The 12 Most Impactful Ways to Reduce Plastic Chemical Exposure

March 27, 2026 Tracey Bailey

There's another plastics documentary on the rise. If you haven't seen it yet, The Plastic Detox is entertaining, shocking, but also inspiring.

I felt exasperated that we’re still needing these exposés decades after the science was already there — and known by the companies producing these materials. It’s a reminder that we have to keep up the education (and yes, the outrage). And that we can’t rely on regulation to keep us safe. We simply have to inform and protect ourselves.

The Plastic Detox revealed that it's not just about waste and the environment anymore. It’s about what’s getting into our bodies:

microplastics (the physical particles)
and the chemicals that come with them or leach from plastic

And that exposure is happening every day through food, water, air, and what we put on our skin.

None of us need the stress of trying to go completely “plastic free”. But we can focus on a few key actions that make a real difference.

The documentary showed that when people changed a handful of everyday habits, their chemical exposure dropped. Quickly.

So here are 12 changes to start with that will lighten your chemical load!

1. Stop heating food in plastic

If you only change one thing, make it this.

Heat increases chemical leaching — dramatically.

no microwaving in plastic
no hot food into plastic containers
no plastic in the dishwasher

👉 Switch to glass, ceramic or stainless steel for anything hot.

2. Switch to plastic-free food storage

Food and drinks sits in these containers for hours (or days). That’s a long time for chemicals to migrate.

For reducing exposure, we recommend:

🥇 Glass
🥈 Stainless steel
🥉 Ceramic
⚖️ Silicone (not ideal for everything)
❌ Plastic

And don't forget to replace Cling Wrap and zip-lock bags with beeswax or vegan wax wraps.

A note about Silicone: While scientifically, silicone is not a plastic polymer, it is still made synthetically using petrochemical inputs. Silicone doesn’t break down into microplastics in the same way as conventional plastics, but it can still degrade over time — especially with heat — releasing tiny particles and small amounts of siloxanes. Do not use for high heat, oily foods, or when glass/steel is available instead.

3. Reduce plastic packaged food

We're not going to reach perfection here. But, each time you shop, ask:
“Can I buy this without plastic?”

loose produce
bulk options
minimally packaged alternatives
can I have a go at making this myself from raw ingredients

One small personal example, I have started making my own hummus - super simple with a blender.

4. Upgrade your cookware and utensils

This is one many people overlook but is a source of high-contact, high-frequency exposures to plastic chemicals.

replace plastic utensils with wood or stainless steel
move away from non-stick (PFAS-coated) cookware i.e. Australian made Teflon-free Solidteknics
avoid plastic chopping boards

5. Rethink your water and drinks

This is a big one — and often misunderstood. It’s not just about avoiding buying bottled water. So many of us are filling up and carrying our reusable water bottles, but plastic bottles can still leach chemicals over time.

Here's some of our top tips:

avoid bottled water (especially when heat-exposed)
switch to filtered tap water
use glass or stainless steel drinks
avoid refilling old plastic bottles
take care when cleaning plastic bottles not to scratch the surface

6. Remove synthetic fragrance

Fragrance isn’t plastic — but it often contains phthalates, which are plastic-related chemicals used to make scent last longer.

Hidden sources of chemical exposure

perfumes
scented body products
air fresheners
candles
bin liners

👉 If it says “fragrance” or “parfum”, it’s worth questioning.

7. Simplify what goes on your skin

As we always recommend, as products run out, look to choose alternatives that are healthier for you. Because what goes on your skin doesn’t just sit there.

It gets absorbed.

👉 If you changed just this one thing:
reduce your use of non-essential, heavily fragranced, highly processed personal care products

This needs to be its own blog topic, but in essence:

simpler formulations
less petrochemicals
glass and metal packaging where possible

8. Switch to low-tox cleaning and laundry

Cleaning products are used often, in enclosed spaces.

👉 Focus on:

solutions with no plastic bottle or packet
fragrance-free or naturally scented options
plastic-free or low-plastic formats
simple, effective ingredients

Skip:

synthetic dryer sheets
heavily fragranced cleaners

Biome's plastic free laundry liquid concentrate bar

9. Reduce synthetic fabrics close to your skin

Clothing is a newer part of this conversation — but an important one.

polyester
nylon
acrylic
bamboo (yes, it is synthetic rayon)

👉 These shed microplastics and often contain chemical treatments.

Start with what matters most:

underwear
activewear
bedding

Switching these to natural fibres can make a real difference.

10. Improve your indoor air

We often focus on what we eat.

But we also breathe in exposure every day.

👉 Simple changes:

open windows daily
reduce dust
avoid synthetic air fresheners
add some indoor plants

Your indoor environment matters more than most people realise.

11. Stop handling thermal paper receipts

One of the easiest wins! Receipts are often coated in BPA or similar chemicals. In the Biome stores, we have paid for the more expensive BPA-free docket paper for many many years to protect both our staff and customers.

👉 Just say: “No receipt” or go digital.

🛍 12. Change how you shop

This is the habit that ties everything together.

Start asking:
“Is there a version of this without plastic?”

Not always. No perfection. And over time, this one question changes everything.

You don’t have to do all 12

Small steps with one or two actions until a habit forms. Start with:

food
water
what touches your skin

That’s where the biggest impact is.

Of course, we're here at Biome as we have been for 23 years, with a purpose to help you make choices that are safer for you and safer for our planet home.

We have a huge range of plastic and petrochemical free choices all vetted by our team.