This commentary is by Eve O. Schaub, a resident of Pawlet and the author of “Year of No Garbage,” published this year by Skyhorse Press.
A New York Times article out earlier this week titled “10 Boxed Wines That Are Really Good, Seriously” was touting the environmental benefits of buying wine in boxes over wine in glass. This is an argument you hear repeatedly: that plastic containers are supposedly preferable to glass because of the environmental footprint.
“The carbon footprint is about a tenth of the emissions for the production of four single-use bottles, not even taking into consideration weight and transport,” an importer is quoted as saying. “No way around it, boxes are significantly better for the planet, even with a plastic liner.”
Folks. It’s only been a matter of days since we got the news that microplastics are now being detected in human testis and semen. Microplastics have previously been detected every place in the human body scientists have looked for them: Breast milk. Blood. Liver. Placenta. Brain. Poop.
To argue about the climate-changing emissions of plastic versus glass, or compare the fuel used to truck these wines around in different containers, ignores the fact that we have more than one thing to worry about. We need to worry not only about climate emissions, but also the persistent plastics that do not break down, do not ever go away, and consequently are showing up everywhere in the environment and in our bodies.
Why does it matter that plastics end up in our bodies? Plastics are made with a combination of fossil fuels and toxic chemicals. When I say “toxic,” one might be tempted to think I’m exaggerating, but in fact, plastics are routinely made with chemicals you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy: heavy metals. Persistent organic pollutants. BPA. PFAS, the “forever chemicals.” Chemicals that are known carcinogens, fertility inhibitors, and endocrine disruptors. Chemicals that cause birth defects and impair brain development.
Science has shown that plastic leaks the toxic chemistry it was made with. A 2022 Danish water bottle study showed that a new plastic sports water bottle left to sit at room temperature contained over 400 different plastic-related chemicals the next day.
You’d think there’d be some system of regulation prohibiting the use of such chemicals in the packaging of the food and drinks we consume, right? Instead, the United States has a system that essentially says, “It’s probably fine. If someone can prove it’s causing harm, we can always ban it later.”
Of course, talk to the cigarette people about how long it can take to definitively prove that something is “bad for you.” These plastic chemistry formulations are so complex — and secretive — that the chances of isolating any one chemical and proving beyond a shadow of a doubt what specific harm it causes are often just about impossible. But that doesn’t mean these chemicals are safe.
If you’re trying to be careful about what goes into your body, you can always read the ingredients on the side of the food packaging. But what about the ingredients of the packaging itself? The packaging that is in direct contact with the food you are going to eat? No one is required to tell you that. And after the dozens of phone calls I made to companies during our Year of No Garbage, I can assure you: Even the people making the product often don’t know.
All this is to say that when we drink wine from plastic bags, we are consuming the chemicals from the plastic at the same time.
Glass does have problems, but glass is not trying to poison us. We need to work to improve the systems that will make glass a better and more environmental option: employ reusables, make glass recycling more viable. And, given what we know, we need to avoid plastic packaging for our food and drink whenever possible.
Choosing between glass and plastic containers can’t just be about carbon footprint. It’s not only about melting glaciers and starving polar bears. It’s also about the health of our bodies, and the health of our children and grandchildren.
When Big Business starts putting microplastics in my brain, liver and bloodstream? Now, it’s personal.
