The safest way to use plastics: Simple Solutions

By Tania Reuben

Presuming – We’re trying to use less plastic in our daily lives.

Presuming – We’ve eliminated the plastics that are known to be a higher toxicity risk.

Use the following tips to minimize your family’s exposure to plastic toxins:

– Do not use plastics in the microwave – including cling wrap.

– Avoid using plastics with oily food – toxicity leaching increases with contact to oily foods.

– Avoid the dishwasher, especially with plastics that are used for food storage – heat and some detergents cause the plastic to break down. Increasing the leaching of possible toxins.

– Avoid using plastics for warm foods or beverages – leaching is increased with heat.

– Avoid cling wrap – use paper, wax paper or use the Diva Solutions: Paperless “Paper” Towel System. Many cling wraps contain harmful pvc’s that will leach into food.

– When serving food on plastic dishes – think young children – transfer the food for storage. Typically plastic dinnerware is not storage grade.

– Discard plastics that are scratched and worn.

– Don’t drink your water out of plastic bottles.

– Use extra precautions with all baby products – coming soon – plastics and your baby.

– Choose “green” or bio based plastics. You can now find bio based disposable dinnerware and cutlery (I’ve even seen them at Smart & Final)- as an added bonus these products are also compostable.

Finally – once again – use less plastic!

Check out the Diva Guide – Use Less Plastic in Your Home.