Wakefield, 7 décembre 2010 -- Dans le domaine global de l'interdiction du bisphénol A (BPA), les dernières semaines ont été source autant de désarroi que de de célébration.

Le 17 Novembre dans le cadre de la négociation des processus complexes qui ont mené à l'adoption de la loi sur la sécurité des aliments dans le Sénat des États-Unis, les lobbyistes de l'industrie - en particulier le porte-parole omniprésent représentant les fabricants de produits chimiques, l'American Chemistry Council - a réussi à faire dérailler un accord bipartite du Sénat qui aurait créé une interdiction nationale sur l'utilisation du perturbateur hormonal chimique BPA dans les biberons et les gobelets pour enfants. La sénatrice Dianne Feinstein (Californie) qui mène la charge pour l'interdiction du BPA, a dit après le résultat du vote: "Je ne comprends pas comment un groupe chimique s'opposerait à l'interdiction d'un produit chimique qui peut avoir un impact sur le système endocrinien des enfants seulement parce qu'ils veulent faire de l'argent... c'est très, très frustrant." Le projet de loi adopté par le Sénat le 30 novembre 2010 ne contient pas d'interdiction du BPA. Lire la suite ici (en anglais).

En contraste, le 25 novembre dernier, la Commission européenne a adopté une interdiction sur l'utilisation du BPA dans les biberons des enfants à travers tout le terriroire de l'Union européenne (UE). À compter du 1er mars, 2011, il sera illégal pour les entreprises de l'UE de fabriquer des biberons pour bébés en polycarbonate contenant du BPA. De même, à cpmpter du 1er juin2011, la mise en marché et l'importation dans l'UE de ces bouteilles seront interdites. John Dalli, Commissaire européen responsable de la santé et la politique des consommateurs commissaire, a dit: «Il ne peut être exclu qu'il pourrait y avoir un effet [causés par le BPA] sur le développement, la réponse immunitaire ou la croissance de tumeurs." Lire la suite ici (en anglais).

Deux très différentes réponses politiques à la même question - chacunes avec des impacts globaux.

Le BPA est le principal constituant du plastique polycarbonate et il a été démontré qu'il constitue un perturbateur d'hormones œstrogènes. Des études scientifiques ont lié le BPA à un dysfonctionnement du système immunitaire, à la puberté précoce chez les fillettes, à des maladies cardiaques, au diabète, à un taux plus élevé de fausse couche, et à des dommages en matière de reproduction qui pourraient mener à un cancer de la prostate et du sein à l'âge adulte. Il est toujours présents dans les biberons, dans le cannage alimentaire, dans les bouteilles d'eau et les grosses bouteilles d'entreposage d'eau pour dispensateur.

Photo par Nigel Cox tirée de l'article choc du magazine Fast Company publié en 2009 'The Real Story Behind Bisphenol A' (en anglais), qui met au jour une longue histoire de collusion des entreprises et des gouvernement et de conflits d'intérêts. Très intéressant à lire.

Wakefield, 2 décembre 2010 -- Vous avez sans doute remarqué que le look de notre site Web change progressivement. Nous sollicitons votre patience et indulgence lors de cette période de transition. Nous souhaitons que ces changements à notre bannière et à la navigation amélioreront votre expérience globale de notre site. Les nouvelles bannières nous permettent de mieux représenter l'essence de notre mission et de notre site. Les photos nous sont offertes par notre ami photographe hors pair  Michel Bury. L'intégration de la conception a été réalisée par une autre amie, l'artiste graphique Alise Bowler. Parmi les nouveaux changements, veuillez noter l'ajout d'une liste de souhait qui constitue en fait un registre de cadeaux que vous pourrez transmettre à vos parents et amis lors d'une occasion spéciale.(mariages, naissance, anniversaires, etc). Nous tâcherons également d'augmenter le contenu en français sur le site et nous nous excusons des problèmes de traduction au cours de la période de transition. Nous aimerions avoir vos commentaires! Veuillez nous laisser savoir ce que vous pensez de ce nouveau design et ce que nous pourrions faire pour améliorer encore plus notre site Web : info à vivresansplastique point com.

Wakefield, 21 November 2010 -- As the holiday season fast approaches, it is good to be reminded how much plastic is given and received, and especially destined for children and babies. Because babies tend to put everything into their mouth at the beginning of their life-long world discovery process, it is particularly important to select toys that are not toxic. All plastics contain synthetic chemicals. There is no such thing as a pure plastic without any additives. As Dr. Arlene Blum (http://arleneblum.com) explained to us during her TEDxGPGP presentation on 6 November 2010, some plastics contain up to 100 different chemicals, from flame retardants to toxic colours.  Keeping this in mind, it is particularly important not to offer plastic toys to babies. Their developing bodies and brains are so vulnerable, and their innate habit of putting everything in the mouth brings plastic residues into the little body fast and directly.

To illustrate how often babies put objects into their mouths, take a look at this time lapse video, which lasts 2 minutes but covers a period of 4 hours during which a baby was filmed playing in his environment (interaction with the parents was edited out). Try and count how many times the baby puts the plastic objects that surround him in his mouth. Astonishing!

Dim lights Embed Embed this video on your site

Wakefield, 19 November 2010 -- We have just released the latest issue of our newsletter. Our goal is to put a new issue out every month, but time has sped by so fast that this is our first newsletter in almost a year. We will try and be a bit more diligent in the coming months. You can check it out here. In this issue, you will find out about our new photo contest. You could win one of 4 prizes for submitting a photo showing how you have used our products. You will also learn about two new products we have added to our offerings in the last few months. And there are articles about TEDxGreatPacificGarbagePatch and about BPA... not in your soup, not in your water, but - yikes! - in the air you breathe. To subscribe to our newsletter, just click here.

