Alexei Volkov
The safety of recycled plastic is a highly contested topic. While recycling is an important step towards tackling global warming and biodiversity loss, it is not without its issues. Plastic is made with toxic chemicals, which can accumulate during the recycling process and pose a threat to human health and the environment. These chemicals can also be released during reuse, with recycled food contact plastics potentially exposing humans to toxins. The production of virgin plastic is often deemed cheaper and more efficient than recycling, and the degradation of plastic during each use means that it cannot be properly recycled. However, recycled content in food packaging is increasing, with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approving an increasing number of manufacturer applications for food contact materials made with recycled plastic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Safety | The safety of recycled plastic is a highly contested topic. Some sources claim that recycled plastic is more toxic than virgin plastic, while others argue that it is safe for food use. |
| Toxicity | Recycling plastic can increase the toxicity of the material, as toxic chemicals used in the production of plastic remain even after recycling. |
| Microplastics | The recycling process can spread microplastics into the environment, even when a filtration system is used. |
| Chemical Contamination | Recycled plastic can be contaminated with chemicals from its original production, use, and the recycling process itself. These chemicals can include endocrine disruptors and carcinogens, which can be harmful to human health. |
| Food Contact | The use of recycled content in food packaging is increasing due to pressure from sustainability advocates. However, experts worry about the potential migration of chemicals from the plastic into food, especially without proper testing and regulation. |
| Environmental Impact | Recycling plastic can reduce the demand for virgin raw materials and cut down on waste. However, the process also has negative environmental impacts, such as the release of toxic chemicals and microplastics. |
| Circular Economy | Some argue that plastic is incompatible with a circular economy due to the toxic nature of the material and the challenges in properly recycling it. |
| Regulatory Bodies | The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an increasing number of applications for food contact materials made with recycled plastic. However, the effectiveness of the FDA in ensuring the safety of these materials has been questioned. |
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What You'll Learn
Recycled plastic can contain chemical contaminants
The original production of the plastic can also be a source of chemical contamination. For example, the amount and identity of NIAS (Non-Intentionally Added Substances) in collected plastic are typically unknown and may have changed due to degradation. This makes it challenging to perform a comprehensive risk assessment of recycled plastic.
The use of the plastic before it is recycled is another factor that can introduce chemical contaminants. For instance, plastic used for food packaging may have come into contact with substances that could contaminate the recycled plastic. While it is recommended to collect plastics that were used in contact with food, it is often unavoidable that plastics exposed to other substances, such as detergents or pesticides, are also recycled.
The presence of chemical contaminants in recycled plastic is a significant concern, especially when it comes into contact with food. A study found that recycled food contact plastics can contain hazardous chemicals like endocrine disrupters and carcinogens, which can transfer from the packaging into food. This highlights the potential risks to human health associated with using recycled plastic for food packaging or containers.
To address these concerns, it is crucial to ensure proper decontamination of recycled plastic to reduce the contaminant level to a maximum safe threshold. Additionally, the development of alternative materials, such as bio-based plastics that can be safely recycled without releasing toxic chemicals, is an important step towards reducing the risks associated with recycled plastic.
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Plastic recycling is not a solution to plastic pollution
Recycling plastic can make it more toxic and should not be considered a solution to the pollution crisis. The toxicity of plastic increases with recycling, and plastics have no place in a circular economy. The science clearly shows that plastic recycling is a toxic endeavour with threats to our health and the environment all along the recycling stream. Plastic poisons the circular economy, our bodies, and pollutes the air, water, and food.
The recycling process of conventional plastic is inefficient and unsustainable, whether done mechanically or chemically. Recycled plastic contains hazardous chemicals that pose a severe health threat to people and the planet. Scientists from the University of Gothenburg state that "there are no plastics that can be deemed safe or circular". Microplastics are spread to the environment during the recycling process, even when a filtration system has been installed.
Toxic chemicals are present in the production of all plastics, and plastics absorb other chemicals during use. This means that no plastic can be truly considered safe, even in closed-loop plastic recycling systems. A comprehensive study has found that recycled and reused food contact plastics can be vectors for hazardous chemicals like endocrine disruptors and carcinogens. The accumulated chemicals in recycled material can transfer from packaging into food, exposing humans to toxins.
Therefore, it is clear that plastic recycling is not a solution to plastic pollution. The only way to solve the plastic pollution crisis is to transition to safe and circular plastic alternatives and drastically reduce plastic production.
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Recycled plastic can be toxic to human health
Plastic is a product of oil, a finite, non-renewable resource. Recycling plastic is not a solution to the plastic pollution crisis. In fact, recycling plastic can make it more toxic and should not be considered a solution to the pollution crisis.
