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Pocket Guide Singleprint

The document discusses Eco-Cycle's guide to plastics, encouraging avoiding plastic and single-use packaging as much as possible due to large increases in plastic production. It identifies plastics to avoid like PVC and PETE due to chemical leaching, and safer alternatives like glass, steel, and PLA.

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Henley Stevenson
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56 views

Pocket Guide Singleprint

The document discusses Eco-Cycle's guide to plastics, encouraging avoiding plastic and single-use packaging as much as possible due to large increases in plastic production. It identifies plastics to avoid like PVC and PETE due to chemical leaching, and safer alternatives like glass, steel, and PLA.

Uploaded by

Henley Stevenson
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Eco-Cycles Pocket Guide to Plastics

AVOIDING pLASTIC BEATS RECYCLING pLASTIC!


While a number of plastics are now recyclable, Eco-Cycle encourages you to avoid plastic and single-use packaging as much as possiblein the past 45 years, its increased more than 10,000%! Simply recycling this packaging does not negate the environmental damage done when the resource is extracted or when the plastic is manufactured. See the reverse side of this guide to see which plastics are more problematic than others, both in manufacture and in use.

PLASTICS TO AVOID:

ALL pLASTICS CAN LEACH CHEMICALS UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS


Avoid subjecting plastic containers to high temperatures (like in the microwave or dishwasher, from hot food or drink, or from direct sun). Microwave safe simply indicates the plastic wont melt in the microwave, not that it wont leach chemicals. Avoid using harsh detergents to clean plastics to prevent releasing additional chemicals.

PVC PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, is or V commonly considered the most damaging of all plastics. It releases carcinogenic dioxins into the environment when manufactured or incinerated and can leach phthalates with use.

PETE, or polyethylene terephthalate, is PETE considered among the safest plastics, though some studies do indicate that repeated use of the same PETE bottle or container could cause leaching of DEHP, an endocrine-disrupting phthalate and probable human carcinogen. Some reusable sports are a #2 (high2 bottles density polyethylene), HDPE and these are far preferable to the #7 versions.

SAFER PLASTICS:

6
PS

REUSABLE ALTERNATIVES
For safer alternatives, use resealable glass containers to store and heat food, a stainless steel to-go coffee cup instead of plastic, and for water bottles, try a stainless steel bottle. These products are all available at Eco-Cycles eStore at www.ecocycle.org/estore.

Youll find this code on your foam, or polystyrene, cups and to go boxes, as well as some clear cups and containers. Polystyrene can leach styrene, a possible human carcinogen. PC, or polycarbonate, can potentially leach bisphenol-A, a known hormone disrupter. PC is NOT to be confused with #7 PLA. See right.

4
LDPE

Low-density polyethylene and polypropylene are considered reasonably safe.

5
PP
2008 Eco-Cycle, Inc. 2008 Eco-Cycle, Inc.

7
PC

7
PLA
7
PL A

303.444.6634 www.ecocycle.org
2008 Eco-Cycle, Inc.

PLA, or polylactic acid, is a safe, biodegradable, compostable (not recyclable) plastic made from corn starch or other plant sugars.

Eco-Cycles Pocket Guide to Plastics

AVOIDING pLASTIC BEATS RECYCLING pLASTIC!


While a number of plastics are now recyclable, Eco-Cycle encourages you to avoid plastic and single-use packaging as much as possiblein the past 45 years, its increased more than 10,000%! Simply recycling this packaging does not negate the environmental damage done when the resource is extracted or when the plastic is manufactured. See the reverse side of this guide to see which plastics are more problematic than others, both in manufacture and in use.

PLASTICS TO AVOID:

ALL pLASTICS CAN LEACH CHEMICALS UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS


Avoid subjecting plastic containers to high temperatures (like in the microwave or dishwasher, from hot food or drink, or from direct sun). Microwave safe simply indicates the plastic wont melt in the microwave, not that it wont leach chemicals. Avoid using harsh detergents to clean plastics to prevent releasing additional chemicals.

PVC PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, is or V commonly considered the most damaging of all plastics. It releases carcinogenic dioxins into the environment when manufactured or incinerated and can leach phthalates with use.

PETE, or polyethylene terephthalate, is PETE considered among the safest plastics, though some studies do indicate that repeated use of the same PETE bottle or container could cause leaching of DEHP, an endocrine-disrupting phthalate and probable human carcinogen. Some reusable sports are a #2 (high2 bottles density polyethylene), HDPE and these are far preferable to the #7 versions.

SAFER PLASTICS:

6
PS

REUSABLE ALTERNATIVES
For safer alternatives, use resealable glass containers to store and heat food, a stainless steel to-go coffee cup instead of plastic, and for water bottles, try a stainless steel bottle. These products are all available at Eco-Cycles eStore at www.ecocycle.org/estore.

Youll find this code on your foam, or polystyrene, cups and to go boxes, as well as some clear cups and containers. Polystyrene can leach styrene, a possible human carcinogen. PC, or polycarbonate, can potentially leach bisphenol-A, a known hormone disrupter. PC is NOT to be confused with #7 PLA. See right.

4
LDPE

Low-density polyethylene and polypropylene are considered reasonably safe.

5
PP

7
PC

7
PLA
7
PL A

303.444.6634 www.ecocycle.org
2008 Eco-Cycle, Inc.

PLA, or polylactic acid, is a safe, biodegradable, compostable (not recyclable) plastic made from corn starch or other plant sugars.

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