Problematic plastics

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Chances are, many of the plastic items you purchase come with a happy little "BPA-free" sticker. That's fantastic, because even at extremely low levels of exposure, BPA is a known estrogen hormone disrupter and is linked to obesity, developmental toxicity in babies and children, thyroid disruption, various types of cancer, childhood asthma, and some pretty frightening reproductive system anomalies.

Unfortunately, avoiding those toxic effects isn't as simple as looking for a BPA-free sticker: Most BPA-free plastics still release hormone disrupters. A study reported on by NPR showed that in a test of over 450 food service or packaging items from stores like Walmart and Whole Foods, over 70 percent released chemicals that mimic estrogen in the body, and that figure rose to over 95 percent when the plastics were subjected to stress tests that mimicked dishwasher or microwave use. On top of that, some plastics contain phthalates, which have the potential to cause cancer and do reproductive harm, and melamine, a hard plastic used in mixing bowls, measuring cups, and children's dishes, can transfer formaldehyde, a known carcinogen.

So, what can you do to solve the plastic problem? First, take a deep breath. Go ahead and take a nice refreshing sip of whatever you might be drinking out of a plastic cup right now and know that you aren't going to drop dead. Plastic is everywhere, so this can be overwhelming. If the above information (which is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to disconcerting facts about plastic) inspires you to want to make a few simple changes, read on:

Want to keep plastic in your life but reduce your toxin intake?

• Stop putting plastic in the dishwasher and microwave - This small change will make a big difference if you use a lot of plastic. The terms "microwave-safe" and "dishwasher-safe" refer to the melting point of the plastic, not the healthiest practice. Heat will cause your plastic to break down faster and leach additional chemicals into your food, so always hand wash your plastics and place food in a glass or ceramic container to microwave, without any plastic lid or plastic wrap. 
• Keep plastic out of the freezer - Just like heat, extreme cold can break down plastic and increase your exposure to hormone disrupters. If you typically use a plastic ice cube tray, switch to a silicone one - I like these mini hexagons. 
• Don't put anything fatty, greasy, or acidic in plastic - These foods break down plastic and absorb toxic chemicals more so than other foods.
• Ditch your plastic when it starts to get scratched, cloudy, or stained - This has always been the guidance on plastic, but it is easy to ignore. If you want to reduce your toxin intake, follow this rule and replace your plastic food containers frequently.
• Know your plastics - Check the little recycling symbol before you buy: #1 plastics are safe for one-time use only. #2, #4, and #5 are the safest known plastics. #3, #6, and #7 should always be avoided. 
• Look for brands that omit BPA and phthalates - Some companies like Glad let you know that their products are free from these particular chemicals. Although this does not guarantee that there are no hormone disrupters or other toxins, it should definitely lower your exposure. 
• Search for toys and baby products that are BPA-, PVC-, and phthalate-free - When I search Amazon for a product that I know will likely need to be plastic, I'll enter search terms like "phthalate," which is typically only mentioned if a product is phthalate-free. That's how I found this great bath seat. 
• Buy canned food that is BPA-free - Most cans are lined with BPA. Here is a list of brands whose cans are BPA-free. 
• Don't get a receipt - If you don't need your receipt, don't take it, since most receipt paper is coated in BPA.

Aspire to ease plastic out of your life altogether?

• Switch to a glass or stainless steel water bottle - If you only upgrade one item from plastic to something better, make it this. I love this elegant and durable glass bottle and this double-insulated stainless steel one, which keeps cold drinks cold for 36 hours, even if left in a hot car.
• Invest in glass food storage containers - We love glass Snapware, which you can usually get for a great price at Costco. The containers are easy to open and close and have an extremely tight seal, great for packing in school lunches. Or a great budget option: Reuse glass jam/marinara jars as food storage jars or even to-go cups (I have a huge collection of Trader Joe's corn salsa jars that are my favorite to-go cups for cold drinks). 
• Skip overly packaged foods - Buy food from the bulk bins, choose food packaged in glass instead of plastic, and prepare food yourself instead of buying packaged processed foods.
• Pack real silverware for picnics and lunches - Save your money, your health, and the environment by using the real deal instead of plastic silverware, and instantly upgrade all your picnics!
• Always use glass baby bottles - Dr. Brown's are great. Stainless steel baby bottles are a lesser known option as well.
• Go with a stainless steel sippy cup - We adore our Pura Kiki stainless bottle with a silicone sippy top. My 9-month-old has no trouble drinking from it on his own. 
• Choose wooden or silicone baby teethers and toys - For teething, we love these silicone rings. Check out the toys page in the Harmless Home Amazon Shop for other great plastic-free toys.

Once you're looking for it, you'll start to notice just how many times you rely on plastic every day. It simplifies our lives in so many ways! I wish that industrial chemicals were regulated for our safety in the same way that pharmaceutical or pesticide chemicals are, even though those systems aren't perfect. To read more on the unintended effects of plastics and the policy side of this issue, check out this article from Time magazine.

My positive take on this is: We as consumers are empowered. As we gain knowledge about the products in our homes, we can spread that knowledge to others and we can use it to choose safer products and create happy, harmless homes. Each time we purchase something, we are casting our vote. I will vote for healthy, safe food packaging by purchasing healthy, safe food packaging as often as I can. I will vote for healthy, safe baby toys by purchasing those toys for my baby and for each baby whose shower or birthday party I get to attend. As more consumers gain this same knowledge, more and more votes will be cast, and federal regulation or not, we will see safer and healthier products land on our store shelves. This requires that we become active consumers instead of passive consumers, and I think that is why I feel so motivated to write this blog - Let's learn, share, and vote with our everyday purchases, and we can pave the way to a harmless marketplace :)

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*In this post, I've linked to products in the Harmless Home Amazon Shop, an Amazon.com storefront curated by me, filled with products that I use and love. I'll always let you know if there is a cheaper place to find any of the products I recommend. When you add items to your cart and check out via the Harmless Home shop, you'll be taken back to the main Amazon.com site and will make your purchase there, but a portion of the proceeds from your sale will support this blog. You pay Amazon.com prices, Amazon manages your order, and Harmless Home gets a little love - It's a win-win :) For free 2-day shipping, sign up for a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime here.