Today plastics have invaded our homes in carpets, countertops, clothing, storage containers, pipes, furniture and how we carry things. So we live in, eat and drink out of and wear plastics! With so much press about the toxins contained in plastics, it's not a comfortable thought, is it? Add in the incredible beating our environment is taking every time we get rid of the plastic we no longer want and it's a frightening toll - plastic never biodegrades; it hangs around forever, slowly leeching poisons into our soil and groundwater.
Understanding the Plastics You Use
Some plastics are relatively safe and can be recycled into other products while others have been proven to be toxic even with limited use as well as being highly toxic to the environment. The Plastics Industry developed a numbering system to identify which plastics are which.
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Polyethylene Terephthalate
Indicates most clear drink containers. |
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High Density Polyethylene
Used for cloudy milk & water containers and dark food containers. |
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Polyvinyl Chloride
Cling wraps, some soft bottles. This is PVC and can leach into foods and is very toxic to the environment. Do NOT heat foods in containers with this number. |
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Low Density Polyethylene
Food storage bags, squeeze bottles, some cling wraps. |
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Polypropylene
Rigid containers, some cups & bowls, some baby bottles. |
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Polystyrene
Styrofoam, especially take-out containers, bakery trays, etc, plastic cutlery. Can leach into foods. |
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Other
5-gallon water jugs, some metal can linings, some baby bottles. Can leach chemicals into some foods and liquids. |
If you do use plastics, those numbered 1, 2, 4 & 5 are safest for foods and drinks, while those numbered 3, 6 & 7 are the most dangerous for food and drinks. In general, what is worse for you is also worse for the environment.
There are some eco-friendly plastics based on corn starch. These are bio-degradable and are primarily being used on the West Coast, but are catching on. It is expensive to make, though, and can't hold hot beverages (it breaks down at 140°). They can, however, be composted at municipal compost sites, so they may catch on.
Moving away from plastics isn't easy in today's fast-paced world, but it can certainly be done. The easiest place to start is in the simple, repetitive tasks of living like grocery shopping. Those plastic bags you tote home are a by-product of oil refining and end up in land fills. Unfortunately, lots of them also end up out to sea, where tens and thousands of marine animals choke to death on them every year. Less than 3% of plastic bags are recycled and they never decompose.
Invest in a few stylish canvas totes that you take to the store with you and after just a few trips you'll fall in love. They're stylish and much sturdier than those flimsy plastic bags. You'll make fewer trips from car to your house, too, since they're roomier and stronger.
When you're ready to toss your plastic storage containers, look for glass or stainless steel for leftovers and dips. Pyrex, Crate and Barrel and IKEA all offer stylish, stackable storage solutions. Crate and Barrel has some charming glass containers in various sizes with a retro look that's pretty enough to go straight from the fridge to the table.
Removing Plastics from Your Home Décor
When you are ready to live without plastics, you'll discover that the alternatives are not only more natural and safer, they are attractive and luxurious! Some of the most common uses of plastics in the home include laminate countertops, vinyl flooring and synthetic fibers in carpets or upholstery.
Look for countertops out of natural materials like granite, concrete or ceramic or glass tile. Any of these are attractive, upscale solutions to laminates, which are made of colored resins bonded with plastics to form a durable surface. Bypass these in favor of more organic materials like concrete, granite, marble or glass.
Granite and marble countertops come in an amazing array of colors with rich veins through them that provide textural interest. Glass or ceramic tiles come in an infinite variety of colors and can be glazed with designs limited only by your imagination. Even concrete can be stained with colors of amazing depth and variety and formed into complex designs by artisans give you a unique look for your home.
Most of today's carpets are made of polyester, olefin or some other plastic derivative, as is vinyl flooring. Neither of them decompose and both give off chemicals into the air on a daily basis that pollute our indoor air. Alternatives that are much more eco-friendly and healthier include hardwoods and all-natural fiber floor coverings such as pure wool carpets.
Also consider sisal fiber and hemp rugs and some of the stylish new materials that have been showing up at design shows. Cork flooring, for instance, provides some give under foot for comfort and is an easily renewable natural resource. Even the adhesive and dyes for cork flooring are water-based!
Look for stylish natural alternatives to plastics when shopping for furniture and accessories, too. Although plastic outdoor furniture may be tempting because it's carefree and weather resistant, one day you'll have to dispose of it. Invest in some truly substantial teak pieces instead. These have the advantage of lasting for years and bringing the look and feel of fine furniture to your patio.
If you want to remove plastics from your bathroom, replace vinyl shower curtains with thick polished cottons that are waxed on one side or invest in glass shower doors.
From children's furniture to vases, you can find all natural versions of just about anything and everything made of plastic. By doing a bit of shopping around, you'll discover natural alternatives, and we're certain you'll soon realize that you prefer the texture, warmth and appeal of "the real deal" to plastic's toxic counterparts any day!