GreenSage E-zine 05/2008

A GreenSage Guide to Safer Living with Plastics
by Elaine Ireland

Between discards and leached chemicals, conventional plastics are reaking havoc on the environment. But life without plastics is unrealistic these days. Here's what you need to know to make the best choices.

Plastic, from its earliest discovery days in the late 19th century when concern for elephants inspired scientists to search for an ivory replacement in the making of billiard balls, came into being as celluloid, the first semi-synthetic thermoplastic. Celluloid was used in combs, stays, ping-pong balls and even false teeth. It went on to be used in film. Celluloid-based items burn easily and can be melted down innumerable times and reformed into new products and uses.

Then came Bakelite, a phenol-formaldehyde plastic, the first completely synthetic man-made substance. Bakelite was used for domestic products, such as radios, telephones, clocks and electrical insulators, and was a key ingredient in most of the weapons used in the Second World War. It was the first thermoset plastic — once firmly set, it never changes. It retains its shape and form under any circumstance. Bakelite is electrically resistant, chemically stable, heat-resistant, shatter-proof. It wont crack, fade, crease, nor discolor from exposure to sunlight, dampness or sea salt. It doesn't burn, boil, melt, or dissolve.

By the 1920s came rayon, cellophane and nylon — reaching plastics' new era tipping point of popularity - and the plastics craze was on. Soon we were seeing acrylic, neoprene, polyethylene, PVC, Saran™, Styrofoam, Teflon® and many more polymers taking the place of natural materials that were already becoming exhausted by the early 20th century. For an entire century, plastic was touted as a miraculous material — lightweight, flexible, and sturdy.

Eventually, though, the downside of plastics emerged:

•	During the manufacture of certain types of plastic, toxic chemicals such as benzene and dioxin are released; other types when we use them leach harmful chemicals suchas Bisphenol-A, and still others use leaching chemicals that our bodies interpret as zeno-estrogens.
•	We don't know how to life-cycle most plastic. Disposal is problematic. Several studies have uncovered health risks associated with exposure to fumes from incineration.
•	Discarded plastic containers tossed into a landfill take hundreds of years to break down. Plastic bags litter the landscape killing animals that try to eat them. They accumulate in our ocean and waterways harming aquatic life. 12% of the U.S. solid waste stream is plastic.

By reducing your use of plastic, choosing plastic products carefully — and using them safely — you can reduce the risks that plastics pose to you, your family and the environment.

Here's the lowdown on the Seven Major Plastics, their safety and recyclability, to help you make those choices.

PETE or PET, most commonly used in clear beverage bottles, Polyethylene Terephthalate has high use temperature, is clear, tough and has good barrier properties, ideal for carbonated beverage and other food containers such as cooking oil bottles and peanut butter jars, as well as heatable pre-prepared food trays, and film. 4 billion PET bottles (48% of all plastic bottles) are used in the United States every year. PET is widely recyclable and generally considered safe, with some precautions. The recycling rate for PET bottles varies only between 20% and 40%. Currently, more than half of recycled PET is used to make fiber for carpet and clothing — for example, polar fleece and polyester stuffing. It is also recycled into bottles, food containers, strapping, and building materials, such as polymer concrete, polymer mortar, industrial floorings and precast products like floor drains and panels. Several PET containers should NOT be recycled. Those used for antifreeze, herbicides, pesticide, oils and solvents likely contain residue that breaks down when heated or separates when washed, contaminating the recyclable PET bottle stream and releasing chemicals into the environment. They should be considered hazardous waste.