Wakefield, 5 November 2010 -- Tomorrow - Saturday, November 6, 2010 - please tune in here or somewhere on-line to watch this once in a lifetime global live webcast on plastic pollution.  TEDxGreatPacificGarbagePatch is an all-day conference being filmed in Santa Monica, California between 8:30am and 6pm Pacific Standard Time (11:30am - 9pm Eastern Standard Time).  The array of dynamic speakers lined up is stunning - activists, artists, politicians, explorers, scientists, actors, musicians, entrepeneurs. A few of our favorites include the amazing Beth Terry of Fake Plastic Fish, Captain Charles Moore of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation, Anna Cummins and Marcus Ericsen of the 5Gyres Institute, and photographer Chris Jordan - all leaders in building awareness and creating change on the plastic pollution front.

You should be able to view the live stream of the conference by clicking on this link:

You can also embed the livestream on your own blog or website by getting code here:  http://www.livestream.com/tedxgp2 

Or follow the #TEDxGP2 twitter stream. 

And if you're in the Wakefield area, come by our local watch party and potluck by contacting us at info @ lifewithoutplastic.com.

This is an event not to be missed! 

Wakefield, 25 October, 2010 -- Plastic pollution in the oceans is a serious problem. It accumulates, degrades, absorbs and releases chemicals, and kills ocean wildlife. Did you know that approximately 80% of the garbage in the world's oceans comes from land-based sources? And about half of this consists of petroleum-based plastics that have not been properly disposed of by consumers. Life Without Plastic is honoured to be teaming up with the 5 Gyres Institute, a dynamic, cutting edge research and exploration non-profit organization that is tackling the problem of oceanic plastic pollution head on by undertaking research voyages in the world's oceans. In a few weeks, they embark on the first ever South Atlantic Ocean study of plastic pollution.

5 Gyres Co-Founders Anna Cummins and Markus Eriksen after a Bermuda Beach cleanup 

Photo credit:  5 Gyres  &  Algalita Marine Research Foundation

Wakefield, 13 octobre 2010 -- **Traduction à venir** Over two years ago, Canada began the process of legally designating bisphenol A (BPA) a toxic substance under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.  Today, despite strong industry opposition, BPA was added to the Canadian Toxic Substances List.  This gives the Canadian government the legal ability to develop regulations or other instruments to manage human health and environmental risks posed by BPA.

BPA is the primary constituent of the plastic polycarbonate and has been show to mimic the hormone estrogen.  Peer-reviewed scientific studies have linked it to immune system dysfunction, early puberty in females, heart disease, diabetes, higher rates of miscarriage, and reproductive damage that could lead to prostate and breast cancer in adulthood.  For an overview of some of the history leading to this designation of BPA as toxic in Canada, see this press release issued by Environmental Defence, a leading Canadian NGO that has worked tirelessly to bring attention to the BPA problem.

Image credit: BabyBodyguard

Wakefield, 8 October 2010 -- Frozen Herbs are not to be preserved in plastic containers... or so writes Kris Wetherbee in the latest issue of The Herb Companion magazine: "Store dried herbs in glass or ceramic containers or jars equipped with airtight lids. Plastic containers are air permeable and therefore not a good choice." Because plastic is air permeable, here's another reason not to freeze your food in plastics. Well, let's add to Kris' list stainless steel containers with airtight lids.

In response to popular demand, we brought in from South Korea a large 1 gallon (4 litre) airtight container with a rectangular shape. This container is very space efficient due to its shape. It is made of high quality 18-8 stainless steel and it can be re-heated on the stove top, which is great for frozen leftovers or that large batch of spaghetti sauce made to feed 10 people. It retails for USD $62.95 (CAD $66.10) and you can see it here: http://lifewithoutplastic.com/boutique/airtight-rectangular-storage-container-p-415.html.

Wakefield, 17 September 2010 -- We are deeply pleased to announce that Life Without Plastic is now a Green America Approved Business.  We hope this provides you with added peace of mind when you visit us.

Green America is “a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to harnessing the economic power of consumers, investors and businesses to promote social justice and environmental sustainability.” The Green America Seal of Approval that we sport indicates we have gone through a rigorous screening process by the Green America Screening Team to ensure that we:

• Focus on using business as a tool for positive social change.

• Are "values-driven," as well as profit-driven.

• Are socially and environmentally responsible in the way we source, manufacture, and market our products and run our facilities.

• Are committed to and employ extraordinary and innovative practices that benefit: 1) workers, 2) communities, 3) customers, and 4) the environment.

Wakefield, 13 September 2010 -- Our GlassDharma glass straws are in! Here's your chance to refuse those pesky plastic straws that seem to be everywhere, and are one of the worst single-use plastic culprits. These U.S.-made glass straws are both functional and elegant, and, incredibly, they come with a lifetime guarantee against breakage. GlassDharma founder, David Leonhardt, created this line of glass drinking straws "to contribute one solution to the misuse of plastics in our society."  As he explains, here is "how and why they work:

• Glass straws don’t leach toxins into your food as you drink.

• Each time you use your glass straw equals one less plastic straw ending up in your landfill.

• One glass straw replaces thousands of plastic straws. (How many times will you use a straw the rest of your life?)

• Using your glass drinking straw adds a feeling of beauty to your day."