Question from Lindsey
Hi Debra,
I have a few related plastic questions/frustrations! But first I want to say your blog is a blessing and I cannot thank you enough! All the pyrex and glass containers I am able to find have plastic lids. From what I have learned on your site, this would be bad because I would continually be rewashing those lids. Any suggestions? I know there are canning jars, but the pyex square long shape works better for a lot of products.
Lastly, in an effort to get rid of plastic, I am at a lost for what to freeze things in. I use to use freezer bags beucase it saved so much space. Since pyrex isn’t good to freeze in is corningware the next best thing? I know corningware has a glaze type finish which you also warn against. Plus the lids I have for corningware are plastic as well.
What confuses me is that I read that not all tuperware containers are the plastics to avoid. Does that mean if it is not #3 or 7, Tupperware is safe to use as long as its not old? I am scared to eat of plastic utensils, drink out of water bottles, but I am just not sure if that is plastic is fine for one time use and I only have to fear it when used multiple times. Sorry for the long list of questions- life would be much simpler if our gov’t had more stringent standards!
Debra’s Answer
First, remember there are many types of plastics, and not all have the same toxicity. See Q&A: The Toxicity of Plastic for a refresher on which are less toxic and OK to use. But in the long run, it’s best to phase out plastics made from petrochemicals because they are made from nonrenewable ingredients that do not biodegrade.
As for the lids on pyrex containers, I don’t know what plastic they are made from. I’m guessing it is polyethylene or one of the safer plastics. You could call them and find out. The rewashing of polyethylene is fine. It is the washing of polycarbonate that releases more Bisphenol-A.
Also, I think it makes environmental sense to use a product once it’s made, rather than discard it to a landfill without getting some kind of benefit from all the resources that went into its manufacture. So if it’s not toxic, I’d say use it.
Freezer bags is another similar thing. Since the plastic of freezer bags is not toxic, putting more food into a freezer that’s already running makes more efficient use of the energy that’s already being used to run the freezer.
Corningware does not, to my knowledge have the type of glaze that I warn against (which contains lead and is usually a bright color imported from another country). I personally use Corningware all the time.
If the Tupperware or any other plastic product is a 1,2,4 or 5 plastic, it is OK.
