Safe Plastics

Plastics are widely used to store and package food and beverages. They are convenient, lightweight, unbreakable and relatively inexpensive. However, there are both environmental and health risks from the widespread use of plastics.

Environmental problems: Most plastics are made from petroleum, a non-renewable resource. Plastic packaging also creates unnecessary waste. Plastic is bulky—taking up a large volume of landfill space.

Health risks: The use of plastics in cooking and food storage can carry health risks, especially when hormone-disrupting chemicals from some plastics leach into foods and beverages. Plastic manufacturing and incineration creates air and water pollution, and exposes workers to toxic chemicals.

Choose less polluting products to reduce
your exposure to chemicals.

PVC—THE POISON PLASTIC: Polyvinyl chloride, also known as vinyl or PVC, poses risks to the environment and
human health. PVC is the least recyclable plastic. • Vinyl chloride workers face an elevated risk of liver cancer.1
• Vinyl chloride manufacturing creates air and water pollution near the factories, often located in low-income
neighborhoods.
•PVC needs additives and stabilizers to make it useable.Lead is often added for strength, while plasticizers are
added for flexibility. These toxic additives contribute to further pollution and human exposure.
•Dioxin in air emissions from PVC manufacturing and disposal, or from incineration of PVC products, settles on
grasslands and accumulates in meat and dairy products, and ultimately, in human tissue.
• Dioxin is a known carcinogen. Low-level exposures are associated with decreased birth weight, learning and
behavioral problems in children, suppressed immune function and hormone disruption.2
What plastic labels mean: The recycling symbol is used primarily on disposable plastic packaging and single use containers.
Non-disposable food-use goods like dinnerware, pitchers,
flatware and baby bottles usually do not have a recycling label.

NOTE: Not all containers are labeled, and a recycling symbolon a product doesn’t mean it’s recyclable. Commonly, only
plastic products labeled #1 and #2 with narrow necks are recyclable, but some communities recycle other plastics. Check
with your local municipality or waste disposal company.

Other: This is a catch-all category for plastics that don’t fit into the #1-6 categories. It includes polycarbonate, bio-based plastics, co-polyester, acrylic, polyamide and plastic mixtures like styrene-acrylonitrile resin (SAN). Number 7 plastics are used for a variety of products like baby bottles and “sippy” cups, baby food jars, 5-gallon water bottles, “sport” water bottles, plastic dinnerware and clear plastic cutlery.

Beware of cling wraps, especially for microwave use.
Instead use waxed paper, a paper towel or a plate for covering
foods. For plastic wrapped deli foods, slice off a thin
layer where the food came in contact with the plastic and rewrap
in non-PVC plastic wrap or place in a container.