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Plastic packaging: what's known, what isn't

· 3 min read

We tag products that come in plastic bottles or jars. It's worth being clear about why, because plastic and health is an area full of headlines and not many clear answers.

BPA isn't in most bottles

Bisphenol A (BPA) is the plastic chemical most people have heard of. In 2023, Europe's food safety agency cut its safe intake level dramatically after a long review, and concluded that most people's exposure is above it. That's a serious finding.

But BPA is mainly used in polycarbonate (hard, clear reusable bottles) and in the linings of some cans. The bottles that oils and shampoos come in are usually PET (clear) or HDPE (opaque, milky). Neither is made with BPA.

Phthalates

Phthalates are used to soften some plastics, such as PVC, and have been used as fragrance carriers. PET bottles don't need phthalate softeners. Studies have found phthalates in some menstrual pads in India, including one by Toxics Link in 2022. That's a different product and a different question, and one we're watching.

Microplastics

Tiny plastic particles are now found almost everywhere, including in human tissue. A 2024 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found them in the artery plaque of some patients having surgery. Those patients had more heart problems over the following three years. It's an important early signal, but it was a small, observational study. It doesn't show that the plastic caused the problems, or where the particles came from.

Snack packets and pouches

Most chips and namkeen come in multi-layer pouches, a laminate of plastic and aluminium foil. They keep snacks fresh and light, but they're very hard to recycle, because the layers can't easily be separated. India's plastic waste rules make brands responsible for collecting a share of what they sell, which helps, but most pouches still end up in landfill or burnt. That's one reason we like brands that offer bigger packs, jars or refills.

So why do we tag plastic?

Mostly for environmental reasons. Plastic bottles and jars are hard to recycle well in India, and much of it isn't recycled at all. Glass, steel and tin, refills and concentrates, and bars instead of bottles all mean less plastic waste. When a product we like comes in plastic, we still list it, and we tell you so you can choose a different format if that matters to you.

We don't claim that oil from a PET bottle is less safe than oil from glass. The evidence doesn't say that. If new research changes the picture, we'll update this page and our tags.

Simple things that help

  • Keep oils away from heat and sunlight, whatever they're in. Light and warmth make oil go stale faster.
  • Don't heat food in plastic containers unless they're made for it.
  • Choose refills, bars and bigger packs when you can.

How Everykind labels it

Plastic packaging (amber) means the product comes in a plastic bottle or jar. It's an environmental note, not a health warning.

Sources

This is a summary of published research, not medical advice. Related tags on our standard: Plastic packaging.