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Toxic Trade-Off

Toxic Trade-Off: Food Storage

By 01/26/2025No Comments

I have heard the term “micro-plastics” coupled with talk about how they’re bad for you, but never in a context where I took it to heart. Then, on my birthday, Deniz shared a 2-hour video interview with me, one that has had over 3.5 million views.

It is part of Steven Bartlett’s “Diary of a C.E.O.” series on YouTube, Episode 61 titled, “No.1 Toxicologist: These Products Were Making Me Infertile And Are Harming Your Future Kids!” Steven’s guest is Dr Yvonne Burkart, a PhD, Toxicologist and former Senior Toxicologist in the flavor and fragrance industry. She talks about many of the toxins that we are exposed to in our every day products, products that we often pay a premium for thinking they are quality brands.

(Video starts at 58:08 – “The Risks of Using Plastic Containers”)

After watching this video, Deniz and I decided to get serious about reducing our own exposure and in doing so, sharing with you what we learn and where we get affordable and safe alternatives. We realized that what we don’t need is “more,” but less “things”  – items we’ll truly use that are high quality and safe for us, our family, our community, our flora and fauna neighbors, the planet, and the seven generations to come.

So let’s get started, shall we? Feel free to select a section and jump around.

THE HISTORY OF FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS

Before we talk about what’s in your pantry and kitchen right now, I’d love to give you the back story on how we got here and who’s running the show (so to speak). 

  • In 1907, a Belgian-born chemist and entrepreneur, Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite, the first fully synthetic plastic. It could be molded into almost any shape, but was a pretty rigid-type plastic. 
  • Let’s jump to 1933 when Saran Wrap was invented by accident by Ralph Wiley, a college student lab worker at Dow Chemical. He discovered the substance was clingy, resisted chemicals, and was water and air tight, so they sprayed it on fighter planes and auto upholstery to keep it protected from the elements. The problem was, it was smelly and green, so over time, they made adjustments to eliminate the color and odor, then started marketing it for food packaging and storage.
  • In 1941, PolyEthylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE) was patented by John Rex Whinfield, James Tennant Dickson and their employer the Calico Printers’ Association of Manchester, England. This was a flexible plastic that eventually led to Dacron (PET fiber) in 1950.
  • One of the most popular food storage containers in our history is Tupperware. Earl Tupper started buying polyethylene pellets from DuPont and experimented with making storage containers. In 1942, he formed the company, Tupperware, then began introducing products to the public in 1946. 
  • In 1973, PET soda bottles were first manufactured and in 1978, Pepsi and Coca-Cola took the reins by releasing the first 2L bottles of soda to market.

According to Global Market Insights, the global market size for food storage containers was valued at USD 163.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 253.8 billion by 2034.

HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF PLASTIC FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS

BLAH, BLAH, BLAH


Why does all this matter? If you watched the “Diary of a C.E.O.” video above, you will realize that these chemical-based containers are E-V-E-R-Y-W-H-E-R-E! Try going to the store and buying your groceries without any plastics. It is impossible. 

These plastic containers are contaminating our bodies with microplastics. While some of the tiny amounts of microplastics will leave the body during a trip to the bathroom, a portion of it hangs out in your body and is absorbed into the cells of our hearts, blood, lungs, genitals (yup), brains, and unborn fetuses. Our immune system can’t get rid of these bits of plastic as it would other foreign invaders. Our immune cells will release enzymes that fight like crazy against these particles, but ultimately fail. They remain intact and become an opponent to the immune system. And we wonder why there is such a rise in auto-immune diseases and disorders. It’s like us trying to fight a highly weaponized and technologically advanced alien from outer space.  

The chemicals added to plastics represent another threat. Phthalates and bisphenol A, or BPA, as well as PFAS, known as “forever chemicals” are words we are unfortunately becoming all too familiar with. More detailed studies are required to determine the effects of these chemicals, but initial studies clearly point to risk of cancers and metabolic issues, such as obesity. Hmmm, another epidemic.

Is all this starting to look like a trend?

As concerned consumers, we have a right to keep our families safe. 

According to Global Market Insights, the global market size for food storage containers was valued at USD 163.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 253.8 billion by 2034.

BABY STEPS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

So how do you even begin to make a dent in a problem that big? You start with small changes.

Think about how “gluten free” and “organic” are now available in just about every market that sells food. That change happened, not because of protests, but because of our spending habits. If we don’t buy their plastic, they make what we do want.

Start here – Look at the containers for which you use to store your leftovers. Look in your pantry. Look at the containers you have in your refrigerator right now (yes, even the milk containers). You can begin by switching out most of it with glass. 

  • Dry Goods
  • Refrigerated Products
  • Frozen Foods
  • Dairy Products
  • Produce
  • Fresh Meats, Poultry, and Seafood
  • Spice Jars
  • Condiments and Sauces
  • Coffee and Tea

People usually freak out at the potential cost of glass containers, but you can be smart about what you get and where you get it. 

