There’s Hidden Plastic EVERYWHERE! 20+ Items that Secretly Contain Plastic

Plastic…it’s everywhere and we’re told to avoid it at all costs or else we’re bad environmentalists. But, it’s harder to avoid than you might think. Yes, we all know to avoid single-use plastic water bottles and plastic grocery bags, but plastic is hidden in plain sight in more of our daily items.

Let’s dive into 20 items that actually contain plastic that you might not have known about. This is not a list of items to avoid necessarily. As we will see, some of them are necessary for health, work, or other purposes and are hard or impossible to find plastic-free swaps for. I will be sharing some plastic-free alternatives where possible.

The point is, don’t sweat it if you still use any of these items. This post is not to shame anyone (heck, I use most of these products myself) but rather to educate you that plastic is everywhere, it’s hard to avoid, and that no one is a perfect environmentalist.

Dental floss

Most dental floss not only contains plastic, but is usually 100% plastic; nylon or Teflon to be precise. I just learned that it can be made of Teflon which is highly toxic. This is another perk to avoiding plastic. Yes, it saves the planet, but it can save your health as well! Many forms of plastic are very toxic and if you’d like me to make a full video about it I can.

Plastic-free alternatives to floss are compostable floss made from silk or bioplastic (get some here from Eco Roots) or even go floss-less and use a water pick. None of these are perfect when it comes to an environmental footprint, but if avoiding plastic is your main goal, you can do so with these swaps.

Chewing gum

This one came as a surprise to me! I don’t know about you, but as a kid, I spit gum on the ground ALL the time. It goes in my mouth, it must decompose, right? Nope! How else do you think you can chew gum for hours without it dissolving. Usually listed as “gum base,” most gum contains polyvinyl acetate to help it keep its shape. You’re literally chewing mint-flavored plastic.

Of course, their packaging is almost always plastic, too. Double whammy!

Some popular plastic-free options are from Pur, Georganics, Humble Co, and Simply Gum. I’ve even seen it available at Sprouts and other natural grocery stores.

Car tires

Yup, every time you drive you’re creating microplastics. Therefore, this can’t even be avoided if you take a ride-share, carpool, or take public transportation! Tires are actually rubber…but not the natural kind. They’re primarily made from synthetic rubber as opposed to natural rubber that comes from latex via the Para Rubber Tree. Some of this natural rubber is included, but for how many tires created annually (over 2.3 billion) it makes more sense to use plastic-based rubber.

Fun fact, big tire actually caused the downfall of public transportation and even created the famous food guide, the Michelin Star. It’s all connected!

As I said, this one is hard to avoid unless you seek out tires made from 100% natural materials or walk everywhere…even bike tires contain plastic! I know this is just a Reddit thread, but this is a great discussion on why tires are not made with 100% natural rubber. It basically comes down to our cares are too big and too fast for that anymore and would not be worth it.

Polyester

Polyester, it’s everywhere! Check the tag on your clothing. I bet you own a lot of polyester, I know I do. That means you own plastic clothing. In fact, most of our clothing is also held together with polyester thread and plastic buttons. Much of the yarn that we use is ALSO polyester.

I get why we use it a lot in clothing: it’s cheap and very durable. Plastic doesn’t break down so it does help our clothes last longer. But, that does not stop microplastics from being shed when we wash and dry them.

Your best option here is to switch to all-natural clothing from hemp to Tencel to cotton and more. But, this can get expensive. Sure you can thrift natural materials, but I don’t even check to see what clothing is made out of before I buy it. I buy what is comfortable and what fits. If it’s natural, yay, bonus!

If you don’t want to support the creation of NEW polyester (cause it’s not just microplastics that are harmful, the creation of polyester is very polluting, too) then shop secondhand or shop for brands that use recycled plastic like Girlfriend Collective.

Polyester also has its place in terms of activewear and swimwear. It makes much more sense to go swimming or get sweaty in cooling polyester clothing vs dense cotton. Wool is a great alternative that can be worn for warm or cold sports, though!

Tape

I like to think that this one is pretty obvious. Things like packing tape, duct tape, and office tape are all very clearly plastic. But, I don’t think we think of them as an item we could replace when starting our eco journey!

If you’re looking to swap it out, try paper tape or washi tape. Or, just reduce how much tape you’re using.

Festival bracelets

Those paper-looking bracelets you get at festivals, concerts, and fairs? Yup, plastic. They feel an awful lot like paper, though, right? Well, they’re actually most likely, Tyvek. This is 100% synthetic but it’s woven in a way to mimic paper. It gives the feel of paper but is much more durable. It is nice that they are tear-resistant and waterproof meaning they last as long as needed, but this also means that they are not recyclable and are pollutive to create and dispose of.

There is really no avoiding this. If the venue requires it, you have to get one. But, instead of throwing them away, consider saving them for a scrapbook or shadowbox to collect the memories that you made with the bracelet!

