{"id":35,"date":"2026-01-06T15:21:41","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T15:21:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.umaine.edu\/reuseme\/?page_id=35"},"modified":"2026-02-05T15:33:20","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T15:33:20","slug":"health-benefits","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/health-benefits\/","title":{"rendered":"Health Benefits of Reuse"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/22412286\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Disposables are toxic.<\/a><\/strong> Most single-use food and beverage packaging has negative impacts on human health throughout its lifecycle:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Plastic production, manufacturing, and shipping are all polluting, resource-intensive processes. <strong>Inhaling associated emissions presents a significant health risk for surrounding communities.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Eating and drinking out of plastic can also be risky. <strong>Chemicals in plastics threaten endocrine, reproductive, and respiratory health.<\/strong> Some plastics contain carcinogenic chemicals like Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Plastic containers leach harmful micro- and nanoplastics into food and beverages during storage and use, such as microwaving or refrigeration .<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Many <strong>\u201cgreen\u201d alternatives<\/strong> like compostable containers have barrier coatings that make them liquid- and grease-resistant \u2013 but also toxic. These impermeable coatings can <strong>harm human health <\/strong>as carcinogenic and endocrine-disrupting \u201cforever chemicals\u201d leach into consumers\u2019 food and drinks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>After being used once and thrown away, <strong>disposable<\/strong> <strong>plastic packaging degrades into microplastics <\/strong>that spread throughout the environment. Microplastics are now <strong>ubiquitous<\/strong> in our soil, food, air, and water. Microplastics can be inhaled, ingested, absorbed through skin contact, and even passed on to our children. Microplastics can cause inflammation, cell damage, cardiovascular disease, and an increased risk of cancer. Microplastics can also <strong>cross the blood-brain barrier, <\/strong>possibly impacting neurological function.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For <strong>coastal communities <\/strong>and the seafood industry, <strong>ingestion of microplastics is a major concern<\/strong>. For example, emerging research in oyster aquaculture shows that more than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S0045653522025589\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">94% of oysters <\/a>harvested globally contain microplastics.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"155\" src=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/01\/image-1.png\" alt=\"Graphic showing microplastics and nanoplastics released into liquid when microwaved in polypropylene container\" class=\"wp-image-38\" srcset=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/01\/image-1.png 500w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/01\/image-1-300x93.png 300w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/01\/image-1-105x33.png 105w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/01\/image-1-317x98.png 317w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/01\/image-1-423x131.png 423w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,500px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hussain et al. (2023)<sup data-fn=\"4c18bdb9-920d-46b2-9035-77b15e13e14f\" class=\"fn\"><a href=\"#4c18bdb9-920d-46b2-9035-77b15e13e14f\" id=\"4c18bdb9-920d-46b2-9035-77b15e13e14f-link\">1<\/a><\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Reuse works. <\/strong>Communities across the U.S. and the globe have already successfully implemented reusable food packaging systems. <a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/materials-management\/reuse-models-and-case-studies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Check out these reusable packaging models and real-life case studies.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can help reduce plastic pollution in your community <em>and<\/em> avoid toxic chemicals. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/how-to-choose-reuse\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"74\">Choose reuse!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/economic-benefits\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"424\" src=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Economic-Benefits-of-Reuse-1-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"economic benefits of reuse\" class=\"wp-image-424\" srcset=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Economic-Benefits-of-Reuse-1-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Economic-Benefits-of-Reuse-1-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Economic-Benefits-of-Reuse-1-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Economic-Benefits-of-Reuse-1-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Economic-Benefits-of-Reuse-1-105x105.png 105w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Economic-Benefits-of-Reuse-1-317x317.png 317w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Economic-Benefits-of-Reuse-1-423x423.png 423w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Economic-Benefits-of-Reuse-1-634x634.png 634w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Economic-Benefits-of-Reuse-1-846x846.png 846w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Economic-Benefits-of-Reuse-1-951x951.png 951w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Economic-Benefits-of-Reuse-1-32x32.png 