Plastics are made from a mixture of crude oil and synthetic chemicals. Different plastics have different uses, and they also differ hugely in terms of toxicity to human health and the environment.
So, what are the safest plastics to choose? It’s always best to avoid them wherever possible, but in our modern lives we all know that it’s not always possible to do that. On each item of plastic you’ll see a triangle with a number in it – this is the recycling code and tells you which type of plastic you’re dealing with. So here’s a quick and easy guide on what to look out for when choosing plastics and what these numbers mean:
All plastics are harmful to the environment, especially when they are thrown away. By drastically reducing the amount of plastics that we use, as well as choosing the safer plastics wherever possible, we can help protect human health and keep our oceans clean.