Browsing by Subject "plastic"

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Most plastic products release estrogenic chemicals: A potential health problem that can be solved
(Environmental Health Perspectives, 2011-07) Yang, Chun Z.; Yaniger, Stuart I.; Jordan, V. Craig; Klein, Daniel J.; Bittner, George D.; Bittner, George D.
Background: Chemicals having estrogenic activity (EA) reportedly cause many adverse health effects, especially at low (picomolar to nanomolar) doses in fetal and juvenile mammals. Objectives: We sought to determine whether commercially available plastic resins and products, including baby bottles and other products advertised as bisphenol A (BPA) free, release chemicals having EA. Methods: We used a roboticized MCF‑7 cell proliferation assay, which is very sensitive, accurate, and repeatable, to quantify the EA of chemicals leached into saline or ethanol extracts of many types of commercially available plastic materials, some exposed to common-use stresses (microwaving, ultraviolet radiation, and/or autoclaving). Results: Almost all commercially available plastic products we sampled—independent of the type of resin, product, or retail source—leached chemicals having reliably detectable EA, including those advertised as BPA free. In some cases, BPA-free products released chemicals having more EA than did BPA-containing products. Conclusions: Many plastic products are mischaracterized as being EA free if extracted with only one solvent and not exposed to common-use stresses. However, we can identify existing compounds, or have developed, monomers, additives, or processing agents that have no detectable EA and have similar costs. Hence, our data suggest that EA-free plastic products exposed to common-use stresses and extracted by saline and ethanol solvents could be cost-effectively made on a commercial scale and thereby eliminate a potential health risk posed by most currently available plastic products that leach chemicals having EA into food products.
Packaging Design in the Circular Economy: Reuse Models in Fast-Moving Consumer Goods
(2022) Gray, Madison
Multinational fast-moving consumer goods corporations such as Procter & Gamble, Unilever, and Coca-Cola are the highest producers of plastic pollution in the world, and yet take little-to-no responsibility for the waste after the end of their product’s useful life. Single-use plastics, such as those used for bottles, wrappers, straws, bags, and more, end up wasted in landfills, waterways, and ecosystems all around the world. The challenges associated with managing large and diverse streams of waste are complex, and the repercussions can be far-reaching, but the circular economy has proved to be promising in eliminating some of this stress. The circular economy is a proposed economic system aimed at eliminating waste and the continual use of resources and has tremendous organizing potential. In this thesis, I will discuss the catastrophic impact of the United States’ single-use plastics addiction and evaluate the reusable methods of packaging among various types of household products in an attempt to drastically cut single-use plastics output. I will specifically focus on the opportunities and challenges of “refillables,” or items where consumers can easily obtain regular household items in bulk. I will evaluate similar circular economy projects that already exist in the market using reuse models, such as the Unboxed Market in Canada that has completely eliminated single-use plastics, and create a cost-savings model to demonstrate how a company can implement circular economy into their overall strategy.
Plastic Pollution: Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Circular Economy Solution
(2023-05) Merritt, Jillian
In the coming decades, plastic production is expected to grow exponentially. On a global scale, we currently do not have sufficient waste management infrastructure or recycling capabilities to support the disposal of plastic products. As a result, most discarded plastic is placed in a landfill, incinerated, or makes its way into the natural environment. The production of plastic, manufacturing of plastic products, and disposal of plastic goods and packaging has serious impacts on the environment, ecosystems, and human health. Implementation of a circular economy model is a feasible solution to the plastics pollution problem. Under this economic model, products are reused and regenerated into new products, so the waste stream is eliminated. However, a circular economy solution will require cooperation between industry, governments, and scientific researchers. Each entity has different motivations and limitations, so the transition to a circular economy will require collaboration and mutual beneficence. From my research, there are three main barriers to the implementation of a circular economy. In existing discourse, there are few discussions about the differences in implementation across different countries, as solutions will vary depending on the location. Additionally, there is a need for industry to buy-in to circular economy principles such as Extended Producer Responsibility and Deposit Return Systems. Finally, there must be increased awareness and education about the benefits of a circular economy solution.