What they're saying about some plastics
In this article, recently published in the Food Service Magazine, there is a clear indication of many concerns over the chemicals in some plastics and their possible affects on humans. The products in question (PET water bottles) can easily be replaced with materials that come from natural resources (PLA - polylactide) and do not need these chemicals included in their makeup. What's more, these new materials can be composted and so can be returned to the very place they came from, at the same time enhancing the environment they came from.
Some suggest that these chemicals are only released under certain conditions such as exposure to prolonged direct sunlight and increased heat. During the handling and transport of these products, they are exposed to many of these elements. Consider these products wrapped in plastic on pallets sitting outside distribution points waiting for handling or loading on to trucks. And then off-loaded outside supermarkets / outlets before they are unwrapped and placed in to storage or on the shelf. All that before you have left it in the drink holder of your car or on the seat or ground while you are playing sport.
The best solution to the problem is simply not to use PET (polyethylene terepthalate) for these applications. I'm sure it has it's places amongst the many plastics available, but why risk using it in direct food contact when there are ready and proven alternatives available.
Some suggest that these chemicals are only released under certain conditions such as exposure to prolonged direct sunlight and increased heat. During the handling and transport of these products, they are exposed to many of these elements. Consider these products wrapped in plastic on pallets sitting outside distribution points waiting for handling or loading on to trucks. And then off-loaded outside supermarkets / outlets before they are unwrapped and placed in to storage or on the shelf. All that before you have left it in the drink holder of your car or on the seat or ground while you are playing sport.
The best solution to the problem is simply not to use PET (polyethylene terepthalate) for these applications. I'm sure it has it's places amongst the many plastics available, but why risk using it in direct food contact when there are ready and proven alternatives available.
| poisonous_plastic_page_1.pdf |
| poisonous_plastic_page_2.pdf |
