14 Every Day Tips To Reduce The Consumption Of Microplastics

Are you starting to notice a trend here? Foods stored in plastic containers can leach harmful chemicals and microplastics into food, leading to the direct consumption of microplastics (via Environmental Nanotechnology, Monitoring & Management). Sometimes, we have a choice about whether or not to buy a product in glass or plastic. Milk or yogurt in glass containers may be more expensive, but Lawless highly suggests opting for this type of packaging with high-fat items, like yogurt, milk, cream, and butter. “When foods are high in fat, they leach chemicals from plastics more readily,” she says, “so think about this when prioritizing where to avoid plastic.”

Other times, we don’t have a choice, and our only option is to purchase something in plastic packaging. It’s often hard to avoid plastic packaging for items like cheese or meat, “I have still yet to find a rancher who packages their meat in something other than plastic,” Lawless admitted, “but they must exist somewhere.” In those cases, she suggests transferring the product into glass jars as soon as you bring them home.

The American Academy of Pediatrics also suggests using aluminum foil, glass, or food-grade silicone containers for storing leftovers and creating a plastic-free kitchen. While silicone is not a perfect alternative because it’s not biodegradable, Eco & Beyond says it’s a better alternative to plastic.