Toxic chemicals are present in the production of all plastics, and these chemicals do not disappear when the plastics are recycled. Instead, the toxicity of plastic increases with each round of recycling. These toxic chemicals can be released during reuse and accumulate during recycling. The accumulated chemicals in recycled material can then transfer from packaging into food, exposing humans to toxins.
A comprehensive study has found that recycled and reused food contact plastics can be vectors for hazardous chemicals like endocrine disrupters and carcinogens. The study examined chemicals in food packaging, cutlery, plates, and other items such as bottles. The study also emphasized that recycling plastics can lead to unintended negative impacts.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has established a maximum safe level at which chemicals that have not been risk-assessed could be tolerated in plastic material without causing harm. However, the composition of recycled plastic cannot be easily subjected to official controls, unlike new plastics, which can be enforced against specific migration limits in a laboratory.
Therefore, recycled plastic can be toxic to human health, and the only real solution to ending plastic pollution is to reduce plastic production.
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Recycled plastic can be unsafe for food use
While recycled plastic is one of the most common food contact materials (FCMs) in the European Union and the United States, it can also pose health risks. Recycled plastic FCMs can be unsafe for food use due to contamination with substances from their previous use or other waste. For instance, recycled PET bottles leak more potentially dangerous chemicals than bottles made of virgin or new plastic.
The European Commission and EU Member States decide on whether to approve recycling processes for use in FCMs based on EFSA's safety assessment. The EFSA publishes scientific guidance on the criteria to evaluate the safety of mechanical PET recycling processes used in food and drink packaging. Their scientists assess the safety of each process to recycle plastic and its use in producing FCMs. However, despite these safety measures, warnings have been issued that second-hand plastics risk containing toxic chemicals dangerous to human health.
In the United States, the FDA is involved when the industry collects used polymeric materials (usually food containers) and proposes to recycle them into new food containers. The FDA's main safety concerns are:
- Contaminants from the PCR material may appear in the final food-contact product made from recycled material.
- PCR material may not be regulated for food-contact use and may be incorporated into food-contact articles.
- Adjuvants in the PCR plastic may not comply with regulations for food-contact use.
To address these concerns, the FDA considers each proposed use of recycled plastic on a case-by-case basis and issues informal advice on the expected purity of the PCR plastic for food-contact applications. While recycled HDPE is reviewed by the FDA on a case-by-case basis, LDPE is not deemed safe for food contact in a recycled state.
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Plastic recycling is an inefficient process
Secondly, the low global recycling rate of only 9% highlights the inefficiency of plastic recycling. Despite the apparent increase in the plastic recycling rate, lower-grade polymers are eventually disposed of as waste, challenging the circular economy of plastics and environmental sustainability. The complexity of plastic waste, coupled with the high cost of collecting and sorting waste, further hinders the effectiveness of recycling. Inefficient waste collection and the necessity for sorting before recycling require additional transportation, resulting in increased carbon footprints.
Furthermore, the composition of recycled plastic poses challenges for official controls. Unlike new plastics, which can be enforced against specific migration limits in a laboratory, the composition of recycled plastic is difficult to regulate. This makes it harder to ensure the safety of recycled plastic and mitigate potential health risks. The issue is exacerbated by cross-contamination during waste collection, as substances from other waste may contaminate the collected plastic. The random presence of contaminants in unknown amounts makes it challenging to perform comprehensive risk assessments.
The inefficiency of plastic recycling is also evident in the limited lifespan of recycled products. Recycled plastic often ends up as waste again, contributing to the accumulation of plastic in landfills or the environment. This not only represents a missed economic opportunity but also significantly harms environmental health. To address these challenges, transformative steps are needed to redesign plastic products with a focus on sustainability and end-of-life considerations.
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Frequently asked questions
No, recycled plastic is not safe for the environment. Recycling plastic can make it more toxic and should not be considered a solution to the pollution crisis. Microplastics are spread to the environment during the recycling process, even when a filtration system has been installed.
The safety of recycled plastic for food use is a controversial topic. Some sources claim that recycled plastic can be safe for food use if it undergoes a rigorous decontamination process. However, other sources argue that recycled plastic can contain hazardous chemicals that can migrate into food and pose a threat to human health. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved food contact materials made with recycled plastic, but some experts argue that the FDA's approach does not adequately address all potential chemical hazards.
There are several alternatives to using recycled plastic. Consumers can opt for bio-based, reusable containers made with chemically safe materials. Sustainable alternative materials, such as Sulapac, can also be used instead of conventional plastic. Additionally, individuals can urge policymakers and companies to reduce the use of fossil-based plastics and transition to safe and circular plastic alternatives.
