There’s no denying it, The Plastic Detox on Netflix paints a pretty bleak picture. Over the past few decades, the link between plastics and a wide range of serious health problems ranging from infertility to cancer, has grown to the point that it has become impossible to ignore. And this research undertaken by a number of scientists and academics, including the brilliant Dr. Shanna Swan, has finally gone mainstream.
This blog looks at some of the hard truths around plastic; where it's used and the impact it's having on our health – as well as ways we can minimise our exposure to plastics.
But first, some stats:
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Over half of the plastic ever manufactured has been produced since 2000
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98% of plastic is petroleum-based
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Global plastic production is set to increase from 475 metric tonnes in 2022 up to a stomach-churning 884 metric tonnes in 2050.
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40% of global plastic production is used for packaging – making packaging the largest plastic production market.
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The average UK household throws away 1.7 billion pieces of plastic packaging a week.
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Only an estimated 9% of the plastics ever produced have been recycled.
The problem is, plastic is everywhere.
Sometimes it's easy to spot, and easy to avoid. Sometimes it's hidden under a disguise of complex names and artificial fragrances. It’s the myriad of plastics hidden deep in the ingredients lists of the products we use on our skin, our hair, our children, and wash down our sinks and showers – every single day. Here are just a few of the different types of plastic used within some of the UK’s most popular household and skincare products and brands:
- Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic, plastic-based thickening and emulsifying ingredient used in skincare, sometimes referred to as 'liquid microplastic'. It’s used in hundreds of products, including Garnier's Natural Rose Water Cleansing Milk – labelled as containing “96% of ingredients from natural origins”.
- Phthalates are a group of industrial chemicals, commonly known as plasticisers, that are used to make fragrances in skincare and household products last longer. Considered endocrine disruptors, phthalates interfere with hormonal functions. Studies have linked them to reproductive system issues, developmental problems in children, and other major health concerns.
- Polyethylene (PE) is most frequently found microplastic polymer in skincare and cosmetics, often used in moisturisers, face scrubs, shower gels, make up and suncream – from some of the world's leading luxury and high street brands. Polyethylene is also found in plastic chopping boards and utensils, plastic bottles and food packaging.
- Polypropylene (PP) is used in food containers, baby products, skincare and cosmetic packaging – but is also used in moisturisers, face scrubs and make-up from brands including Rimmel, Roc, Sephora and Revlon.
- Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is a synthetic plastic polymer used as a film-forming agent and is found in plastic bottles, food containers, as well as night creams, lipsticks and nail varnish – and it’s often used as glitter in cosmetic products.
Ten ways to reduce your exposure to plastic:
1. Use natural cloths, brushes, and scourers for washing up and cleaning around the home. Choose natural fibres like cotton, wood pulp, coconut, tampico… and avoid synthetic fibres, such as polyester, nylon and microfibre.
2. Store food in glass or ceramic containers. You don’t have to buy new; save your jars or hit the charity shops. For food on the go, consider paper sandwich bags, reusable cotton bags, or jars.
3. Use wooden, bamboo and stainless steel cooking utensils. When heat is applied to plastic utensils, toxic chemicals are released, straight into the food.
4. Every cut into a plastic chopping board is a shard of plastic released into the environment – and potentially your body, too. Wood and bamboo are both great alternatives. To care for your wooden chopping boards, wash with warm soapy water. For a bit of extra love, treat with food-grade beeswax or olive oil.
5. Our skin is our largest organ and everything we put on it goes straight into it. Look for ingredients that are clean and toxin-free. Reading labels is so important as brands will try and trick us with their packaging and wording. We love the UpCircle skincare range, including cleansing milk, moisturiser, eye cream, lip balm, body scrub and sun cream – 95-100% natural ingredients and no plasticisers.
6. A year of menstrual cycles could include 768 pieces of packaging (based on four towels or tampons per day over a four day cycle). Of course it’s not just about the packaging – it’s the toxic chemicals that are used. Reusable towels and menstrual cups are brilliant options. No more nasty petrochemicals in our pants, please.
7. Avoid printed receipts. Most businesses should be able to offer a digital receipt via text or email. BPA leaching from receipts in wallets, purses, pockets and bags is a terrible thought. As far back as 1933, BPA was studied for its potential use as a hormone regulator, i.e. birth control.
8. Buy loose food, without plastic packaging, wherever and whenever you can. Visiting your local market, farm shop or refill store, will make this easier. But if not, paper, glass and foil packaging can be recycled far easier than plastic. Food delivery schemes like Riverford can also help with buying fruit and vegetables without plastic packaging – always check what’s available locally to you.
9. The two most common microplastics found in dental care products are Carbomer and PVP – and are used by brands including Aquafresh, Oral B and Sensodyne. Look for natural toothpastes in glass jars or metal tubes. Our favourite brands are Georganics and Ben + Anna. Did you know? Yuka scores Georganics Toothpaste with Pre/Probiotics 91% – while Oral-B’s Pro Expert Professional Protection Toothpaste scores just 31%.
10. Refillable soap and shampoo/conditioner – or solid bars – can make a huge difference to the amount of plastic in your bathroom. It’s important to remember that not all soap and shampoo/conditioner bars are created equal. Be careful to avoid toxic ingredients and harsh artificial fragrances.
The fossil fuel industry is a ravenous beast.
If it was down to the big corporations, our reliance on plastic would never end; there is too much money to be made, with little care about the human or environmental cost. One of the world’s largest plastic producers, DuPont, acknowledged as early as 1974 that recycling its plastic products was not possible – to the extent that they declined to take part in a pilot recycling scheme citing that recycling their plastic products was "not feasible".
So it's up to us as consumers to drive the change.
As proven in The Plastic Detox, reducing exposure to plastic can make a huge difference in a short timeframe. So wherever you are on your journey to reducing plastic and toxins in your home, there are small, sustainable, proactive steps you can take.
• Shop plastic free pantry
• Shop plastic free skincare
• Shop plastic free kitchen
We're not just another grocery store.
We believe in sustainable plastic-free living for the modern world.
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