Commentary, Opinion

Monthly Message: Ditch the plastic in your life to lower health risks

July 3, 2025   ·   0 Comments

By Greys For Green

Plastic waste is now ubiquitous in the natural environment, found in all ecosystems. Most concerning, it is now found in most parts of our bodies. We eat, breathe and drink plastic every day. It is estimated that we ingest about 5 grams of microplastics per week, roughly equivalent to the mass of a credit card. We are becoming plastic people.

Plastic never dies. It continues to fragment into microplastics that enter our bodies. Microplastics have been found in lungs, brains, placentas – and in babies. Chemicals like BPA, phthalates and PFAS can mimic human hormones, the body’s chemical messengers, controlling processes like reproduction, growth and metabolism. 

Exposure to these substances has been shown to increase the risk of everything from infertility to poorer fetal development, inflammation and cancer. While science isn’t yet conclusive about all the impacts, we know the chemicals in plastics are highly toxic and cannot be good for us. Scientists and physicians are deeply concerned.

We need to stop plastic waste from piling up around us. We all have a role to play in this. Governments must create laws to reduce plastic waste, ban toxic chemicals and refuse lobbying from the oil industry.

Businesses must commit to eliminating plastic packaging and be responsible for the mess their plastic products create. As individuals, we need to rethink our relationship with plastic. We need to refuse, reduce, and reuse. 

Recycling is not the solution to plastic waste. While lots of plastic is sent to recycling plants each year, only nine per cent of it is actually recycled globally. 

Plastic Free July is an annual campaign encouraging people to cut down on single-use plastics throughout the month of July. Since 2011, people have taken the challenge to go plastic-free in July by choosing to refuse the single-use plastics we use daily. You can choose to refuse single-use plastics beyond July.  

Lifestyle changes can have a big impact on our ability to lower the risks of plastic to our health.  Here are some actions we can all embrace to find new habits.

Plastic sheds into food when it is heated in the microwave and dishwasher. Make your new mantra – Don’t drink from plastic, don’t eat from plastic and don’t prepare food in plastic.  And don’t put plastic in the dishwasher.

It is estimated that up to 87 per cent of the 10 best-selling personal care brands contain microplastics including L’Oréal, Dove, Garnier, Nivea, Gillette, Axe, Oral-B and Head & Shoulders. Check out Environmental Defence’s Toxic Ten for a list of the toxic chemicals found in these products. There are a lot of chemical-free options available. Read Environmental Working Group’s guide to safer products. 

Resist fast fashion and think of quality instead. Up to 60 percent of our clothing is made from plastic. Instead of fleece, spandex and nylon, buy natural fibres like cotton, wool and linen for clothing, 

Change your laundry routine. Use laundry sheets to eliminate plastic jugs. Biodegradable detergent pods contain five of the worst chemical additives. Wool dryer balls are a better option than dryer sheets that contain highly toxic chemicals. Because our clothes shed microplastics into the water, wear your clothes longer, wash in cold water and reduce the spin cycle, all to reduce the shedding. Install a microplastic filter on your machine if possible.

Fragrance chemicals are common ingredients in perfumes, scented products, cleaning products, personal care items and even some food products. Many products are packaged in plastic. Avoid air fresheners, fabric softeners, scented candles, and scented personal care and cleaning products.

Use compostable coffee pods in your coffee machine. Read the label on tea bags, as many, including paper ones, contain plastic. Refuse produce bags at the grocery store, opting instead for cloth bags, or no bags at all. Household wastebaskets and garbage bins do not need to be lined with a plastic bag. 

Moderate lifestyle changes can help lower our health risks with plastic. Keep it simple, but mindful. 

This “Monthly Message” column was submitted by Louise Montague, who is a member of Greys for Green in New Tecumseth. She is interested in helping others learn how to make sustainable living the norm. Contact Greys for Greenat contactus@greysforgreen.org.

Readers Comments (0)