32w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Economic-Benefits-of-Reuse-1.png 1181w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/environmental-benefits\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"426\" src=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Environmental-Benefits-of-Reuse-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"environmental benefits of reuse\" class=\"wp-image-426\" srcset=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Environmental-Benefits-of-Reuse-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Environmental-Benefits-of-Reuse-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Environmental-Benefits-of-Reuse-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Environmental-Benefits-of-Reuse-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Environmental-Benefits-of-Reuse-105x105.png 105w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Environmental-Benefits-of-Reuse-317x317.png 317w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Environmental-Benefits-of-Reuse-423x423.png 423w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Environmental-Benefits-of-Reuse-634x634.png 634w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Environmental-Benefits-of-Reuse-846x846.png 846w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Environmental-Benefits-of-Reuse-951x951.png 951w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Environmental-Benefits-of-Reuse-32x32.png 32w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Environmental-Benefits-of-Reuse.png 1181w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/community-benefits\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"423\" src=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Community-Benefits-of-Reuse-1-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"community benefits of reuse\" class=\"wp-image-423\" srcset=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Community-Benefits-of-Reuse-1-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Community-Benefits-of-Reuse-1-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Community-Benefits-of-Reuse-1-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Community-Benefits-of-Reuse-1-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Community-Benefits-of-Reuse-1-105x105.png 105w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Community-Benefits-of-Reuse-1-317x317.png 317w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Community-Benefits-of-Reuse-1-423x423.png 423w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Community-Benefits-of-Reuse-1-634x634.png 634w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Community-Benefits-of-Reuse-1-846x846.png 846w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Community-Benefits-of-Reuse-1-951x951.png 951w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Community-Benefits-of-Reuse-1-32x32.png 32w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/789\/2026\/02\/Community-Benefits-of-Reuse-1.png 1181w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-footnotes\"><li id=\"4c18bdb9-920d-46b2-9035-77b15e13e14f\">Hussain, K. A., Romanova, S., Okur, \u0130., Zhang, D., Kuebler, J., Huang, X., Wang, Q., Fernandez-Ballester, L., Lu, Y. F., Schubert, M., &amp; Li, Y. (2023). Assessing the Release of Microplastics and Nanoplastics from Plastic Containers and Reusable Food Pouches: Implications for Human Health.\u00a0<em>Environmental Science &amp; Technology<\/em>,\u00a0<em>57<\/em>(26), 9782\u20139792.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/acs.est.3c01942\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/acs.est.3c01942<\/a><br> <a href=\"#4c18bdb9-920d-46b2-9035-77b15e13e14f-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 1\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><\/ol>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Disposables are toxic. Most single-use food and beverage packaging has negative impacts on human health throughout its lifecycle: Reuse works. Communities across the U.S. and the globe have already successfully implemented reusable food packaging systems. Check out these reusable packaging models and real-life case studies. You can help reduce plastic pollution in your community and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2651,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"Health Benefits of Reuse \u2013 %%sitetitle%%","_seopress_titles_desc":"Disposables are toxic. Most single-use food and beverage packaging has negative impacts on human health throughout its lifecycle.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"[{\"id\":\"4c18bdb9-920d-46b2-9035-77b15e13e14f\",\"content\":\"Hussain, K. A., Romanova, S., Okur, \\u0130., Zhang, D., Kuebler, J., Huang, X., Wang, Q., Fernandez-Ballester, L., Lu, Y. F., Schubert, M., &amp; Li, Y. (2023). Assessing the Release of Microplastics and Nanoplastics from Plastic Containers and Reusable Food Pouches: Implications for Human Health.\\u00a0<em>Environmental Science &amp; Technology<\\\/em>,\\u00a0<em>57<\\\/em>(26), 9782\\u20139792.\\u00a0<a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/doi.org\\\/10.1021\\\/acs.est.3c01942\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">https:\\\/\\\/doi.org\\\/10.1021\\\/acs.est.3c01942<\\\/a><br>\"}]"},"class_list":["post-35","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"taxonomy_info":[],"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":{"display_name":"gdejoy","author_link":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/author\/gdejoy\/"},"comment_info":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/35","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2651"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/35\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":448,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/35\/revisions\/448"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}