Conservative fifth circuit overturns EPA’s ban prohibiting Inhance from using manufacturing process creating toxic compound
A federal appeals court in the US has killed a ban on plastic containers contaminated with highly toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” found to leach at alarming levels into food, cosmetics, household cleaners, pesticides and other products across the economy.
Houston-based Inhance manufactures an estimated 200m containers annually with a process that creates, among other chemicals, PFOA, a toxic PFAS compound. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in December prohibited Inhance from using the manufacturing process.
But the conservative fifth circuit court of appeals court overturned the ban. The judges did not deny the containers’ health risks, but said the EPA could not regulate the buckets under the statute it used.
The rule requires companies to alert the EPA if a new industrial process creates hazardous chemicals. Inhance has produced the containers for decades and argued that its process is not new, so it is not subject to the regulations. The EPA argued that it only became aware that Inhance’s process created PFOA in 2020, so it could be regulated as a new use, but the court disagreed.
Wouldn’t paper based boxes be better for the environment, and our health, anyway? Why are we still using plastic boxes for food?
It’s an oil byproduct, cheap waste made into something that can be given to the public and called useful even when we know it’s killing us.
Plastic is cheap and durable. The environmental and health concerns are rarely a factor for companies making the choice.
We could make them responsible for those things.
Plastic lobby says no.
How do they make paper impenetrable to greasy wet food? PFAS coatings…
Some food boxes are the really thick, compostable, paper boxes, that hold up pretty well to greasy foods. Another option is to place wax paper under the greasy food, between the food and the bottom of the box. Both options are better for the planet than the ones with pfas.
Pizza boxes?
Stuff like this: https://paperpluspackaging.com/products/9x6x3-biodegradable-compostable-bagasse-hinged-containers-500ct
Waxed paper, like they did before plastic.
Big oil has entered the chat
Making paper is a pretty nasty process and wasteful as well. Cardboard also runs the risk of being heavier to transport than plastics, when it comes to single use anyway – and that means more energy and emissions to transport them.
It is biodegradable and comes from a natural resource that can be sustainable though. Plastic is just… There. Grocery stores have switched back to paper bags awhile ago instead of plastic, so it’s able to be done.
It’s a crap situation.
Where? God, I wish. I ask for one and the cashier’s roll their eyes.
Everyone I know in the US has been using reusable bags for like ten years now.
And?
And what? You said people roll their eyes. That hasn’t been a problem in ten years.
And reusable bags are irrelevant in a conversation about stores switching back to paper bags. Where is this happening? You don’t know either.
Are you intentionally being obtuse?