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A recent study has revealed that more than 3,600 chemicals used in <keyword id="21367852" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="food-packaging" source="keywords">food packaging</keyword> and preparation have been detected in human bodies, raising concerns about their potential impact on health. These chemicals, some of which are hazardous, are finding their way into the food we consume, sparking calls for more research and stricter regulations. <h2>Chemicals we don’t know enough about</h2>Of the thousands of chemicals identified, around 100 are classified as being of “high concern” for <keyword id="20060201" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="human-health" source="keywords">human health</keyword>. According to Birgit Geueke, the lead author of the study from the <keyword id="23220554" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Food-Packaging-Forum-Foundation" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Food Packaging Forum Foundation" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Food Packaging Forum Foundation">Food Packaging Forum Foundation</keyword>, some of these chemicals are well-known, while the health effects of others remain largely unexplored. Chemicals such as <keyword id="20307473" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PFAS" source="keywords">PFAS</keyword> (often referred to as "forever chemicals") and bisphenol A (<keyword id="20186545" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BPA" source="keywords">BPA</keyword>) are familiar names in the scientific community. Both have been extensively studied and are linked to a range of health problems. PFAS, for example, have been detected in multiple parts of the human body and are associated with various diseases, including cancer, liver damage, and thyroid dysfunction. Bisphenol A, commonly found in plastics, is a hormone-disrupting chemical that has been banned from baby bottles in many countries due to its harmful effects on reproductive health. However, many of the other chemicals detected—like oligomers, byproducts of plastic production—are still a mystery in terms of their health implications. "There is almost no evidence on the health effects of these chemicals," Geueke said, highlighting the need for further research. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111250040" title="Karnataka Health Department bans use of artificial food colouring in kebabs; imposes hefty fine of 10 lakhs!" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> <h2>How do these chemicals enter our bodies? </h2>Food contact chemicals (FCCs) are substances that can "migrate" from packaging materials—such as plastic, paper, glass, or metal—into the food we eat. These chemicals can also enter the food chain from other parts of the food-making process, such as conveyor belts and kitchen utensils. The study originally catalogued about 14,000 FCCs, but researchers were astonished to find 3,601 of them present in human biomonitoring databases, which track chemicals found in human tissues and fluids. This unexpected result underscores how pervasive these substances are. <h2>High concern: PFAS, BPA and Phthalates </h2>Among the most troubling chemicals are the PFAS, which have gained notoriety as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down easily in the environment or the human body. These chemicals have been linked to a host of health issues, including immune system suppression, developmental problems, and various cancers. Bisphenol A (BPA), a well-known endocrine disruptor used in the production of plastics, is another substance of concern. BPA can interfere with the body’s hormone systems, particularly oestrogen, and has been associated with fertility problems, breast cancer, and developmental disorders in children. Phthalates, another group of hormone-disrupting chemicals, are used to make plastics more flexible. They have been linked to infertility and developmental issues, making their presence in food packaging particularly concerning. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112623051" title="474 Indian spice samples fail FSSAI&amp;#39;s safety tests as countries suspend sale of Indian spice brands" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> <h2>What can we do? </h2>While this study doesn’t determine how much of these chemicals we’re exposed to or their specific sources, it does highlight the need for more comprehensive research and better data on their potential <keyword id="19977451" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="health-risks" source="keywords">health risks</keyword>. Duane Mellor, a specialist in evidence-based medicine at Aston University in the UK, praised the study for being thorough but cautioned against panic. Instead, he encouraged consumers to advocate for stronger regulations on <keyword id="21364182" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="chemicals-in-food" source="keywords">chemicals in food</keyword> packaging. "Rather than being unduly alarmed, people should demand better data and minimise unnecessary exposure," Mellor said. To reduce exposure to these potentially harmful chemicals, Geueke recommended simple measures like reducing the time food spends in contact with packaging and avoiding heating food in the containers it comes in. Many of these chemicals migrate more easily into food when heated, making microwaving plastic containers or takeout packaging a common source of contamination. <h2>The regulatory response </h2>Some chemicals are already facing bans. The European Union is in the final stages of banning the use of PFAS in food packaging, and a similar ban on bisphenol A is expected to come into effect by the end of this year. As more research emerges, governments around the world may follow the EU's lead in implementing stricter controls on these hazardous chemicals, protecting consumers from hidden dangers in their everyday meals. For now, the best way to protect yourself is to stay informed, reduce unnecessary exposure, and support efforts for stricter regulations on food packaging materials. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="109322441" title="2 foods Michael Pollan always buys organic to reduce his exposure to harmful chemicals" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

New research reveals more than 3,600 food packaging chemicals in human bodies. Is it time we stopped eating food out of takeout containers?

<ul class="summary-list"><li>There's new evidence that chemicals can migrate to human bodies via material like plastic containers.</li><li>It's not clear what the health risks may be, but at least a few of the chemicals are known hazards.</li></ul>New research suggests you're being exposed to thousands of chemicals, including hazardous substances, that can leach into the human body through food- and beverage-related material like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/drinking-from-plastic-bottles-can-increase-diabetes-risk-new-research-2024-6">plastic bottles</a> and takeout containers.It's not a surprise that our environment is full of contaminants, like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-penises-testicles-male-fertility-plastic-health-environment-2024-7">microplastics</a>, that can accumulate in our bodiesBut researchers in a recent study were taken aback by just how many chemicals in our everyday items can migrate into humans, and said it's "concerning" that we don't fully understand the risks.The researchers, led by scientists from a Swiss nonprofit called the Food Packaging Forum Foundation, looked at data on more than 14,000 food contact chemicals — substances in containers or other materials that touch what we eat and drink.The study, published September 17 in the <a target="_blank" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=98f40f9124eaa010f2a0a4c0fb4f3c1e59d87c00a6f65522c297e9b5c22824cf&amp;postID=66eae69769657a7deb42dbab&amp;postSlug=thousands-of-chemicals-entering-human-bodies-from-food-packaging-study-2024-9&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fs41370-024-00718-2">Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology</a>, explained that 25% of the chemicals they were studying — about 3,601 substances — showed up inside the human body, in samples including skin, hair, blood, breast milk, and fat tissue.That suggests manufacturing chemicals are migrating into our bodies from items we use to store, package, or cook our food. It's not just plastic either, since even paper or cardboard can contain substances like ink that can be problematic when it comes into contact with food.<h2 id="27fa7f62-8a96-4c1c-a5a6-1d66b9506469">Trying to understand the health risks</h2>Scientists are digging for clues to understand the impact of these chemicals on long-term health.Some of these chemicals are known to be dangerous, including <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-causes-cancer-food-products-that-increase-your-cancer-risk-2018-3">carcinogens (cancer-causing) substances</a> and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-avoid-toxic-chemical-phthalates-in-food-makeup-toiletries-2021-10">toxins</a> linked to hormone and reproductive problems.One such category is called PFAs (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), known as "<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chart-how-long-hazardous-forever-chemicals-pfas-stay-in-blood-2023-3">forever chemicals</a>" because they linger and accumulate in our bodies and in the water and soil. PFAs exposure is linked to some cancers, liver damage, and more, as well as possible developmental defects in children.Other hazardous chemicals the study found in food and our bodies include <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/diet-nutrition/what-is-bpa">BPA</a> (a toxic ingredient in packaging linked to hormone problems) and heavy metals that can cause harm to our DNA.And there's a lot we don't know about many of the other chemicals found in human samples, including whether they might be harmful or what, if any, amount is safe.The actual number of chemicals we're exposed to through food and drinks could also be much higher than the 3,601 estimated in the study, according to the researchers.<h2 id="5746f6cb-2471-495d-9d89-a8d0cff3dc10">Putting limits on chemical exposure</h2>This same team of researchers previously published a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28893723/">study</a> that found government regulations aren't doing much to prevent chemical exposure.While there are some existing rules — such as <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/epa-hazardous-forever-chemicals-drinking-water-limits-2024-4">limits on PFAs in drinking water</a> — legislation is slow to keep up with the latest science, and sometimes too vague to enforce. Plus, there's so much we don't know about potential risks of chemicals that haven't been studied as closely.The new study is one crucial step in understanding how chemicals in our environment (and in our food) could affect our health long-term, and how we might be able to reduce the risks in the future."This work highlights the fact that food contact materials are not fully safe, even though they may comply with regulations, because they transfer known hazardous chemicals into people," Jane Muncke, senior author of the study, environmental toxicology expert, and managing director at the Food Packaging Forum, said in a press release."We would like this new evidence base to be used for improving the safety of food contact materials — both in terms of regulations but also in the development of safer alternatives," Muncke said.

Food packaging chemicals are seeping into human bodies — here's what that means for your health

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Botox and filler have been popular among Gen Zers for years.</li><li>But some are ditching injectables for "notox": non-invasive anti-aging skincare.</li></ul>While Gen Zers have been driving up the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/botox-injections-fillers-plastic-surgery-gen-z-social-media-filters-2024-5">Botox and filler demand</a> for years, some are ditching injectables for a new trend: "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@theroseroomesti/video/7376705435945979178">Notox</a>," anti-aging routines that focus on topical treatments like serums and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/botox-vs-face-taping-wrinkles-skincare-anti-aging-2024-7">face-taping</a>.The reasons range from the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/botox-alternative-anti-aging-skincare-products">costs of treatments</a> and side effects like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/botox-left-tiktok-user-with-lisp-migrated-other-muscles-2022-2">filler migration</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/regret-botox-side-effects-froze-face-2024-2">face freezing</a>. Some also worry about "Botox blindness," overdoing Botox and filler without realizing it.Dr. Jimmy C. Sung, a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tribecaaesthetics.com/">board-certified plastic surgeon in NYC</a> who provides Botox and filler treatments, said doctors are incentivized to give you more than you need because they charge by the amount used. It's resulted in "overuse" of injectables, he said."I feel vindicated," he said of more people preferring less invasive skincare treatments. He said Botox and under-eye filler temporarily smooth wrinkles but don't address the real cause of them: loss of collagen and elastin.From his experience, younger generations care more about a "holistic approach to keep themselves healthy," such as focusing on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/longevity-experts-use-walking-test-to-measure-biological-age-2024-9">longevity</a>. Some are searching for long-term ways to have smooth, bouncy skin, such as restoring collagen.Sung shared 3 Ps — peptides, protein, and plasma energy — that he recommends trying for a "notox" <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/anti-aging-skincare-routine-botox-alternative-dermatologists-advice-2024-5">anti-aging skincare routine</a>.<h2 id="6b23a21b-2827-4060-8d8f-15b081310c16">1. Invest in peptides</h2>Peptides are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.healthline.com/health/peptides-for-skin">short chains of amino acids</a> that make up proteins in the skin. Collagen is made up of peptides, so adding peptides to your skin can stimulate its growth, reducing wrinkles and inflammation.While some people <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/peptides-growth-hormone-hgh-new-health-fad-2023-9">inject peptides directly into their skin</a>, Sung said it's technically illegal to use them as skincare shots (currently, peptide injections are <a target="_blank" href="https://hormonereplacementtherapyla.com/are-peptides-legal-navigating-the-gray-areas-of-legality/">only approved for medical purposes</a>). Instead, he applies <a target="_blank" href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2022/09/07/salmon-testicle-dna-skincare/7960602001/">topical salmon sperm</a> on clients, because salmon and human DNA are surprisingly similar.There are more approachable ways to start using peptides. He said many <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/botox-alternative-anti-aging-skincare-products">anti-aging products</a> like retinol already include peptides, making them easy to incorporate into an existing skincare routine.<h2 id="d62cb0ba-ce73-4a13-a790-e004875cb5e7">2. Eat enough protein</h2>In his consultations, Sung uses a body composition monitor to measure a client's body fat and muscle ratio."If there's something off, I would tell them 'get more sleep, hydrate, exercise, improve your diet,'" he said.Specifically, he said getting enough <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-high-protein-foods-for-weight-loss-2019-2">protein in your diet</a> can restore collagen in your skin, while losing fat in your face can lead to more pronounced lines.If you're living a healthy lifestyle, he said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lose-fat-build-muscle-simple-steps-body-recomposition-personal-trainer-2022-11">exercise like strength training</a> goes hand-in-hand with a high-protein diet, sleep, and proper hydration."Having a nice fat and muscle ratio is good for your body's longevity," he said. In turn, it's also great for your skin.<h2 id="a8314b0f-d39c-48b6-a924-850b6fe48ec1">3. If budget allows, try plasma energy treatments</h2>Sung's third "P" is <a target="_blank" href="https://dermnetnz.org/topics/plasma-skin-regeneration">plasma skin regeneration</a>, a non-laser treatment that promotes collagen growth using plasma energy. Because of the deeper penetration, the results can be more drastic than simply using topical products.But it can get pricey: A package of sessions can cost anywhere from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realself.com/nonsurgical/opus-plasma">$1,100 to $2,500 dollars</a>.It's why he focuses more on peptides and dietary changes when giving advice to younger people, especially if they're focused on preventative anti-aging. "This is something that they can afford," he said.

