Updated Brochure

Plastic container

BPA (Bisphenol-A), which is widely found in plastic (polycarbonate) bottles could cause higher incident of miscarriage or conditions such as Down Syndrome. However, most plastic bottles used in Brunei is made of Polyethylyne Terephthalate (PET). PET, Polypropylene (PP) & Polyethylene in cling wrap are safe to be used. .

Spaghetti in polystyrene container with polyethylene wrap on it. Sauce is in polypropylene container.

Let’s find out today  Effects on your health

Plasticizers e.g. DEHA (di-2-ethylhexyladipate) in Polyvinylchloride (PVC) film wrap was found to migrate into food. DEHA, commonly used in PVC film wrap, is popular for covering stored and microwaveable food.

Styrene molecules migrate faster when food and drinks are hot. PVC film wrap DEHA is a suspected carcinogen. Styrene molecules in the polystyrene can also migrate into food. Styrene is a potential cancercausing. Food remain in contact on the surface with PVC film wrap for longer time will cause more DEHA to migrate into food, but not with PE cling wrap. The higher the temperature and fat content in food, the more migration of DEHA from PVC film wrap and styrene molecules from polystyrene into the food.

Long term & constant exposure to styrene can cause chromosomal & lymphatic abnormalities, low platelet & red blood cell counts, and neurotoxic effects.

RESIN CODE 1

RESIN CODE 5

Produced by Christina Eu Nguk Ling Hjh Siti Nor Faezah Bte Hj Abd Rahman

Noor Aliham Bin Haji Muhamad Kasnol Bin Haji Muhammad Kincho

Students of PS 3403: A Multidisciplinary Approach for a Sustainable Environment 2006 UBD

Copyright © 2006 by authors

Effects on Environment

What Bruneians say? 

The raw products used to produce plastics & polystyrene is from oil. We should avoid using products from non-sustainable, heavily polluting and disappearing commodity.

Are plastic, polystyrene & cling wrap used as food packaging?  Yes, to a high extent in Brunei.

Plastics and polystyrene decompose very slowly. This means we will have them as rubbish for a long time, leading to the requirement of more landfills as the amount of waste increases by each year. Polystyrene food packaging CANNOT be recycled because of food contamination.

Polystyrene container with cling wrap on it

What happens to Polystyrene containers or cups after use?  They are usually thrown away after the first use. What do people do with the plastic containers?  Plastic containers e.g. Polypropylene (PP) which can be used in microwaveheating are reused many times.

Polystyrene containers and some Polypropylene (PP) containers.

Polystyrene containers and cups

What about paper & cardboard?  They are not used much in containing food. Are Bruneians aware of the adverse consequences of using plastic & polystyrene?  YES, they are. People’s preferences and willingness:  Most people still prefer to use plastic or polystyrene.  If there are better and healthier alternative food packaging, which is more convenient to use, they are ready to accept it. Economic reason and Bruneians’ Lifestyle for using plastics and

polystyrene as food packaging Cheap price Convenient Very accessible Why not use Paper or Cardboard?  Paper & cardboard containers can only be used for dry food.

Some of the things that you can do for a start to change your lifestyle: •

Start using re-usable containers.

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Choose and buy food & drink packaging that can be recycled e.g PET and PP.

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Send plastic e.g. PET and PP packaging for recycling.

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Buy cling wrap which has Polyethylene (PE) label on it for safer use.

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Don’t throw away your plastic containers which are still in good condition after the first use when you still can reuse it.

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Return to our conventional style of food packaging by using tiffins or “ringkat”.

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Encourage yourself to use steel or aluminium containers.