For-fun Projects

Summary 

A month-long experiment, from March 1st - 31st (2025), where I tracker all the plastic I bought, used or owned: snack wrappers, food containers, bread bag tags—you name it. In the end, I categorized each item by type aka Resin Identification Code (RIC), recyclability, and toxicity.

Why do this project?

To uncover how ubiquitous plastic has become and to answer the question, 'Can someone live a plastic-free life?'

Conclusion

We're surrounded by a lot more plastic than I realized. Plastic can do great good e.g. hospital feeding tubes, medical blister tablets and  bad e.g. littering from novelty/impractical products and unnecessary product packaging. Planning for an item's end-of-life (i.e. when, how, and if it will be disposed) while shopping could help curb our waste.

aka ( also known as )

Plastic composition of the sample set

• • RIC 1 aka PETE - Polyethylene terephthalate (~20%) included items like clear thin packaging, Vitamin containers, milk carton seals

  • RIC 2 aka HDPE - High-Density Polyethylene (~20%) included items like toothpaste tubes, lotion bottles, mesh produce bags

  • RIC 4  aka LDPE - Low-Density Polyethylene  (~30%) included items like deli container lids, chip + bread + spinach bags, rings on plastic bottles

  • RIC 5 aka PP - Polypropylene (~20%) included items like deli containers, plastic straws

  • RIC 6 aka PS - Polystyrene (~5%) included items like disposable utensils, Styrofoam, bread bag clips

Toxicity info. of the sample set

• • PETE is possibly carcinogenic and endocrine disrupting (source).

  • HDPE has zero to low genotoxic properties (source).

  • LDPE induces minor changes in macro-molecular biomarkers (source).

  • PP can induce pro-inflammatory cytokines, causing immune response (source).

  • PS bio-accumulation causes neurotoxicity, trans-generational issues, oxidative stress and other dysfunctions (source).