In 1973, Dupont patented the PET (PolyEthylene Terephthalate) plastic bottle as an innovative and durable alternative to glass. Since then, production of plastic bottles has skyrocketed to 500 billion a year.

Most people think our plastics problem is primarily about litter. And yes–there is a litter problem. But plastics also pollute air, water, foods and beverages with toxic chemicals.

Defend Our Health is a Maine based nonprofit that’s studying plastics as part of a campaign to eliminate plastic pollutants. Defend’s recent report, “The Hidden Hazards of a Plastic Bottle” traces the “chemical footprint” of a plastic bottle from fabrication to disposal. I skimmed through it and found it eye opening!

An Effective Strategy
One of the highlights in the “Hazards” report is that two carcinogens, cobalt and antimony, were found in popular beverages. These chemicals are used as catalysts in making plastic bottles. Then they leach into the bottled water, juice and sodas in the bottles.

Defend tested seven Coca-Cola brands and found unhealthful amounts of antimony in all of them. This indicates that antimony was used as a catalyst in making the bottles. Safer alternatives are widely available, and are currently used in other markets, such as Japan.

The challenge here is that the plastic bottle manufacturers are unknown to the public, and are entrenched as suppliers to beverage companies. So it’s hard to go after them directly.

But Defend has an effective strategy to address this problem. They call it a “market campaign”. Once toxics have been found, Defend approaches the beverage companies and offers them an opportunity to become a “market leader”. All they have to do is demand toxic-free plastic bottles from their suppliers.

If the companies do not comply with this request, they risk bad press about toxic substances in their products. No consumer brand wants this!

Defend successfully used this strategy in an earlier campaign to eliminate phthalates from beverage bottle caps. Several companies changed bottle cap suppliers when they learned there were toxics in their bottle caps. This helped drive demand for toxic free caps.

Defend hopes that similar changes will result from their current plastic bottle campaign. They are meeting with Coca Cola executives to explain the toxics found in their products as I write this article. Stay tuned!

To read the Hidden Hazards Report: https://www.beyondpetrochemicals.org/

Full disclosure: I serve on the board of Defend Our Health.

Bloomberg’s “Beyond Petrochemicals” Campaign
One hundred and twenty new petrochemical plants are currently proposed for the United States. Many fossil fuel companies view plastics as a way to make up for the declining demand for oil and gas, due to electric vehicles and renewable energy generation.

In response, Bloomberg Philanthropies (founded by Michael Bloomberg) has launched a new campaign, “Beyond Petrochemicals: People Over Pollution”. It targets three areas where plastic pollution is concentrated: the Texas Gulf Coast, Cancer Alley in Louisiana, and the Ohio River Valley.

Bloomberg is partnering with researchers, advocates and local community leaders on the campaign. The “Hidden Hazards” report (described above) is one of the first steps of what will become an $85m campaign.

To read more: https://www.beyondpetrochemicals.org/