes: choose natural fibers such as cotton and wool
- Toys: choose toys made of solid wood with nontoxic paints and finishes, all-natural fibers such as cotton, hemp, and wool
Going completely plastic-free is definitely not easy, but we can all reduce our usage of it. If you have any favourite ways of reducing plastics in your home, please share them with us!
Check out our other posts from our Healthy Resolutions Project: