In April of this year, Omnibus conducted a survey of 1,000 consumers here in the U.S. The survey was an effort to better understand how we think of glass relating to the safety and quality of our food and beverages. Recently on this blog, we’ve shared a lot about the health and environmental dangers of plastic. So when we ran across this terrific infographic summary of the Omnibus survey, well we just had to share.
We’ve posted about the harms of BPA (Bisphenol-A) here, here and here. The estrogen-mimicking chemical has been banned in bottles in Europe, Canada and China while remaining legal here in the U.S. Until the laws change or businesses figure out BPA-free is competitive advantage, we’ve put together a list of 10 ways you can avoid BPA and cut down on your exposure.
Cut down on the plastic in your food and beverage choices and choose glass, ceramic or metal (non-coated) whenever possible.
For your next cookout, use paper-based plates instead of plastic or plastic-coated plates.
Buy your milk in a cardboard carton instead of a plastic gallon.
Choose fresh or frozen foods (in cardboard box, not the plastic steam-in-a-bag variety) over canned foods. This past winter, Consumer Reports found alarming levels of BPA in the lining of most canned foods in our grocery stores.
Choose glass instead of plastic for storing leftover foods.
Avoid microwave-ready, plastic wrapped foods. Instead choose a make-ahead meal and store it in portable glass container that can go from the fridge to the microwave.
If you see a number “7” on our plastic products, it more than likely contains BPA; send it to the recycling bin.
If you have a baby and you’re using formula, choose powder over pre-made. You’ll save money and avoid the bottles for pre-made which contain BPA.
If you do have plastics, always hand wash even when it says “dishwasher safe.” The heat from the dishwasher can break down the plastic making it easier to leach chemicals into your food or beverage and therefore into you.
Our award-winning reusable glass water bottles enjoy descriptions such as the “clean side of green” and “art you can use.” As a company, we’re dedicated to building a company that’s good for your health, our planet all while creating a sustainable and successful company. This week, we joined the Green Chamber of the South, a nonprofit dedicated to the growth and success of sustainable business in the Southeast.
The Green Chamber of the South offers us the opportunity to connect with other like-minded businesses dedicated to building sustainable businesses in and around the Southeast. Founded in 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia, the organization supports the growth and success of sustainable business and encourages innovation and adoption of clean technology. It’s a non-profit organization working to make the Southeast the center of sustainable business in the United States.
So how do we fit in this group? From the very beginning, our every effort – from design, to sourcing, to production, to packaging – has been focused on creating the lowest carbon footprint possible. The result? Our sturdy 22-ounce glass water bottle is 100% sourced in North America and has the lowest carbon footprint in the industry. Each bottle is created from recycled glass (up to 75% recycled and sourced on-site) using ancient techniques in a modern glass-making facility in Mexico. The bottles are enhanced by food-grade silicone caps and grippers made in Maine. BottlesUp’s bottles are free of known toxins including Bisphenol-A (BPA), phthalates, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), and polycarbonates that research has shown can compromise human health. There is zero plastic in the product or packaging. It takes more time to do it right, but we’re committed to living, breathing, and building a truly green company.
We hope to learn, and to inspire, our fellow Green Chamber members for the betterment of health, environment and business. And if you’re a part of a company in the Southeast, considering joining the Green Chamber or even taking one small step to make your business greener – your employees, customers and business will benefit.
It seems that plastics are being more and more closely scrutinized for their potential role in impacting our health (not to mention the environment). This new study asked the question, “What happens when you remove BPA from your diet?” To get to the answer they replaced common food packaging for families for three days – and the results? Their individual BPA levels dropped more than 60% – that’s right more than 60% in just three days, amazing. And it wasn’t just BPA they tested for, they also tested for phthalates (DEHP and others) and other hormone-disrupting chemicals and every level dropped.
How’d they do it? They replaced canned or plastic packaged food with fresh foods for three days, testing families before, during and after. You can get the full details of the study here. What really strikes me though, is the dramatic impact after only three days. The takeaway from The Breast Cancer Fund and Silent Spring Institute which conducted the study:
“…you can reduce your BPA exposure by cooking fresh foods at home, avoiding canned foods, choosing glass and stainless steel food and beverage containers, and not microwaving in plastic.”
Better still, they offer a handy wallet card or mobile card listing 10 top packaged foods to avoid. They also recommend using glass or stainless steel food and beverage containers.
The study was conducted by Breast Cancer Fund and Silent Spring Institute, with funding from the Passport Foundation.
Should we all be surprised? A new study from the researchers at Environmental Health Perspectives confirms that plastics – from plastic sippy cups to plastic water bottles to plastic wrap – release chemicals that mimic the sex hormone estrogen.
The researchers bought more than 450 products that come in contact with food or beverage from your everyday stores like Whole Foods and Walmart. In lab testing, which isn’t as volatile as the real-world where we get hot sun, cold refrigeration, microwaves and freezers, more than 70% of the products leached estrogenic chemicals.
This chemical release even happens from BPA-free plastic, long thought to be the only plastic chemical culprit to potentially affect our health. In the study, researchers took plastic water bottles and plastic baby bottles that are BPA-free and 100% of them leached estrogenic chemicals.
You can read the full study here and decide for yourself. For our team at BottlesUp, you can understand why we’re committed to zero plastics in our products and our packaging. Join in and take a vow now to minimize plastic and when you can – go glass.