Gen Zers are swapping Botox and filler for 'notox.' A plastic surgeon shared 3 anti-aging tips that don't involve injectables.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Amazon said nearly all deliveries in North America no longer have plastic air pillows inside.</li><li>This change avoids 15 billion air pillows a year, Amazon's biggest plastic reduction effort yet.</li></ul>Nearly all Amazon deliveries in North America no longer include plastic air pillows, the e-commerce giant said on Thursday.Amazon said the change would avoid some 15 billion air pillows — the company's largest reduction in plastic packaging to date. Instead, Amazon is using a paper filler made from 100% recycled material that customers can recycle at home as part of a broader effort to eventually eliminate all plastic packaging from North American fulfillment centers. Amazon already met that goal in Europe this year.The switch to recycled paper comes as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-global-plastic-pollution-treaty-under-scrutiny-2024-4">companies and governments are under pressure</a> to phase out single-use plastics that are piling up in landfills and contributing to the climate crisis. The vast majority of plastics are made from oil and gas, can't be recycled, and degrade into tiny particles that leach into the air and environment. Scientists have found those microplastics in human blood along with organs including the liver, heart, lungs, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-found-in-human-testicles-what-to-do-2024-5">most recently testicles</a>, but the effects on our health are still being studied.For years, Oceana, a nonprofit that advocates for protecting oceans, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazons-plastic-air-packets-boxes-circle-the-planet-2022-12">has criticized Amazon's ballooning plastic</a> footprint as the company ships billions of packages around the world. Matt Littlejohn, Oceana's senior vice president, told Business Insider that eliminating air pillows indicated Amazon was serious about its plastic-reduction efforts in North America and that it was welcome news for oceans. Plastic air pillows are made with a film <a target="_blank" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?amazonTrackingID=bi-auto-70463-20&amp;h=c38415b31a84dfb5aa56a438e162cc317827951d6b626391c4e894a25633a2fd&amp;postID=66736386b38735ca9df50ca4&amp;postSlug=amazon-cutting-single-use-plastic-shipping-packaging-paper-recycling-2024-6&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fs41893-021-00720-8">that's commonly found littering marine areas</a>.Oceana recently <a target="_blank" href="https://oceana.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/04/Amazons-United-States-of-Plastic-Oceana-Report-April-2024_reducedsize-1.pdf">estimated that Amazon generated</a> more than 94,000 metric tons of plastic-packaging waste in the US alone in 2022, a 9.6% increase over the previous year. That's enough to circle the Earth more than 200 times in the form of air pillows, Oceana said.Amazon disputes Oceana's figures and <a target="_blank" href="https://sustainability.aboutamazon.com/2022-sustainability-report.pdf">reported a lower amount of plastic packaging across</a> its global operations in 2022: Nearly 86,000 metric tons, an 11.6% decrease from the previous year.Oceana said its estimates were higher than Amazon's because the company hadn't accounted for orders sent by third-party sellers. Those independent sellers account for <a target="_blank" href="https://sell.amazon.com/sell?ld=SEUSSOAGOOG-sitelink-guide-D&amp;tag=googhydr-20&amp;hvadid=664128654868&amp;hvpos=&amp;hvexid=&amp;hvnetw=g&amp;hvrand=11107216929719429337&amp;hvpone=&amp;hvptwo=&amp;hvqmt=e&amp;hvdev=c&amp;hvdvcmdl=&amp;hvlocint=&amp;hvlocphy=9007526&amp;hvtargid=kwd-297084214751&amp;ref=pd_sl_2vge9q2e84_b&amp;ld=SEUSSOAGOOG-BFBA12122B-CLK-D&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjw4MSzBhC8ARIsAPFOuyXwoFqkDpXAG0SpyouCS4LjcgY7qHDkeWaOK2XItdtbw5ohJv0188UaAtm2EALw_wcB%5C">more than 60% of Amazon's sales</a>. Amazon's plastic-packaging data reflects orders shipped through its own fulfillment centers — which some independent sellers opt for — and through its grocery business. The data also isn't broken down by country."The first thing for us is to really test and learn and then scale what we can control within our own facilities," Pat Linder, Amazon's vice president of mechatronics and sustainable packaging, told BI. "That's been our focus."Linder pointed to an Amazon fulfillment center in Cleveland that last year became the first to eliminate plastic delivery packaging and replace it with paper that's curbside recyclable. The effort involved rebuilding existing machines that were using plastic to package products. Additionally, As well as being more sustainable, the recyclable paper is better at protecting orders from damage, Linder said.He added that Amazon would disclose the impact of these changes on the company's plastic use in a future sustainability report.That report is also set to detail Amazon's broader climate strategy. The company aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 while boosting sales and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-data-energy-centers-water-energy-land-2023-10">building more data centers</a> that demand vast amounts of electricity.In 2022, Amazon's carbon footprint dropped by 0.4% from the previous year, although it was still higher than in 2019, the first year Amazon reported its emissions.

Amazon is trying to eliminate plastic that doesn't get recycled. It's actually making some progress.       

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Costco has gradually been switching the packaging for its rotisserie chicken from trays with lids to plastic bags.</li><li>The bags, referred to as "bachelor's handbags" in Australia, are proving divisive among shoppers.</li></ul>Costco has been rolling out new the packaging for its coveted $4.99 rotisserie chicken, and some loyal customers aren't impressed with the change.The warehouse chain previously sold the Kirkland Signature <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/costco-rotisserie-chicken-recipes-week-of-easy-meals-chef-2024-1">chicken</a> on black plastic trays with transparent plastic lids. It has been switching to plastic bags with carry handles instead.In the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.costcoconnection.com/june_2024/page2.html#mask">June edition</a> of Costco Connection, the retailer's in-house members magazine, Costco estimated that the new packaging would save about 17 million pounds of plastic annually and enable it to use 1,000 fewer freight trucks a year because of the smaller size of the bags.Many <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/sanfrancisco/comments/1c7if45/the_dreaded_day_has_come_the_sf_costco_switched/">Reddit users</a> speculated that the bags were much cheaper for Costco to buy, too.The rotisserie chicken is a staple among many of the retailer's superfans. Costco <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link" href="https://east.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/vsm/web?pvskey=COST2024">said</a> that it sold 137 million rotisserie chickens globally in the 2023 fiscal year.<h2 id="cc598bec-a33c-43e9-b41a-e5c331ca2a22">'I'd rather pay more than deal with this nonsense'</h2>"Got one yesterday from my local Costco," one Reddit user <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Costco/comments/1c8to2w/the_bagged_chicken_has_made_it_south/">wrote</a>. "Was not impressed. The other packaging was way better.""There's just something unappealing about picking up a bagged chicken," another person wrote."Hate them," someone else wrote. "I'd rather pay more than deal with this nonsense."Some Reddit users said that the bags weren't sealed properly. They also expressed annoyance that, unlike when it was sold on trays, they couldn't carve slices of the chicken directly in the bag.<div type="image" title="Fully stocked Rotisserie Chicken display at Costco, Queens, New York." height="3024" width="4032" msid="111434473" hostid="261" sizebytes="687978"></div>It was easier to find the biggest chickens when they were served on trays, too, some users said. "I've watched chicken man load the chickens and watch for the one so big he struggles to shut the lid," one Reddit user wrote. "That's the one I buy."The new packaging is proving a pain for staff, too, according to some Reddit users.One Reddit user who said they worked at Costco said that staff had to use tongs to put the chickens in the bags, which was leading to wrist pain.<h2 id="34cfe9b5-dd58-4105-8732-ce992988777a">Bachelor's handbags</h2>But some people see the benefits of the bag. They said it's easier to carry to their car, means they don't burn their fingers on the container, and takes up less room in their fridge. Some <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Costco/comments/1bqetgj/new_rotisserie_chicken_packaging_looks_prone_to/">said</a> the bag was also great for storing leftovers in the freezer.<div type="image" title="Costco employee packaging Rotisserie chickens at Costco, Palm Beach, Florida." height="1880" width="3761" msid="111434477" hostid="261" sizebytes="402270"></div>They're also in use at other grocery stores. Walmart, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/whats-best-rotisserie-chicken-from-grocery-store-photos-review-2022-5">Whole Foods</a>, Kroger, and Fred Meyer, for example, sell rotisserie chicken in plastic bags. In Australia, rotisserie chicken in a bag is sometimes referred to as a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.delicious.com.au/food-files/news-articles/article/bachelors-handbag-wins-australias-2022-word-year/oyh6vb9s">"bachelor's handbag."</a>Reddit users have advised placing the rotisserie bag in another bag from the meat or produce departments to reduce the likelihood of it leaking in the car, though some pointed out that this partly defeats the point of introducing packaging with less plastic.

Costco has changed the packaging of its $4.99 rotisserie chicken — and some shoppers are voicing their annoyance

America has long had a plastic problem. It's an urgent question — what do we do with the 40 million tons of plastic waste we produce annually? One year of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/disposable-face-mask-waste-toxic-poison-water-nanoplastics-pollution-health-2022-2">plastic waste</a> is roughly enough to smother the entirety of Manhattan a meter deep, and it has to go somewhere. For years, the answer was simple: Make a lot of it, dump most of it in the landfill, and make the rest of it someone else's problem — the US regularly exported 7 million tons a year to China alone. Some of it was melted into lesser plastic; the rest was incinerated or buried.But then, in 2018, China cut off plastic imports.Now, America is coming to terms with a hard truth: Plastic was never designed to be recycled and there's no profitable way to recycle 91% of it. The environmental impacts have been disastrous. About 430 million tons of plastic are produced globally every year, accounting for 14% of global oil demand. The refinement of plastic alone emits up to 235 million tons of greenhouse gases a year. Most of that plastic breaks down into <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-risks-heart-attack-stroke-study-2024-3">microplastics</a> that make their way into the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/expert-how-i-keep-baby-family-safe-toxic-plastic-microplastics-2023-1">air, rain, and our bodies</a>. Almost 95% of America's water supply contains plastic fibers.While the US, the UK, and other European countries responded to China's ban by sending their waste to places like Thailand and Malaysia, those countries then followed China in cutting off waste imports. The message was clear: The Global South would no longer be a dumping ground for the West.<div type="image" title="A scavenger drinks water while collecting plastic waste to sell to a recycling center at a landfill in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia in March 2024" height="3333" width="5000" msid="109561992" hostid="261"></div>America is now scrambling to find alternatives. One approach peddled by oil corporations like Chevron and Exxon has been to turn plastic into crude oil, which they say extends the life of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/north-americas-largest-waste-hauler-investing-in-a-plastic-recycler-2022-9">plastic that would've otherwise ended up in a landfill</a>. As these companies look to replace projected lost revenue from the phasing out of fossil fuels, they're lobbying to blanket the country with 150 plants that specialize in pyrolysis, a form of chemical recycling that melts plastic down into crude oil to be used for fuel and petrochemicals, as well as to make lesser-quality plastics. While advocates champion these facilities for breaking down hard-to-recycle plastics that other <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-recycling-startups-aluminum-plastic-valuable-materials-2024-4">recyclers toss aside</a>, critics condemn them for emitting toxic particles, relying heavily on government subsidies, and acting as a greenwashed alternative to addressing <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/plastic-recycled-into-bricks-ivory-coast-conceptos-plasticos-2023-2">the plastic problem</a>.As they're pitched as an innovation set to bring us a "circular economy" of plastic that allows us to stop making new plastic and just reuse what we have, marketing for pyrolysis and recycling overlooks a glaring fact: Plastic production doubles every 15 to 20 years.This isn't sustainable, Tim Miller, a vice president at the Ohio plastic-recycling center Royal Paper Stock, told me, adding: "But I don't know how to stop it." Pyrolysis is another sign of America's plastic paralysis.In the years after World War II, plastic flooded the marketplace as a cheap alternative to otherwise scarce and finite materials. It was hailed as a democratic harbinger of a new, utopian age of capitalism, fueling the subsequent decades of cheap consumerism that became synonymous with the American dream."The continuous flow of oil fueled not just cars but an entire culture based on the consumption of new products made of plastics," Susan Freinkel wrote in her book "Plastic: A Toxic Love Story."Plastic went from being practically nonexistent in 1940 to being consumed at a rate of 30 pounds a person each year by 1960. Just as quickly, it became a target of environmental movements protesting litter, garbage-filled oceans, and landfills brimming with plastic. Oil and chemical companies responded by looking into whether recycling was realistic or, more importantly, profitable. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.npr.org/2020/09/11/897692090/how-big-oil-misled-the-public-into-believing-plastic-would-be-recycled">It wasn't</a>. So companies shifted the blame for the pollution onto consumers. The "Crying Indian" commercial, funded by beverage and packaging corporations, aired in 1971, showing a Native American character crying at the sight of litter.The messaging worked. As companies expanded plastic into every facet of life, recycling became the due diligence needed to sustain our hyperconsumption. We didn't worry about plastic bottles because the recycling truck carried them off to a new life. Companies like Coca-Cola and Nestlé slapped "100% recycled" and "100% recyclable" labels on their packaging to appear sustainable. Just last year, the Plastics Industry Association launched a million-dollar ad campaign, "Recycling Is Real," claiming that it's "not only real, but feasible and economical."While recycling is real, the vast majority of plastic isn't recycled, mostly due to how expensive it is to clean and sort it effectively. A 2022 report by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development found only 9% of all plastic ever produced had been recycled; 72% ended up in landfills or the environment. Unlike aluminum or glass, the plastic that can be recycled rarely results in replacing one recycled water bottle with another.<div type="image" title="Recycling sorters at Recologys Recycle Central sort out pieces of flimsy and film plastic destined for landfill in 2019 in San Francisco" height="4480" width="6720" msid="109561996" hostid="261"></div>Instead, it's a process of downcycling — turning plastic into lesser plastics like plant containers or bins before they are relegated to a landfill. By downcycling a tiny portion of plastic waste, companies can genuinely reuse a relatively small share of plastic, while convincing consumers that the industry has created a circular economy of infinitely recycled plastic. Never mind that products advertised as being made from recycled plastic are made almost entirely out of new plastic or that almost all the 300 pounds of plastic every American consumes each year (10 times as much as in 1960) ends up in a landfill, in the ocean, or incinerated.Larry Thomas, a former president of what's now called the Plastics Industry Association, told NPR in 2020: "If the public thinks that recycling is working, then they are not going to be as concerned about the environment." And if they aren't worried about the impact of plastic on the environment, they won't threaten the plastics industry.Since 2018, the fossil-fuel and plastics industries have faced two harsh realities: Oil is being phased out in favor of clean, renewable energy, and plastic waste can no longer be exported to developing nations in the South. To replace their fuel losses, oil companies are going all in on plastic. The International Energy Agency predicted in 2018 that petrochemical products like plastic would outpace trucks, aviation, and shipping in oil demand by 2050. In a recent report, ExxonMobil predicted that petrochemicals used largely for plastics and fertilizer would account for nearly all of the oil industry's growth by 2050, replacing industrial fuel demand, which is projected to decrease. To keep expanding plastic production, however, it needs to look sustainable.<div type="image" title="A Good Year sign in Akron, Ohio" height="960" width="1200" msid="109562000" hostid="261"></div>Akron, Ohio, which hosts about one-quarter of the country's polymer companies, is ground zero for this push. Designated by the Biden administration as the only "tech hub" in Ohio, the city has received tens of millions of dollars from the CHIPS Act, which it hopes to use to create a circular economy around plastic.In 2012, Alterra Energy opened America's first large-scale plastic-pyrolysis facility. According to its website, Alterra converts "plastics back into their original building blocks to produce new plastics and other valuable products." The crude oil produced by the Akron facility is shipped to petrochemical companies around the globe to be purified and made into new plastics. But it's unclear how effective this process is.A study published in 2023 by researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that the economic and environmental impact of turning pyrolysis oil back into plastic was actually far worse than it was to make brand-new plastic. As a result, they said, pyrolysis oil is "typically reintegrated into the petrochemical industry where only a small fraction is used for closed-loop recycling."<div type="image" title="The Alterra Energy facility in Akron, Ohio" height="960" width="1200" msid="109562003" hostid="261"></div>"It has had, let's say, limited success," Miller, the Royal Paper Stock vice president, said about pyrolysis. "No one yet in the United States that I know of is just cranking in plastic and pumping out oil." He pointed to a pyrolysis facility in Oregon that just announced it would shut down after tens of millions of dollars in losses.Residents in Akron are split on the impacts of the Alterra facility. On the one hand, pyrolysis melts plastic to be reused instead of sending it to the landfill or incinerator. On the other, it emits cancerous pollutants such as mercury, benzene, and arsenic, and props up the very fossil-fuel companies that are driving the climate crisis.<div type="image" title="Kelley Sayre in front of her garage in Akron, Ohio" height="1500" width="1200" msid="109562007" hostid="261"></div>"Akron's going for 'the green city on the hill,'" Kelley Sayre, a fourth-generation Akron resident, told me, "but it's really 'the greenwashing city.'"Vicky Abou-Ghalioum, the lead petrochemicals organizer of Buckeye Environmental Network, has been working with Akron residents concerned about the environmental and health impacts of chemical recycling, but it's proved challenging in a city ruled by polymers. "People are afraid to talk about plastic," she told me. Her organization has been pushing the EPA to address the influx of planned pyrolysis facilities in Ohio, arguing that they're bad for the environment and people, and aren't even profitable.In a statement to Business Insider, Alterra Energy said its Akron facility is profitable and diverts over 100,000 pounds of plastic each day from landfills. "We operate in a heavily regulated industry and are in compliance with those requirements," the company said in response to concerns about toxic emissions. It also said one of its customers uses Alterra's oil product exclusively for making new plastic.Despite the problems of pyrolysis, many manufacturers hail it as a sustainable miracle. Companies such as Eastman Chemical Co. see chemical recycling as the solution to recycling or composting 50% of their plastic packaging by 2025, and the American Chemistry Council claims the growing industry is necessary for fostering what it calls "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.americanchemistry.com/chemistry-in-america/news-trends/press-release/2022/america-s-plastic-makers-encourage-congressional-focus-on-advanced-recycling-to-achieve-circularity">plastics circularity</a>." But these companies face an uphill battle. Former Mayor Mike Bloomberg of New York City launched an $85 million campaign in 2022 to stop over 120 proposed petrochemical facilities. "Petrochemical plants poison our air and water — killing Americans and harming the health of entire communities," Bloomberg said in a statement.In the plastic-recycling industry, pyrolysis is seen as a well funded but failing experiment. A 2023 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.beyondplastics.org/publications/chemical-recycling">report</a> by Beyond Plastics and the International Pollutants Elimination Network found that the 11 pyrolysis facilities in operation in the US required massive public subsidies, most couldn't operate at full capacity, and only two of the plants sold the crude oil to be used exclusively for plastic production. Most of it was sold to make fuels and chemicals. Based on their findings, they argued that pyrolysis was ultimately "a public relations distraction to prevent plastic regulation and prop up the profits of the petrochemical/plastics industry."Though the conundrum of plastic grows more dire by the day, there are signs of hope. In early <a target="_blank" href="https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/historic-day-campaign-beat-plastic-pollution-nations-commit-develop">2022</a>, the UN adopted a resolution that could send shock waves throughout the entire plastic-disposing world. Heads of state, environment ministers, and UN representatives agreed to end all plastic pollution with a legally binding international plastic treaty to be officially adopted later this year. "Plastic pollution has grown into an epidemic," Espen Barth Eide, Norway's then-minister for climate and the environment, said in the announcement. "With today's resolution we are officially on track for a cure."The resolution would establish an agreement addressing plastic at every level, from production to recycling, in an attempt to reduce plastic pollution worldwide. Organizations such as the international coalition Break Free From Plastic have said that cutting the production of plastic has to be on the table. "The oil and gas industry sees plastic as its primary growth market and is investing billions of dollars in new and expanded facilities," the organization wrote in a 2022 statement. The group recommended bans on single-use plastics, a plastic tax, and regulations that prioritize plastics that can be recycled."Reduction in the production of plastic is entirely possible," Abou-Ghalioum of Buckeye Environmental Network told me. She pointed to the more than 500 cities and 12 states that have banned plastic bags, reducing the number of bags used by the billions. "It's talked about how we rely on plastic for so many things, and it just feels like a marketing ploy to make us reluctant to shift away from it," she said. "We had everything we ever needed before plastic."The tough reality is that the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sustainabilitybynumbers.com/p/landfill-plastic-area">9.5 billion tons of plastic</a> with us will be here for hundreds of years. But how many millions of more tons are added will be determined by the types of solutions we arrive at today.<a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/taylor-dorrell">Taylor Dorrell</a> is a writer and photographer based in Columbus, Ohio.

China stopped taking our plastic. Now America is drowning in it. 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>BPA is an industrial chemical that scientists have linked to hormone disruption and diabetes risk.</li><li>Plastic water bottles and food containers can leach BPA into what you eat and drink. </li></ul>Scientists have long suspected that industrial chemicals used in plastic water bottles can <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/endocrine-disruptors-dangerous-chemicals-2019-1">disrupt human hormones</a>.But, to date, evidence has been observational, meaning it shows an <a target="_blank" href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12902-018-0310-y">association</a> between plastics exposure and certain diseases, but can't prove a causal effect.Now, a groundbreaking new study shows direct evidence that bisphenol A — or, BPA, a chemical used to package food and drink — can reduce sensitivity to insulin, a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar.An impaired ability to respond to insulin, known as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/conditions-symptoms/insulin-resistance">insulin resistance</a>, can mean chronically high blood sugar levels and a much higher risk of type 2 diabetes.The researchers, who presented their findings at the <a target="_blank" href="https://diabetesjournals.org/diabetes/article/73/Supplement_1/17-OR/156057/17-OR-ADA-Presidents-Select-Abstract-Oral?searchresult=1">2024 Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association</a>, said this study shows the EPA may need to reconsider the safe limits for exposure to BPA in plastic bottles, food containers, and other containers.<h2 id="7b52d0a0-c0d2-4e4f-8b85-4e61a63bb01a">Even so-called safe levels of BPA may cause health issues</h2>Researchers from California Polytechnic State University studied 40 healthy adults who were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or a small dose of BPA daily.After four days, the participants who were given BPA were less responsive to insulin, while the placebo group did not experience any change.The dose of BPA that participants received, 50 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day, is an amount currently classified as safe by the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-09/documents/bpa_action_plan.pdf">EPA</a>."These results suggest that maybe the US EPA safe dose should be reconsidered and that healthcare providers could suggest these changes to patients," Todd Hagobian, senior author of the new study and professor at California Polytechnic State University, said in a press release.The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.fda.gov/food/food-packaging-other-substances-come-contact-food-information-consumers/bisphenol-bpa-use-food-contact-application">FDA considers BPA to be safe at low levels</a> occurring in food containers, up to 5 mg per kg body weight per day, or 100 times the amount the new study found to be risky. Some researchers argue the FDA <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412023005676#s0015">guidelines are outdated</a>.Other regulatory agencies around the world have taken a tougher stance on the chemical — the <a target="_blank" href="https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/13832-Food-safety-restrictions-on-bisphenol-A-BPA-and-other-bisphenols-in-food-contact-materials_en">European Commission</a> proposed to ban BPA in products that come into contact with food or beverages by the end of 2024.<h2 id="bd38d5b3-4d97-4d49-9c05-3b18689f3f6c">Environmental contaminants can be a major threat to human health</h2>The concern about BPA is part of a broader alarm being raised about our everyday exposure to substances that may be harmful to our health.Other recent research has found <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-risks-heart-attack-stroke-study-2024-3">microplastics</a>, particles so tiny they can infiltrate human cells, may potentially wreak havoc with our health. They've been found everywhere, from human lungs to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-found-in-penis-muscles-for-the-first-time-study-2024-6">reproductive organs</a>.Understanding how the substances we encounter every day may affect our health long-term could help us make better decisions about how to reduce the risk of chronic illnesses like type 2 diabetes."Given that diabetes is a leading cause of death in the US, it is crucial to understand even the smallest factors that contribute to the disease," Hagobian said in the press release. "We were surprised to see that reducing BPA exposure, such as using stainless steel or glass bottles and BPA-free cans, may lower diabetes risk."June 24, 2024 — An earlier version of this article misstated the difference between what the EPA considers safe BPA exposure and what the study found to be safe. It is 100 times higher, not 1000.

Groundbreaking study shows why drinking from plastic bottles may increase your risk of type 2 diabetes

<ul class="summary-list"><li>World leaders are in Ottawa negotiating a treaty to end plastic pollution.</li><li>The US, a major plastic exporter, says its a dealmaker but is under pressure to be more ambitious.</li></ul>World leaders are gathering in Ottawa, Ontario, this week to hash out a global treaty to end plastic pollution.It's a pivotal point in the talks, with countries aiming to strike a deal by the end of the year. The US has positioned itself as a broker between other big oil, gas, and petrochemical exporters — including Russia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia — and countries that want steep cuts to plastic production.But critics say the US isn't being ambitious enough."We'd like to see clear recognition from the US that the treaty has to confront the production of plastic polymers and resins if it's to be successful," Carroll Muffett, the president and CEO of the Center for International Environmental Law, told Business Insider. "We cannot recycle our way out of the plastics crisis."Muffett is among a handful of scientists and business and community advocacy groups who told BI they wanted to see a stronger position from the US. The country has a lot of sway as the world's largest exporter of oil and gas, the main ingredients in plastics. The US has also been at the forefront of a massive build-out of new plastics and petrochemical plants over the past decade. The Environmental Integrity Project, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit, <a target="_blank" href="https://environmentalintegrity.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Feeding-the-Plastics-Industrial-Complex-3.14.24.pdf">identified 50 plastic plants built after 2012</a> and found that at least 20 more would be built or expanded over the next five years.The trend is global. Plastic production is expected to nearly triple by 2060 unless countries reach a deal to rein it in, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.oecd.org/environment/global-plastic-waste-set-to-almost-triple-by-2060.htm">according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development</a>. A treaty could be the most impactful climate action since the Paris agreement because the plastic industry accounts for 5% of global carbon emissions. That could grow to 20% by 2050 if current trends continue, <a target="_blank" href="https://energyanalysis.lbl.gov/publications/climate-impact-primary-plastic">the US Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory</a> said.A State Department spokesperson in an email said the US is concerned that "overly prescriptive approaches" to ending plastic pollution put the treaty at risk because the largest producers and consumers of plastics might not support it. The US position is focused on policies that drive down the demand for new plastic, such as through government incentives and reuse models. However, the spokesperson said that countries "would not be precluded" from adopting their own policies.The Biden administration wants to finish a deal this year, given that the presidential election is in November, several observers of the negotiations told BI. But it will be difficult to persuade the Senate to ratify a treaty, they said.In Ottawa, major disagreements remain over how to tackle the more than 350 million metric tons of plastic waste produced globally each year, much of which ends up in landfills and the environment. Only 9% of plastics are recycled.Hundreds of businesses and countries support cutting plastic production. This could involve phasing out "problematic" plastics that can't be recycled or are harmful to public health and mandating that products be made with more recycled material. Taxing plastic polymers is also being discussed, which could help finance improvements to waste infrastructure in developing countries."Shared financial responsibility is something we really want to see," Allison Lin, the global vice president of packaging sustainability at Mars Inc., said. Lin represents the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, which includes more than 200 companies. Among them are Walmart, PepsiCo, and L'Oréal.Lin said the coalition supported a policy called <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/recycling-rate-us-extended-producer-responsibility-cans-bottles-plastic-paper-2023-2">extended producer responsibility</a>, which slaps a fee on companies' packaging to help fund recycling and collection and has been successful in countries such as Belgium. Plastic makers similarly should bear some of the financial burden, she said.Stewart Harris, a spokesperson for the International Council of Chemical Association, agreed that plastic makers needed to make greater investments, and the group supports EPR and recycled-content mandates. But the industry is opposed to taxes because they would be difficult to implement and it would be hard to ensure money flows into programs tackling plastic pollution, he said.Plastic makers also oppose setting caps on production, as do countries including Russia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. Harris cited <a target="_blank" href="https://www.oxfordeconomics.com/resource/mapping-the-plastics-value-chain/">an industry-commissioned report</a> by Oxford Economics that found a cap could increase costs for consumers as well as greenhouse-gas emissions. Plastics require less energy to manufacture and transport compared with some other materials, the report found.Cutting plastic production would also hit the bottom line of oil majors such as Exxon. The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.iea.org/news/petrochemicals-set-to-be-the-largest-driver-of-world-oil-demand-latest-iea-analysis-finds">International Energy Agency forecast</a> that by 2050, petrochemical products like plastic would outpace trucks, aviation, and shipping in oil demand.Neil Nathan, a project scientist at UC Santa Barbara, and his team built an artificial-intelligence model of how 11 policies could curb plastic pollution. While many can make a big dent in the problem in the near term, pollution will eventually go up again without production caps, he said.The model has been shared with US negotiators, Nathan added. He's disappointed the US hasn't included some of the most impactful policies into its position, he said."If the US takes a position or is supportive of something, we typically see a snowball effect," he said.Editor's note: April 25, 2024 — This story has been updated to include a statement from the State Department and clarified to reflect that Neil Nathan said UC Santa Barbara's recommended policies can initially curb pollution, but without production caps, pollution will go up in the long term.

The US is under pressure to lead the way in reducing plastic pollution &mdash; but it keeps making more of it 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>In the US, the volume of plastic waste hit 44 million metric tons in 2019. </li><li>Some beauty companies are ditching plastics in favor of aluminum, glass, or plant-based materials.</li><li>Consumers are willing to pay a higher price for sustainable products. </li></ul>Retail buzzwords like clean, green, and sustainable are the face of consumer-product goods today. But for the beauty industry, they're becoming an identity — for the companies creating their products and to the consumers who use them in their everyday routines. As more people seek out smaller, purpose-driven companies — i.e. companies whose missions go beyond products and services to making a positive impact on the larger world — <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/beauty/best-beauty-brands-with-sustainable-refillable-packaging">sustainable packaging</a> can make or break a user's loyalty to the brand. "Beauty products come in bottles and pots with pumps and lids, and we're noticing the first question a consumer asks is, 'Is this all recyclable?'" Michelle Brett, the CEO of <a href="https://usa.renskincare.com/?gclid=CjwKCAiArNOeBhAHEiwAze_nKKGN5MBwiDdZaPa7pcVzEZ-ym2zlZMtkauHvGM6I1wTDxxPlm1Sg8hoCRgoQAvD_BwE&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">REN Clean Skincare,</a> told Insider.Single-use-plastic packaging, especially in the beauty industry, has long been under scrutiny. <a href="https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/GPUS_FinalReport_2022.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A 2022 report by Greenpeace</a> indicated that most of the plastic items we're encouraged to wash and recycle actually end up in landfills. In the US alone, the volume of plastic waste reached <a href="https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/GPUS_FinalReport_2022.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">44 million metric tons</a> in 2019, and only about 5% to 6% was recycled in 2021, Greenpeace found. That's where smaller beauty brands come in. These companies are on the cutting edge of the industry, making real changes to their products, and paying attention to what consumers want: an unboxing experience that aligns with their identities — sustainable packaging included. Purpose-driven beauty companies are ditching plastics in favor of aluminum, glass, or plant-based materials. If they use plastic, they're trying to ensure that it's designed to be recyclable (mindful of inks and coatings). And some companies are using refillable packaging, so after consumers finish using the product, they can send back the bottle to be washed and refilled. <h2>Consumers are more informed than ever</h2>Denise Masi, the founder of <a href="https://maed.co/about/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MAED</a>, a lifestyle website devoted to natural and alternative beauty and lifestyle content, said today's consumers are smarter than ever about their purchases. "They want to know their purchase isn't contributing to a problem," she said. "If a brand is going to make a sustainability claim, they need to lay it out and explain where and how they are making a positive impact."Consumers aren't just more knowledgeable about eco-friendly products — they're willing to pay a higher price. A study conducted by First Insight and the Baker Retailing Center at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania found that <a href="https://160569.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/160569/docs/The-Sustainability-Disconnect-Between%20Consumers-and-Retail-Executives-2022.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">72% of consumers</a> say sustainability is important to them when making a purchase. "Consumers are absolutely proving that they're voting with their dollars," Angela Ubias, the cofounder and CEO of <a href="https://commonheir.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Common Heir</a>, told Insider. Lindsey McCoy, the CEO of <a href="https://www.plaineproducts.com/shop/?gclid=CjwKCAiArNOeBhAHEiwAze_nKGkbgEy9mYyXVh6BvsKaw7SnVEZ3ICTgxBww6DtxffVa1ZejCnan5BoCyYQQAvD_BwE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Plaine Products,</a> told Insider that today's consumers are savvier at picking up on when a company might be "<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-tell-if-companies-greenwashing-investments-2022-2">greenwashing,</a>" or trying to appear more environmentally friendly on the surface. And they're demanding more transparency because of it. Being able to give consumers an inside look at sustainability efforts is a competitive edge for smaller, purpose-driven beauty companies, McCoy said, adding that her company puts out annual <a href="https://www.plaineproducts.com/sustainable-products/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sustainability reports</a> for customers to understand how Plaine Products cuts packaging waste, eliminates greenhouse gas, and more. "We are transparent and have an honest understanding with our customers," she said. "I absolutely think it's helped with our growth."<h2>Some beauty brands have already made the switch </h2>Embracing consumer demand for more sustainable packaging — and leaning into it as a brand — is a way for smaller companies to stand out in the crowded beauty field. Brands like <a href="https://us.gisou.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gisou</a>, for example, package some of their products in glass that's sourced from a <a href="https://us.gisou.com/pages/our-sustainability-promise" target="_blank" rel="noopener">solar-power-dependent manufacturing site</a> and include recycling instructions. And <a href="https://helloeverist.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Everist</a>, a hair and body brand, said it's gone "zero-waste" with the entire product experience, including 100% recycled aluminum tubes and a <a href="https://helloeverist.com/pages/zero-waste" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CapBack program</a> that covers postage costs for customers to return their used tube caps. Brett's REN Clean Skincare is also a <a href="https://usa.renskincare.com/blogs/clean-thoughts/ren-clean-skincare-sustainability-stats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">major player</a> in the sustainable beauty industry. The brand's bottle is made from 80% recycled plastic and 20% plastic debris reclaimed from the ocean. For every 150,000 bottles that are made, about 1.5 tons of waste is removed from the ocean.The growing interest in sustainability — with a push for fewer plastic products — is also drawing attention from lawmakers at all levels. Last June, Gov. Gavin Newsom of California <a href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/2022/06/30/governor-newsom-signs-legislation-cutting-harmful-plastic-pollution-to-protect-communities-oceans-and-animals/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed a law requiring packaging</a> to be recyclable or compostable by 2032. The <a href="https://www.state.gov/u-s-actions-to-address-plastic-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">federal government</a> has also taken action with initiatives like the National Recycling Strategy and the WasteWise Program. Internationally, countries like <a href="https://www.agriculture.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/national-plastics-plan-2021.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australia</a>, <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/managing-reducing-waste/reduce-plastic-waste/single-use-plastic-overview.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Canada</a>, and <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/07/india-ban-policy-single-use-plastic-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India</a> are working to minimize <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/paper-forest-products-and-packaging/our-insights/the-drive-toward-sustainability-in-packaging-beyond-the-quick-wins" target="_blank" rel="noopener">packaging waste.</a> <h2>Online spending brings sustainable shipping into the equation</h2>Ubias, Masi, and other beauty experts interviewed by Insider say that while the push for sustainable packaging in the beauty industry has been ongoing, the pandemic accelerated the discussion as people stayed home, consumed more health-and-wellness information on social media, and prioritized self-care routines. As a result, shoppers, namely millennials and Gen Z, are skipping the store and <a href="https://www.powerreviews.com/insights/2021-beauty-industry-consumer-report/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ordering their beauty products online</a>. This means beauty companies need to consider the sustainability of their shipping materials, too. The <a href="https://facts.usps.com/total-shippingpackage-volume/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US Postal Service</a> reported it shipped nearly 8 billion packages in 2021, with the vast majority packed in plastic or cardboard. When you add other shipping companies like UPS and FedEx into the mix, the numbers increase significantly.Some purpose-driven beauty companies are switching to recyclable or reusable shipping materials. <a href="https://boox.eco/?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiAic6eBhCoARIsANlox87lPeV7QAbKGMR7XhnyMOIpM732t4z3dywO2eulSeCPAEyIG7JmPWwaAjBPEALw_wcB" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boox</a> is one startup that works with smaller companies, some of them beauty brands, to provide reusable packaging. Boox told Insider it's grown its business from providing 75,000 packages a year to 2 million in 2022. Matt Semmelhack, the company's cofounder and CEO, told Insider it's a drop in the bucket now, but a wave is coming. "It's going to seem like overnight to the average consumer, but there will be a big shift in the next 10 years with more sustainable, reusable packaging," Semmelhack said.

