Plastic Packaging: Myths and Facts

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Plastic Packaging Myths and Facts by Jean-Pier
re Emond Packaging Science Program IFAS May 2004
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Plastic Packaging Danger with Microwaves
? Recyclable ?
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Microwave Oven vs Plastic containers
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Microwave
According to FDA, chemical components can indeed
"migrate" from plastics into food at microwaving
temperatures. However, there is scant evidence
to date from FDA that such contaminants pose a
serious threat to human health.
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Microwave
Dioxins in plastic wrap? Studies have shown
that dioxins may be released into the atmosphere
when plastics are incinerated at high
temperatures, but there is no research
demonstrating that dioxins are produced when the
same plastics are heated in a microwave oven.
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Microwave
DEHA is a "plasticizer" a softening compound
added to plastic products to make them more
pliable. Studies have shown that DEHA can migrate
into food. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
removed it from its list of toxic chemicals based
on a review that "it cannot reasonably be
anticipated to cause cancer
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Microwave
Virtually all sources do agree on one important
point Consumers can and should protect
themselves when using plastic products in the
microwave by following these basic precautions
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Microwave
Only use cookware that is specially manufactured
for use in the microwave oven. Glass, ceramic
containers, and all plastics should be labeled
for microwave oven use.
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Microwave
Plastic storage containers such as margarine
tubs, take-out containers, whipped topping bowls,
and other one-time use containers should not be
used in microwave ovens. These containers can
warp or melt, possibly causing harmful chemicals
to migrate into the food.
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Microwave
Microwave plastic wraps, wax paper, cooking bags,
parchment paper, and white microwave-safe paper
towels should be safe to use. Do not let plastic
wrap touch foods during microwaving.
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Microwave
Never use thin plastic storage bags, brown paper
or plastic grocery bags, newspapers, or aluminum
foil in the microwave oven.
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Recycling!
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Recycling
Misconception 1 Plastics that go into a
curbside recycling bin get recycled.
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Recycling
Not necessarily. Collecting plastic containers at
curbside fosters the belief that they are
converted into new containers. In fact, the
recovered plastics are being made into new
secondary products such as textiles, parking lot
bumpers, or plastic lumber
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Recycling
Misconception 2 Curbside collection will
reduce the amount of plastic landfilled.
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Recycling
Not necessarily. If establishing collection makes
plastic packages seem more environmentally
friendly, people may feel comfortable buying
more.
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Recycling
Misconception 3 A chasing arrows symbol means
a plastic container is recyclable. The arrows are
meaningless. Every plastic container is marked
with the chasing arrows symbol.
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Recycling
The only information in the symbol is the number
inside the arrows, which indicates the general
class of resin used to make the container.
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Recycling
Misconception 4 Packaging resins are made from
petroleum refineries waste.
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Recycling
Plastic resins are made from non-renewable
natural resources that could be used for a
variety of other applications or conserved.
Most packaging plastics are made from the same
natural gas used in homes to heat water and cook.

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Recycling
Misconception 5 Plastics recyclers pay to
promote plastics recyclability.
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Recycling
No! Virgin resin producers pay for the bulk of
these ads. Most such ads are placed by virgin
plastic manufacturers whose goal is to promote
plastic sales.
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Recycling (What Kind ?)
PET and HDPE plastic bottles are the most common
materials handled at facilities recycling
post-consumer plastics. PET
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Recycling (What Kind ?)
95 of all plastic bottles in the United States
market are manufactured from PET or HDPE (48 and
47 respectively) PET
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Recycling (What Kind ?)
Domestic capacity to reclaim PET and HDPE plastic
bottles significantly exceeds recycled
quantities, stressing the need to reinvigorate
community collection programs. PET