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Researchers warn you might not want to reuse plastic food packaging For decades
we've been told to "reduce, recycle and reuse" to help the environment. But some
experts say when it comes to plastic, we might want to hold off reusing plastic
food packaging.

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ENVIRONMENT

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ENVIRONMENT


RESEARCHERS WARN YOU MIGHT NOT WANT TO REUSE PLASTIC FOOD PACKAGING

December 6, 20245:03 AM ET
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RESEARCHERS WARN YOU MIGHT NOT WANT TO REUSE PLASTIC FOOD PACKAGING

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For decades we've been told to "reduce, recycle and reuse" to help the
environment. But some experts say when it comes to plastic, we might want to
hold off reusing plastic food packaging.

Sponsor Message



MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:



It's become part of just about everything we use every single day. You know what
I'm talking about.



(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "THE GRADUATE")



WALTER BROOKE: (As Mr. McGuire) Just one word.



DUSTIN HOFFMAN: (As Benjamin Braddock) Yes, sir.



BROOKE: (As Mr. McGuire) Are you listening?



HOFFMAN: (As Benjamin Braddock) Yes, sir, I am.



BROOKE: (As Mr. McGuire) Plastics.



LEILA FADEL, HOST:



That's a well-known clip from "The Graduate." And back in 1967 when the film
came out, there wasn't a lot of concern about the impact of plastics on our
environment or health.



MARTIN: For decades, we've been told to reduce, reuse and recycle in an effort
to cut down on waste and pollution and help the environment. Now, though, some
experts are saying we might want to ease up on the reuse, especially when it
comes to plastic food packaging. Sherri Mason is a researcher who studies the
effects of plastic pollution on freshwater.



SHERRI MASON: Plastics are constantly flaking. Almost like how skin cells are
constantly flaking off of our bodies, plastics are constantly releasing micro
and nanoplastics.



FADEL: I like my - to season my food. I'm not sure I want microplastics as my
seasoning.



MARTIN: Well, unfortunately, we might already be doing so.



FADEL: Mason says microplastics are particles that can be as narrow as
one-hundredth of a human hair. And single-use plastics like takeout containers
and water bottles can shed those particles into food more quickly. The longer
the food or drinks stay in these containers, the more plastics end up in your
body.



MASON: You can squish that bottle. The ability to physically maneuver that
plastic means that you've got this increase in friction and more shedding that
will accompany that versus, like, a harder, reusable plastic.



MARTIN: And Mason says you should definitely think twice about reheating
single-use plastics in the microwave.



MASON: Room temperature - the molecules are moving less quickly, so they won't
migrate as much. But as you raise the temperature, you'll have more of that
movement from the plastic container into the food that you're then going to
ingest.



FADEL: She says even sturdier, reusable plastic storage containers can shed
microplastics. So she recommends storing your food in ceramic or glass.



MARTIN: And next time you are on a walk or a hike, consider bringing a water
bottle made of metal.



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permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text
may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future.
Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s
programming is the audio record.

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