Plastic is both unsustainable and toxic

When going down the rabbit hole of non-toxic living, I tend to geek-out. I’ve turned many stones trying to protect and improve the health of our family. And I have a sneaky feeling  that I’m far from done!

I do get a lot of questions about where to start however. And truth to be told, you can make a considerable impact with just a few #nontoxicsteps.

Smth that I notice daily is how widely used #plastic food containers and plastic bottles are. While it may sound trivial to some, I think it’s worth repeating again and again: plastic is a petroleum-based product that can leach chemicals into your food and water. There are different types of plastics, each containing different substances that can cause health problems when in contact with your food/water/skin – primarily metabolic disorders and reproductive issues. 

Plastics have no place in your kitchen #ditchplastic. Avoiding plastic containers and bottles is especially important if you are #pregnant, trying to conceive or have small kids. Most importantly, please don’t microwave your food while in a plastic container (better yet – don’t microwave at all) as heat accelerates release of harmful chemicals.

Even if packaging says that plastic is BPA-free, it can still contain BPS or BPF, which are at least as harmful.

What to choose instead?

1. Stainless steel
2. Glass
   
   

Silicon can be an alternative too but must be of medical grade.  If you use bamboo, make sure that no chemicals were used during manufacturing. 

When introducing non-toxic alternatives in our lives, I often struggle to justify my choice from #sustainability point of view. Therefore to reduce waste, I try to extend the life of the old items without compromising my or my family’s health. E.g. I reused plastic containers for non-food items and as some as toys for the kids (ok as long as they don’t put them in their mouths). And when buying new, I always choose durable and #earthfriendly materials I mentioned above.