A Safer Marketplace for a Safer Future
Article Author: William Abange, Psychology Major & Pre Med Track, Class of 2025, Science Director
You may be familiar with some of POB’s brand partners, ranging from Dr. Bronner’s Traditional Medicinals to Pete and Gerry’s Organic Eggs. But what does being a brand partner really mean?
Every March, the POB Executive Board attends the Natural Products Expo West, which is the largest trade show for organic, sustainable, and clean-label brands, bringing together leaders across the industry. The event provides a valuable opportunity to connect with organic brands and spread awareness about the need for safer packaging.
Ultimately, our goal is to create a more transparent and safer marketplace for all. As many toxic chemicals have been found to leach from packaging into consumable food and beverage products, without being disclosed in any ingredient list, we ask brands to commit to sharing three databases of toxic chemicals up their supply chain. Not only is this creating awareness within packaging companies, but it can also allow them to get ahead of a changing industry.
Every year, we back our mission by the newest science regarding breast cancer prevention. In January 2024, researchers found 921 breast cancer relevant chemicals. Then, in November 2024, a cross sectional study was published with these 921 chemicals and a database of plastic chemicals. Shockingly, 414 of these were found to be chemicals found in plastics. As more and more research is released about plastics impacting not only our planet, but our health, the urge to push our mission to our community of consumers and brands has grown stronger. This striking overlap underscores an urgent need for greater transparency, advocacy, and preventative action. As science continues to uncover the hidden threats embedded in everyday materials, we remain more committed than ever to educating our community, empowering healthier choices, and partnering with brands that prioritize a safer future.
Citations:
Shakti, M. M., Zhang, Y., Maiti, A., & Lin, Y. (2024). Microplastics and nanoplastics can breach the blood–brain barrier in mammals. Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 11(3), 234–240. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.4c00942
–
Disclaimer: The information provided herein is the author’s opinion. Our authors are not scientists. We are not providing medical advice, but simply sharing publicly available information. When we reference data and databases, we do so with the caveat that most are only as good as the data they are based on. While POB strives to make the information as timely and accurate as possible, we make no claims, promises, or guarantees about the completeness, or adequacy of the contents of any site that is shared, and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in the contents of these sites. POB goes to great lengths to avoid declaring shared products as “safe” as there is no legal definition of the word “safe” at this time.
