Single-use plastics can leach plastic and wreak havoc in your home. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
What Is Plastic Leaching?
We are surrounded by plastic. It’s in the packaging that keeps our food fresh, our refrigerators and drinking cups, cars and workplaces, the toys we give our kids and pets. We don’t want to sound alarmist — so let us say straight off that there are dangerous plastics and safer plastics. And there are also companies that create as little plastic as necessary.
This is incredibly important because when dangerous plastics are used to wrap products, they can leach. In other words, chemicals can be absorbed into those products. In other words, the very things that were created to protect can in fact be harmful.
With Infuse, we think about this question on a regular basis. How can we create cleaning products that actually do what they promise: make your home cleaner and safer? We take it incredibly seriously. And one of the ways that we deliver on our promise is to eliminate the use of chemicals that are known to be dangerous, and known to leach.
No Single-Use Plastic Bottles, Ever
They’re inexpensive and disposable – which might sound good from a manufacturer’s perspective because they allow companies to produce them more cheaply, and sell more. But these two factors cause harm to the environment, clogging landfills.
But just as dangerous is the risk they pose to your family. Inexpensive, single-use plastic spray bottles are far more likely to leach harmful toxins. In fact, single-use plastic bottles should not be reused, especially if they show wear and tear – even little dings or cracks. Those thread-thin faults, even microscopic ones that are hard to see, allow chemicals to leach out more quickly.
No BPA, Ever
Polycarbonate (PC) is a chemical in some plastics that leaches bisphenol A (BPA). This problem became widely known when plastic water bottles were left in hot cars and caused toxic chemicals to mix with the water inside. Exposure to BPA can lead to many health problems – asthma, cancer, heart disease, and obesity.
It’s not only in water bottles; it comes in many plastics, even disposable spray bottles,, but technology has advanced so companies can choose BPA-free plastic. Look for that on the label.
No Styrene, Ever
Polystyrene, a key ingredient in the Styrofoam cups that have slowly disappeared from fast food and poolsides, is also found in insulation, pipes, carpet backing, and food packaging. It can irritate your skin and eyes, your respiratory, and GI tracts; it can damage your kidneys and central nervous system; it can cause cancer. Its use has been significantly decreased in many food and cleaning-related products. Again, do your research and say no to styrene.
No Vinyl Chloride, Ever
PVC is widely known as a red-flag plastic. It’s used in nearly every country in the world because it is inexpensive to produce and takes decades to break down completely (which also makes it hazardous to landfills!). But as it does break down — bit by bit in your cleaning solution bottles, food handling, or water pipes — it can cause dizziness, drowsiness, and headaches. Long-term exposure is a known cause of cancer. But again, you can avoid this by not buying products made from PVC.
No Antimony, Ever
This is likely the least well-known chemical in the bunch because its use is heavily regulated. However, it is still frequently found in single-use bottles like those that other companies use for their cleaning products. With Antinomy, leaching is well-documented: so spraying these cleaning solutions sprays the chemical into the air, and onto every surface.
How To Avoid these Chemicals
We know this is scary stuff. That’s why we, as a company, take it so seriously. We do not believe that the risk associated with plastic leaching — whether mild or life-threatening — are worth it. So we spent extra time in product development and testing, and extra expense, to ensure that every Infuse product is not doing more harm than good.
Let’s Recap:
1. Steer clear of inexpensive, single-use plastic bottles because tiny cracks and dings in them allow chemicals to leach from plastic more quickly.
2. Know the dangerous chemicals above, read labels before making a purchase.
3. Avoid containers with Recycling Code 3 or Recycling Code 7, because they often contain BPA.
4. Store all plastic containers in a cool, dark place to avoid exposure to light and heat.
You can know, with confidence, that our packaging will never contain these chemicals. We are committed to the health, safety, and well-being of everyone who buys Infuse products because it’s simply the right thing to do. And that means no single-use spray bottles, BPA, Styrene, Vinyl Chloride, or Antinomy. Ever.
For more information, read this article from Consumer Reports and this toxicity study published by the American Chemical Society.