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<ul class="summary-list"><li>Amazon delivery packages from North America were found in illegal dump sites and mills in India.</li><li>Plastic waste ends up in dump sites that emit vile odors and can pollute the air, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2022-india-plastic-recycling-pollution/">Bloomberg</a> reports.</li></ul>Amazon consumers in the US and Canada may think that their Amazon delivery packaging will find a second life once they recycle it. But <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2022-india-plastic-recycling-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a Bloomberg investigation</a> found that many of these plastic shipping envelopes, alongside other consumer packaging, are now ubiquitous at six illegal dump sites in the remote town of Muzaffarnagar, India — thousands of miles away from where they were discarded.It's not necessarily the fault of Amazon: Many consumers wrongly assume that packages labeled recyclable or featuring the three-arrow recycle logo are safe for recycling everywhere, but the majority of American recyclers can't process soft plastics, Bloomberg reported.As a result, plastic, like the Amazon envelopes, often gets mixed into the paper waste that is shipped to countries with lax enforcement of disposal rules, which is how the plastic can end up polluting someone's backyard on the other side of the world, per Bloomberg. Laurie Smyla, a former recycling coordinator with a degree in environmental science who is based in Sloatsburg, New York, recycled a plastic Amazon envelope that made its way to a three-acre plastic dump site in India just a few hundred feet away from the home of Bobinder Kumar and his family, Bloomberg found. "I feel betrayed as a consumer," Smyla told Bloomberg. "That recycling symbol — it's all a marketing feel-good message and very deceptive. It should not be harming other people in other parts of the world."Kumar said that the site is flooded with Amazon's blue-and-white shipping envelopes and that the packaging emits a vile odor."We can't escape the smell of the trash, even in our home," Kumar told Bloomberg. "It's very terrible to live close to the site, but what can we do?"Amazon delivery packaging was also found mixed in with materials processed at sugar cane and paper mills in Muzaffarnagar, according to Bloomberg. Burning plastic, like the packaging, releases toxic chemicals like mercury and dioxins into the atmosphere, which can cause harm to humans, agriculture, and animals.Residents of Muzaffarnagar told Bloomberg that they know when plastic is burnt while they are asleep because they wake up to find sheets of ash covering their terraces and crops. Muzaffarnagar's chief medical officer said that air pollution and the burning of plastic are linked to a 30% uptick in respiratory problems such as asthma and bronchitis among the town's residents, Bloomberg reported. Often times, waste is transferred from wealthy countries to less wealthy ones with the help of brokers who charge a fee to throw away trash or buy the trash at a cheap rate to sell across borders, Bloomberg reported. These brokers have alleged links to criminal gangs and fraudsters.Bloomberg's findings come three years after the Indian government lifted its ban on importing plastic waste due to the country's waste shortage, <a href="https://www.indiatimes.com/explainers/news/government-allows-import-of-plastic-waste-565972.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the India Times reported.</a>The findings pose a challenge to <a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?amazonTrackingID=biauto-60624-20&amp;postID=63ab09363864673035143f6e&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fsustainability.aboutamazon.com%2Fenvironment%2Fpackaging" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amazon's sustainability commitments</a> to increase the recyclability of its delivery packages and to reduce its waste. Last year, the company generated 709 million pounds of plastic packaging waste, according to a <a href="https://oceana.org/press-releases/report-amazons-plastic-packaging-waste-jumped-18-to-709-million-pounds-in-2021/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">report by international environmental group Oceana,</a> and it used 97,222 metric tons of single-use plastic across Amazon-owned and operated global fulfillment centers, the company said.In 2021, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-return-program-cut-wasted-destroyed-inventory-from-unsold-products-2021-8">Amazon announced programs</a> to sell returned items as "used" and for vendors to sell their overstocked inventory in bulk as part of its pledge to prevent millions of its products from entering the landfill.While Amazon didn't respond to Insider's request for comment on its packaging being found in Muzaffarnagar, a company spokesperson told Insider in a statement that it "is committed to minimizing waste and helping our customers recycle their packaging.""Since 2015, we have invested in materials, processes, and technologies that have reduced per-shipment packaging weight by 38% and eliminated over 1.5 million tons of packaging material," the spokesperson said.The spokesperson also referred Insider to <a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?amazonTrackingID=biauto-60624-20&amp;postID=63ab09363864673035143f6e&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Famsc%3Fref_%3Dnavm_em__amsc_hamburger_0_1_1_55" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amazon Second Chance</a>, a guide for customers to understand how to recycle their Amazon packaging. <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2022-india-plastic-recycling-pollution/">Here is the full report from Bloomberg.</a>

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