Plastics: What Do Those Numbers Mean?
The best thing to do is to reduce your use of plastic. Look for natural alternatives like textiles, solid wood, bamboo, glass, stainless steel, etc. Also, look for items with less (or no) plastic packaging. If you do buy plastic, opt for products you can recycle or re-purpose (e.g. a yogurt tub can be re-used to store crayons). And, get to know your plastics – starting with this guide:
The most common plastics have a resin code in a chasing arrow symbol (often found on the bottom of the product).
#1 PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate): AVOID
Common Uses: Soda Bottles, Water Bottles, Cooking Oil Bottles.
Concerns: Can leach antimony and phthalates.
#2 HDPE (High Density Polyethylene): SAFER
Common Uses: Milk Jugs, Plastic Bags, Yogurt Cups.
#3 PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride, aka Vinyl): AVOID
Common Uses: Condiment Bottles, Cling Wrap, Teething Rings, Toys.
Concerns: Can leach lead and phthalates among other things. Can also off-gas toxic chemicals.
#4 LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene): SAFER
Common Uses: Produce Bags, Food Storage Containers.
#5 PP (Polypropylene): SAFER
Common Uses: Bottle Caps, Storage Containers, Dishware.
#6 PS (Polystyrene, aka Styrofoam): AVOID
Common Uses: Meat Trays, Foam Food Containers & Cups.
Concerns: Can leach carcinogenic styrene and estrogenic alkylphenols.
#7 Other this is a catch-all category which includes:
PC (Polycarbonate): AVOID - can leach Bisphenol-A (BPA). It also includes ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), SAN (Styrene Acrylonitrile), Acrylic, and Polyamide. These plastics can be a safer option because they are typically very durable and resistant to high heat resulting in less leaching. Their drawbacks are that they are not typically recyclable and some need additional safety research. New plant-based, biodegradable plastics like PLA (Polylactic Acid) also fall into the #7 category.
Unfortunately, many plastic products are not labeled with a number or initials. When in doubt, you can call the manufacturer directly. On food products, there is usually a toll-free question/comment number listed.