HDPE, High Density Polyethylene, used for many packaging applications, provides excellent moisture barrier properties and chemical resistance. In film form, HDPE is used in grocery sacks, snack food packages and cereal box liners. In blow-molded bottle form, its used for milk and non-carbonated beverage bottles. In injection-molded tub form, its used for bread trays, yogurt containers, and tubs for margarine, whipped toppings and other foods. Its also used for packaging industrial chemicals such as detergents, bleach and acids. HDPE is generally considered safe, with some precautions. HDPE is widely recyclable, but tubs and bottles are made differently and can't be end-recycled together requiring verification from local recyclers whether they need to be separated at curbside. 19% of the waste stream plastic is HDPE. Much of the recycled HDPE comes from milk and water bottles and is used to make containers for some food products, detergents and motor oil. Mixing HDPE with recovered wood fiber produces Composite Wood products like decking and board. For example, about 750 recycled milk jugs and detergent bottles can be made into a single four foot long plastic bench. Still other developments include solid surfaces and molded sinks and tubs that are themselves recyclable.

PVC, Polyvinyl Chloride, has excellent transparency, chemical resistance, long term stability, good weatherability and stable electrical properties. Vinyl products can be categorized as rigid or flexible. Rigid applications are primarily concentrated in construction markets (such as pipe and fittings, siding, rigid flooring, windows and outdoor furniture). PVC is resistance to most chemicals, imperviousness to attack by bacteria or micro-organisms, corrosion resistance and strong. Flexible vinyl is used in wire and cable sheathing, insulation, film and sheet, resilient floor coverings, synthetic leather products, coatings, and in the health care industry for such things as blood bags and medical tubing. It is also used in some cling wraps, bottles, toys and even baby teethers. It has been recommended to avoid PVC. The nonprofits Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ) and Environmental Health Strategy Center have asked companies to phase out the use of PVC because it poses serious health threats at every stage of its life cycle.

They cite:

•	Production requires highly polluting and cancer-causing chemicals that have contaminated the areas where its manufactured.
•	PVC is often made with metal stabilizers (which can include Organotins and lead, and cadmium in older PVC products) and plasticizers such as phthalates which can leach out or offgas from the finished products and have been shown to cause developmental and reproductive damage.
•	And, PVC incineration leads to the emission of dioxins, which are known to cause cancer, as well as reproductive, developmental, and immune problems.

Landfilling PVC can cause the plastic's toxic additives to leach into groundwater. PVC is very difficult to recycle and contaminates other kinds of plastics when recycled with them. Recycling collectors have difficulty identifying and separating plastic resins. However, there are markets involving recycled PVC which include siding and drain pipe, which can use large quantities of lower-quality resin, and old PVC roofs are being recycled into new roofing and waterproofing membranes and walkway materials. A system for labeling, collecting and recycling PVC is being developed.

LDPE, Low Density Polyethylene is predominantly used in film applications. Its tough, flexible and transparent. LDPE has a low melting point making it popular where heat sealing is necessary. It is used to manufacture flexible films (such as bags used for dry cleaned garments, food storage, produce and garbage), some cling wrap, flexible lids and bottles. It is widely used in wire and cable applications for its stable electrical properties and processing characteristics. It is generally considered safe, with some precautions. It is not widely recyclable. Film plastics are the most common type of plastic packaging and represent an enormous source of potentially recyclable post-consumer plastic. However, consumer and manufacturer interest in recycled content plastic film products is expected to increase.

PP, Polypropylene, has excellent chemical resistance and is found in everything from flexible and rigid packaging to fibers for fabrics and carpets, large molded parts for autos, and consumer product packaging such as bottle caps, drinking straws, ketchup bottles, yogurt containers, medicine bottles, pancake syrup bottles, butter tubs and some baby bottles. It has a high melting point making it ideal for hot fill liquids. Like other plastics, PP has excellent resistance to water and to salt and acid solutions that are destructive to metals. It is commonly used to manufacture products with extended lifetimes such as furniture and auto battery cases. PP is generally considered safe. It is not widely recycled. Automobile makers are experimenting with recycling PP scrap from old cars into new car bumpers.

