The Plastic Problem: How It’s Sneaking Into Your Food, Water, and Body

Written By Rachel Hoffen

Plastic is everywhere. Like, literally everywhere. It’s in your kitchen, your car, your bathroom - even outdoors. But beyond the obvious environmental mess, plastic is quietly invading your body and messing with your health in ways most people don’t realise.

The shocking truth about plastic and your body

Did you know the average person ingests about 5 grams of plastic every week? That’s roughly the weight of a credit card. Over a year, that adds up to nearly 250 grams of plastic inside you.

And it’s not just big chunks - these are tiny pieces called microplastics, less than 5 millimetres in size, so small they slip past your body’s natural filters.

What’s worse? These microplastics aren’t harmless. They carry toxic chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, and flame retardants - all known endocrine disruptors that can throw your hormones out of whack.

Plastic never really goes away

Here’s the hard truth: plastic doesn’t break down like organic materials do. Instead, it just fragments into smaller and smaller pieces that stay in the environment forever.

Every bit of plastic you’ve ever used - your water bottles, straws, packaging - is still out there somewhere, usually in our oceans, landfills, or even blowing around as microscopic particles in the air.

In Australia alone, we generate over 3 million tonnes of plastic waste every year, but only about 12% of this plastic actually gets recycled through the kerbside bin. The rest ends up in landfill or the environment.

That means the plastic problem isn’t just a global issue - it’s right here at home, piling up and breaking down into microplastics that sneak back into our food, water, and bodies.

Where plastic is hiding - and how it gets in

  • Plastic packaging and containers: Heating or storing food in plastic can leach chemicals, especially when warmed or scratched. (Microwaving leftovers in plastic? Not ideal.)

  • Single-use plastics: Water bottles, straws, takeaway containers, and plastic bags break down into microplastics that contaminate food and water.

  • Canned food linings: Many cans are lined with plastic containing BPA or similar chemicals, which can leach into your food, especially acidic items like tomatoes or soups.

  • Seafood: Fish and shellfish often swallow microplastics, which then enter your body when you eat them. Studies show microplastics are now in most seafood worldwide.

  • Indoor dust: Household dust contains synthetic fibres from clothes, upholstery, and plastics breaking down - another source of microplastics you breathe in daily.

Synthetic clothing: the hidden plastic problem

Here’s one that often flies under the radar - synthetic clothes like polyester, nylon, and acrylic shed tiny plastic fibres every time you wash them. These fibres escape into the water system and eventually make their way into our waterways, oceans, and even back into the air and dust around us.

These microfibres add to the plastic pollution in your home and environment, and yes - they can also end up inside your body.

What to do?

  • Choose natural fibres like cotton, linen, hemp, or wool whenever you can

  • Shop second-hand (op shops are gold for unique, eco-friendly finds!)

  • Wash synthetic clothes less often and on a gentle cycle

  • Use a washing bag designed to catch microfibres (like a Guppyfriend bag) if you wear synthetics

The REDcycle saga: what you need to know

You might have seen the REDcycle bins in your local supermarket, promising to recycle soft plastics. But here's the catch: REDcycle suspended its soft plastics collection program in November 2022 due to overwhelming volumes and lack of processing capacity. This left over 11,000 tonnes of soft plastics stockpiled across Australia, much of which was never recycled.

As a result, 94% of soft plastics still end up in landfills, despite efforts to recycle them. The collapse of REDcycle highlighted significant gaps in Australia's recycling infrastructure and the need for better systems to handle soft plastics.

Places to Avoid Plastics - beyond the obvious

Plastics sneak into way more parts of our lives than we usually realise. If you’re serious about cutting down your plastic load, these are some key spots to check:

  • Personal care products: Many lotions, shampoos, and cosmetics contain tiny plastic microbeads or plastic-based ingredients. Switching to low-tox, natural, or plastic-free brands helps reduce plastic pollution - and your toxin exposure.

  • Tea bags: Some popular tea bags use plastic fibers like polypropylene to seal them. That means when you steep your tea, microplastics could be leaching into your cup. Opt for loose leaf tea or brands that guarantee plastic-free bags.

  • Coffee capsules: Single-use plastic or aluminum coffee pods might be convenient but create massive waste. If you love your coffee, consider reusable pods, a French press, or other zero-waste brewing methods.

  • Kids’ toys and baby products: Many of these contain plastics that can leach harmful chemicals. Look for natural materials or BPA-free options to keep things safer.

  • Food wrap alternatives: Regular cling wrap is plastic through and through. Beeswax wraps, silicone lids, or reusable fabric covers are easy, eco-friendly swaps.

  • Reusable water bottles and straws: Stainless steel, glass, or silicone versions are the best bet. Some products branded “plastic-free” still have hidden plastics, so check the labels carefully.

Simple swaps that make a real difference

  • Use glass or stainless steel bottles instead of plastic ones

  • Avoid microwaving food in plastic; use glass or ceramic instead

  • Choose fresh or frozen foods over canned when you can

  • Say no to single-use plastics - bring reusable bags, straws, and containers

  • Wash synthetic clothes less often and clean dust regularly with a damp cloth

  • Shop natural fibres and second-hand for your wardrobe

Sources & Further Reading

♡ The takeaway

Plastic pollution isn’t just a problem for the planet - it’s personal. Chemicals in plastic are everywhere and build up in our bodies over time, quietly affecting our hormones and health.

But you don’t have to go zero waste or change everything overnight. Small, consistent swaps add up to big wins for your body and the environment.

Every time you choose glass over plastic or skip the cling wrap, you’re giving your hormones a break - and that’s a gift worth giving yourself.

Want help making these swaps or figuring out where to start? I’m here for you.

Reach out anytime at barebeings@outlook.com or visit barebeings.com.

With love,
Rach x

Rachel Hoffen
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