Kids on the coast

What are Plastics made from?

Most plastic products are derived from petrochemical products such as oil and natural gas, but the term “plastic” covers a wide variety of different materials, many of which contain other specific chemicals in order to make them suitable for their intended use. For example, clear, hard plastics (polycarbonate plastics) are made with a chemical called bisphenol-A (BPA). Since the 1960’s, BPA plastics have been widely used for “food grade” materials, such as air-tight containers, baby bottles, sippy cups, and coatings for the inside of tinned and canned drinks and foods, including baby formula. They’re also used for everything from optical lenses, CD cases, and mobile phones, to vehicles, safety equipment, computers, epoxy resins, etc.
 
However, BPA just happens to be a chemical which can mimic the natural hormone oestrogen. As always, the internet abounds with conflicting information. While manufacturers say BPA has been studied extensively and proven safe, others say that the chemical bond between BPA molecules is unstable, and according to online journal Bio-medicine, tests have shown that BPA can enter the body from the food [or milk] being heated in a plastic container.

Some studies have indicated that BPA can interfere with the brain development of newborns, and that when some baby bottles are heated they can leach dangerous levels of BPA. In 2008, The National Toxicology Program from the US Department of Health and Human Services expressed “some concern for the effects on brain, behaviour and prostate gland in foetuses, infants and children at current human exposure to BPA”. The Scientific American online journal says BPA “has also been linked to breast cancer and to the early onset of puberty”.
 
Activists allege that the chemical industry has exerted undue influence on the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), with a leading industry figure “coincidentally” donating $US 5 million to a university research centre directed by the chair of the FDA’s BPA review panel.

In October 2008, Canada was the first country in the world to take regulatory action, banning the sale of all clear polycarbonate plastic baby bottles that contain BPA. Japanese regulators are also reviewing the situation and the US has created a coalition of health advocates to address the problem. Six major US manufacturers agreed earlier this year to stop using BPA in baby bottles. However according to a statement on Food Standards Australia / New Zealand’s website (www.foodstandards.gov.au), while they are keeping a close eye on the action of other countries, for now they are agreeing with the European Food Safety Authority that BPA levels, even in bottle-fed babies, are well below the currently acceptable “safe limits”.
In any case, BPA-free baby and water bottles are now available, as a variety of producers are responding to consumer concern. (Ask at baby outlets or do a Google search for “BPA-free” for more information.)

It’s not just BPA...

Have you let your child chew on a chemical compound called polyvinyl chloride? Probably. Polyvinyl chloride, more commonly known as PVC, is widely used in the manufacturing of teething rings, rubber ducks and a number of plastic toys. Plastic compounds called phthalates are often added to the PVC to make it more flexible and soft. A number of European countries and some states of America have recently banned children’s toys containing some phthalates as some studies have shown they may cause serious reproductive and hormonal abnormalities in newborn boys.
Again, the Australian government hasn’t banned the use of phthalates in children’s toys, so be an informed consumer and shop around. The best way to find out if your child’s toy contains phthalates is to contact the manufacturer or visit www.healthytoys.org for more information.
 
There are a number of sites available online who advertise as having eco friendly/organic/chemical free toys (do a Google search using these terms), many of which also support fair trade and ethical business practices - another great reason to support them!

Not all Plastics are created equal

As convenient as plastic is, there are a number of reasons to try and look for alternatives. For example, PVC wrap is often used on pre-packaged meat, fruit and vegetables, and some takeaway foods. When food is wrapped in plastic, some of the chemicals in the plastic can transfer to the food inside. Plastic also creates landfill waste and is usually manufactured from non-renewable resources.
Believe it or not, biodegradable plant-based plastics have been around for quite some time. The term biodegradable means that a substance can be broken down by living organisms within a specific number of days. Of course this sometimes means they’re not as waterproof or long-lasting, but new improved bioplastics are being developed, for example those now used in the manufacture of some “eco-friendly” disposable nappies. (See Check This Out).

No bag, thanks

Australians love plastic bags - after all, they’re handy, cheap, waterproof and readily available. Oh, and pretty much indestructible. In 2004, The Department of Environment and Heritage found Australians used “6.7 billion supermarket or checkout bags, 900 million LDPE (thick plastic) shopping bags, 830 million sandwich and storage bags, 720 million freezer bags, 330 kitchen tidy bags and 250 million garbage bags”. Imagine all that in landfill, as street litter or washed into our waterways where they play havoc on our marine life (in the ocean those pesky clear plastic bags are a dead ringer for sea jellies).

It’s great to say no to plastic bags, but be aware that calico bags use a lot of water resources (to produce the cotton), paper bags use trees and energy and can’t be reused as often, and “green bags” are made from polypropylene fibres, which take a while to break down, although at least if they do make it to the ocean, they won’t be mistaken for a food source. Consider using string or hemp bags, and/or or walking to the shops with a “granny trolley” that you can load up and wheel behind you…green is cool, after all, and you’ll use less fuel and get more exercise!
Plastic, plastic, everywhere

Love may fade, but plastic goes on. Ocean currents have created various “toilet bowls” where plastics and garbage collect. One, known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, off the United States, was the size of Texas in the early 1990’s and continues to grow larger in area, while the fragments of plastic become smaller and enter the food chain. It’s frightening, but does it help to scowl at shoppers as they carry plastic bags to their car? Well, at least if they use supermarket carry bags to line rubbish bins, they aren’t buying plastic bin liners! While the long-term goal may be to eliminate plastic from our environment, in the meantime we can at least re-use it.

Not happy about nappies?

Disposable nappies were once considered a miracle. Environmentally-speaking, they’re a disaster, and because they contain potential irritants, and are often changed less frequently, they can also contribute to severe nappy rash and urinary tract infections. We now have an average of 3.75 million disposable nappies dumped DAILY in Australia and New Zealand, and they take hundreds of years to break down.

As well as plasticized “paper” coverings, the sodium polyacrylate filling, which makes disposables so absorbent, can come loose, appearing as small crystals on your baby’s skin, and potentially entering the genitals / urinary tract. What a difference 30 years makes to the “disposable” mentality: the smart, enviro- and baby-friendly and long-term cheaper alternatives include new generation cloth nappies (nothing like the old ones!) and biodegradable disposables.

Ten ways to un-plastic your life

1. Be aware of how much plastic you buy. If you don’t need it, don’t buy it.
2. Kick the bottled water habit – carry a stainless steel bottle and refill it.
3. Avoid or cut down on takeaway teas and coffees. BYO mug instead
4. Don’t put plastic bags in your recycle bins - it affects the machinery
5. Look for enviro-friendly packaging / recycled or recyclable materials, for example, switch from laundry detergent in plastic bottles to powders in cardboard boxes.
6. Go back to using solid soap
7. Wrap your household waste in newspapers
8. Make your own natural cleaning products such as bi-carbonate soda and vinegar rather than buying commercial ones in plastic bottles.
9. Cut the tops off drink bottles and plant seedlings or use as scoops
10. Create a craft box full of used packaging, boxes, cardboard rolls etc. It will help reduce the need for other plastic toys, and at the end you can put it all in the recycle bin (when the kids aren’t looking)!

Further reading: Part of an engaging and visual series of books aimed at primary schoolers, Plastics takes an in-depth look at how plastics are recycled, from the bin to the brand new product. Other books in the series look at metal, paper, food waste, water and glass. They make a great complement to the school curriculum. Published by Hatchette Children’s books and available in most good bookshops. Visit www.hachettechildrens.com.au