PS, Polystyrene, is a versatile plastic that can be rigid or foamed, sheet or molded. General purpose polystyrene is clear, hard and brittle, ideal where transparency is important, as in medical and food packaging and in certain electronic uses. Expandable Polystyrene (EPS) is commonly extruded into sheet form (such as trays for meats, fish and cheeses, plastic tableware, cutlery and other disposable food service items, and containers such as egg crates) and directly formed into cups and tubs for dry foods like dehydrated soups. Used extensively in "packing peanuts" and in take-out restaurants for their lightweight stiffness and excellent thermal insulation in cups and clamshell food containers. It has been recommended to avoid PP because styrene and benzene, used in its production, may leach into food and beverages. According to the EPA, short-term styrene exposure at levels above the Maximum Contaminant Level can cause nervous-system effects such as loss of concentration, weakness, and nausea; long-term exposure can cause liver and nerve damage and cancer. It's surprising that such a product from toxic substances is allowed to be use as packaging for food; particularly where it has direct contact with the food. Nearly two dozen cities in the US have banned the use of polystyrene for this purpose. PS is not widely recyclable, although many packing and shipping stores accept packing peanuts for reuse.

Other Plastics, Polycarbonates and mixed materials.There are many other plastics beyond the most common ones described above. Although the #7 designation is a catchall for plastics that don't fit into one of the other categories, products marked with this number are often polycarbonates, commonly used in baby bottles, sport water bottles, liners of metal food cans, and other items. Bisphenol-A (BPA) is used in making polycarbonates, is considered an endocrine disruptor and can leach into food and beverages. Polycarbonate products have been recommended to avoid because of the Bisphenol-A. The Environmental Health Perspectives' review of studies regarding BPA's effects reports that more than 80% of published studies assessing the effects of low-dose BPA exposure on laboratory animals found significant effects, including alterations to brain chemistry and structure, behavior, the immune system, and male and female reproductive systems. Polycarbonates are not widely recyclable.

New Trends: Bioplastics
Most of the bioplastics used in the US are Polymerized Lactic Acid (PLA) made by NatureWorks LLC, a company owned by Cargill. Developed primarily from a forsighted team concerned with the rising price and supply limits of petroleum, as well as environmental factors, PLA was developed from 100% annually renewable resources like corn, soy, sugar cane, and other crops. It can be used as an alternative to many plastics, such as polyester, polyolefins, polystyrene and cellulosics (the PETs). Several food producers have adopted PLA for deli and food packaging; PLA exists as cutlery and other disposable tabletop items; Toyota has even started using bioplastics in some of its cars. It has also been used as a high-performance synthetic fiber, branded as Ingeo™ fiber.

Bioplastic is a good alternative when reuse of items isn't feasible such as an option to disposable plastic cutlery. Its great as bags for collecting kitchen compost and yard trimmings destined for composting because the bags can be composted along with their contents.

Bioplastic's Benefits: bioplastics theoretically biodegrade under the right conditions. PLA can be recycled into more of the same product repeatedly, while many plastics can't. It has been reported that the manufacturing process consumes 50% less fossil fuel, even after accounting for the fuel needed to plant and harvest the corn. That could be the result of NatureWorks' claims of purchasing renewable energy certificates for its manufacturing plant.

Bioplastic's Concerns:
There are issues with Bioplastic, but the Sustainable Energy & Environmental Demand (SEED) Initiative of the organization Future 500 is helping NatureWorks and environmental groups work together to make PLA as eco-friendly as possible. Issues include:

•	the large amounts of energy and chemicals used to grow and process the corn, the primary crop used in PLA.
•	In landfills, PLA lacks the light and heat it needs to degrade.
•	Currently PLA can't be processed by mainstream recyclers. Perhaps that will change when it makes up a far greater percentage of plastic than it does now. (Total market size for bioplastics is difficult to estimate, but global consumption is around 85,000 tons. In contrast, global consumption of all flexible packaging is estimated at around 12.3 million tons.) Development of a separate recycling stream for PLA would be ideal and NatureWorks has developed a program for buying baled PLA back from recyclers to help resolve that issue.
•	Genetic modification (GMO) is commonly used in these crops in the US. European consumers are hostile to any products that are linked to the GMO industry. As a result, they will not use US manufactured bioplastic, such as NatureWorks PLA, keeping the market limited.
•	The land required to grow the crops, the rise in prices and diversion of food based crops into fuel based crops, intended simply to use up and burn.