  • Canning Jars – they come in all shapes and sizes and are easily cleaned and reused. If you aren’t canning with them, you can reuse the lids and rings too. The best part about canning jars is they are always plentiful at thrift stores and yard sales if you don’t mind secondhand.
  • IKEA Glass Storage – I found these with bamboo lids and am in LOVE with them! They are affordable, dishwasher safe, and you can freeze food* in them too. They come in multiple shapes and sizes. CLICK HERE
  • Grocery Outlet – I was meandering through the aisles last week and saw they had glass containers with wood tops too. 
  • Amazon – While I try not to feed the consumer beast, I realize some live in more remote areas and this is a viable option. Yes, Amazon carries glass containers with bamboo lids too. CLICK HERE
assortment of glass food storage containers with bamboo lids

We have no affiliation with any of these products and were not asked to make recommendations. We have personally used many and felt compelled to suggest them to you.

If you are fortunate to live near a store that sells bulk, bring your own jars or paper bags instead of buying products in plastic. Live in the country? Support your local farmer. Live in the city? Shop at local farmers markets. 

WHO'S BEHIND ALL THIS PLASTIC?

As consumers, we are. But we’re not without big industry support and pressure.

Asia is the largest plastics producer in the world. China alone accounted for 32 percent of global production in 2023. In recent years, China produced between six and 12 million metric tons of plastic products each month. North America ranks second worldwide in terms of plastic production.

As global plastics production has increased, the United States has played a major role in the industry. Many of the world’s largest plastic manufacturers are based in the US, such as Dow Chemical and the ExxonMobil chemical division. In 2023, North America accounted for 17 percent of global plastic materials production.

According to Earth.org’s website, 

“Launched in 2019 by the American Chemistry Council (ACC), a major plastics trade association, the Alliance to End Plastic Waste was publicized as a campaign aimed at shifting the conversation “away from short-term simplistic bans of plastic.” Alliance members, which include Chevron Phillips Chemical, ExxonMobil, Dow Chemical, Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings, Procter & Gamble and Shell, pledged $1.5 billion in clean-up efforts primarily concerning waste collection and recycling. To date, they have provided only one-fourth of that funding, according to Greenpeace.”

Of the 400 million tons of plastic globally produced annually, only 9% is successfully recycled.

A GLOBAL INDUSTRY EFFORT

Remember, the best effort is your spending habits. 

There was an effort to try to limit the amount of plastics manufactured globally. Unfortunately, the global plastic pollution treaty talks at the INC-5 meeting failed during Fall 2024. While there are talks of instituting production caps and agreeing to phase out certain chemicals and products, it has not been easy to bring 170 nations and 440 organizations into a uniformed agreement. To add to the pressures of big oil and chemical influence, the Centre for International Environmental Law (CIEL) reported there were over 220 fossil fuel and chemical industry lobbyists registered to attend the INC-5 meeting, representing the largest single delegation at the talks. To date, no agreement has been reached.

At the current rate, global plastic pollution could triple by 2040 unless we take immediate action. Over the past five years, the number of national and voluntary actions to tackle the problem has increased by 60%. Despite this, plastic pollution has continued to increase by 50%.

ALL IS NOT LOST - WE'VE GOT THIS!

There is hope and it resides in our spending habits and the choices we make every day. Don’t settle. You can make a difference in your health and that of your families, your communities, your flora and fauna neighbors, your planet, and the seven generations yet to come.

REFERENCES

  • Statista. (2024, November 21). Global plastic production 1950-2023. https://www.statista.com/statistics/282732/global-production-of-plastics-since-1950/
  • Igini, M. (2024, December 10). 5 firms behind Plastic Alliance produced 1,000 times more plastic than they cleaned up. Earth.Org. https://earth.org/five-chemical-and-oil-firms-behind-alliance-to-end-plastic-have-produced-1000-times-more-plastic-than-they-cleaned-up/
  • Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution. (n.d.). UNEP – UN Environment Programme. https://www.unep.org/inc-plastic-pollution
  • The Evolution of Food Packaging – A Timeline | NextDayFlyers. (n.d.). https://www.nextdayflyers.com/the-evolution-of-food-packaging-a-timeline.html
  • Staff, P. (2015, February 9). TRIVIAL PURSUITS: How was Saran wrap invented/discovered? | PLANSPONSOR. PLANSPONSOR. https://www.plansponsor.com/trivial-pursuits-how-was-saran-wrap-inventeddiscovered/
  • Bellis, M. (2019, November 19). The inventor of Saran Wrap. ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-pvdc-4070927
  • Wikipedia contributors. (2025, January 16). Polyethylene terephthalate. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyethylene_terephthalate