Good, Bad, and Ugly Plastic

Let’s start with the good plastic called Bioplastic, because it is derived from biomass, which are living or recently living materials, like plants and organisms.  Two types of bioplastics are now being used in some water bottles, snack packaging, gift cards, and even ballpoint pens:  Polylactic Acid (PLA) and  polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA).  Look for these bioplastics when you are shopping. We can hopefully recycle bioplastic materials, but some products may not be completely recyclable--always read the packaging instructions to determine what parts are recyclable.  

Now for the bad plastic. It is our obligation to society to meet the challenges both good and bad.  The US EPA is taking a closer look at Bisphenol A, commonly called BPA. It is the plastic labeled #7 on the bottom of plastic containers.  What’s worse (getting ugly) is that it is used to coat the inside of food and drink cans. Canada and Denmark have banned use of BPA in baby bottles and products used for infants (see Marc Gunther’s article, Tipping Point on BPA).  For better or for worse, companies seeking alternatives to BPA will be in a better position than those who do not.

What we can do right now as consumers is avoid reusing or reheating plastic containers labeled #3, #6, and particularly #7 as stated (also reported here in Get to Know Green Symbols and Standards). We would like to commend the Canadian company, Life Without Plastic, dedicating its entire product line to non-plastic alternatives.