How to Be a Smart Plastic User
With a little effort, we can all reduce our use of plastics and make the healthiest choices for our families and the planet.

Here's the “Smart Plastics Guide” recommendations:

Take precautions: When you do use plastic, it's best to choose those labeled #1, #2, #4, and #5 and avoid those labeled #3, #6, and #7. Remember, even if you're choosing the best plastics, there are still concerns about chemical leaching associated with long term storage or heat.

•	Avoid using plastic containers in the microwave. Prioritize using glass or ceramic containers free of metallic paint.
•	Beware of cling wraps, especially for microwave use.
•	Avoid plastic bottled water whenever possible.
•	If you do use plastic water bottles, take precautions. If you use a polycarbonate water bottle, reduce the possibility of leaching BPA by avoiding warm or hot liquids, and discard old or scratched bottles. Water bottles from #1 or #2 plastics are recommended for single use only. If you do reuse, for all types of plastic, reduce the possibility of bacterial contamination by thoroughly washing daily. However, avoid using harsh detergents that can break down the plastic and increase chemical leaching.

Take Particular Care With Kids: The developing immune system of fetuses and children make them particularly susceptible to the negative impacts of toxins.

•	Parents and pregnant women should be aware to use precautionary measures with plastics. Plastic baby bottles are of particular concern. The Children's Health Environmental Coalition (CHEC) advises avoiding polycarbonate bottles (#7) bottles and instead selecting those made of tempered glass or polyethylene and polypropylene (#1, #2, or #5).
•	CHEC also recommends using bottle nipples made of clear silicone to lower the chances of bacteria forming and hiding on its surface. Silicone is also more heat resistant.
•	For toys, CHEC recommends avoidance of plastic toys, which are often made of PVC and can leach harmful chemicals when chewed on. They prefer to recommend cloth and wooden toys or taking the time to research which toy manufacturers have eliminated PVC from their products.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle:

•	Reduce first: Avoid single-use items such as disposable bottles, plates, and cutlery. Prioritize PLA if you must use disposable. (You can likely purchase it online if not in your neighborhood.) To cut down on the total amount of plastic used, prioritize packaged goods in the largest container available, rather than several smaller ones, (for example, a gallon container of water rather than sixteen 8 oz. bottles). Carry a refillable bottle or mug for beverages on the go, and bring reusable cloth bags to stores. For leftovers and takeout food, reusable containers and coated cardboard are better than foam boxes or plastic.
•	Reuse: If you regularly buy products that are only available in plastic packaging, buy those you can reuse. You can use them for other purposes or refill them using the precautions already mentioned.
•	Recycle: 75% of plastics are landfilled or incinerated after a single use - or just tossed into the environment. Plastic recycling has lightened some of the “throw away” burden, but US plastic-bottle recycling rate is still just 25%. After Reduce and Reuse, Recycling is the next best thing. Even if we managed to raise the amount we do recycle, it isn't the ideal solution because it is recycled into lower-quality plastic with limited applications, such as plastic composite lumber, much of which currently ends its life only after its 2nd use. For recycling to work full cycle, purchase items made from or packaged in post-consumer content recycled plastic. If you have a curbside program that doesn't accept certain plastics, consult www.earth911.org to find an alternative drop-off site near you.

Following these guidelines will assist you and your family being safer using plastics and help the environment from both toxins getting into the environment and discarded trash accumulating to harm all living things. Practice these guidelines for 30 days until they become a natural habit. You will be making a huge difference.

Copyright Elaine Ireland, 2008 (all rights reserved)