Some bioplastics

Yup…this one makes me mad. Some bioplastics contain plastic. No, not plant-based plastic. Some of them actually contain synthetic, oil-based plastic, too. According to Beyond Plastic, only 1% of all plastic on the market is bio-based. And even then, most of this bio-based plastic still contains some oil-based plastic, too. Sad.

What does this mean? It means that this bioplastic can’t be composted, it won’t break down if it has oil-based plastic in it. One example is Everly Candle refill bags. They are 70% bioplastic meaning that 70% of it will decompose, but the other 30% will not and needs to be landfilled. Even commerical composting will not break it down. There are many brands out there, I don’t want to pick on Everly, I still love them, but it’s sad how common this is.

This leads to wish-composting? We have wishcycling, but do we have a word for it for composting? Anyway, what this means is that people will try to decompose this bioplastic either in their backyard compost or commercially and it won’t actually compost. It could leach microplastics into your precious compost or even damage composting facilities since it won’t break down.

So, check the composition of your materials before you compost them! I wish this burden didn’t fall on us, but it does.

Tea bags

Want plastic tea? Make your tea in a tea bag! Are they 100% plastic, no. Most of them are made from natural abaca grown in the Philippines or Ecuador according to Tea Journey. But, they are usually sealed or lined with plastic. And not every brand contains plastic, either. But, more often than not, at least the big brands you will find at the grocery store will contain some plastic. This does lead to the release of microplastics…billions of microplastics…right into your tea. Yuck!

Opt for loose-leaf tea and make it in a reusable metal strainer to reduce microplastics for your own body and for the planet. Bonus points if you have a bulk store and can even reuse a container to buy the tea in!

Glitter

This may also come as common sense, but in high school, I didn’t know what glitter was made out of. Yes, it’s plastic. I’ve shared this story on all other socials but I don’t think I’ve shared it on the blog. In high school, I loved Crocs (heck, I still do), so I wanted to wear them to homecoming…with a twist. I wanted to glitter them. So, I did…outside. I didn’t want to make a mess indoors so I sprinkled plastic all over the great outdoors. Not my proudest moment. But, they were so cute and I even inspired others to wear Crocs to prom later in the year haha.

Anyway, glitter is plastic and it often falls off of whatever you glittered leaving a trail of plastic wherever you go. Avoid it where you can.

Tampons and pads

You might think, duh, of course, these have plastic in their packaging. But, that’s not what I’m talking about. They have plastic IN them. Yes, the tampon itself, including the string, contains plastic. So do the pads. In fact, pads have more plastic in them than tampons do. The adhesive part of the pad and the entire underside is usually plastic. I mean, it makes sense to prevent leaks. But, it’s just proof that plastic is everywhere!

You can check out this full post on organic and plastic-free period care or check out this full playlist on YouTube where I talk about all things zero waste period. But in short, reusables are your best bet for avoiding plastic, especially single-use plastic. Things like period underwear (I love Modibodi, Period Co, and Saalt) as well as menstrual cups and discs (my fav again is Saalt). But, many brands also offer organic and plastic-free tampons and pads, brands like Natracare and Dame are great!

Wet wipes

Whether that be “flushable” wipes, makeup wipes, or Clorox wipes, they all contain plastic. This is exactly why you should not be flushing them. They will not break down as toilet paper will and very often create clogs or worse problems. This type of plastic is made from petrochemicals or modified cellulose like rayon or viscose which is woven so finely that is can feel like fabric. But, as we learned above, it is very common to make fabric out of plastic.

What can you do instead? Just ditch them. Use reusable makeup remover cloths, use rags and a spray cleaner to clean surfaces, opt for a bidet and toilet paper instead of flushable wipes. There are so many ways to ditch the wipes to save money and prevent waste.

Canned goods

What? Cans, too?! Yes, unfortunately. Many of the things we buy in cans are acidic and acid does not react well with metal. But you know what doesn’t react to acid? Plastic! This is important, I get it. Without this plastic lining, we could not have canned goods be shelf stable as long as they are. Now, what did we do before plastic was invented? Mostly used things like glass jars which are heavy and breakable or it would have lasted nearly as long as they do today. Some products may even eat away at the cans in just a few days!

Thankfully many of them are now BPA-free which is great since BPA can cause serious health affects from fetuses up through the oldest adults. So, it’s a step in the right direction, but this plastic sounds impossible to avoid.

The best thing I can suggest is heading to your local bulk store to get dried, package-free beans and other items you usually find in cans and opt for fresh produce. This is a huge luxury and I know not everyone can do it, I know I can’t do this! So, do what you can.

The good news is that these cans are still recyclable!

Cigarette butts

I know many smokers don’t feel bad littering their cigarette butts cause they’re made of paper, they’ll decompose, right? Nope! 98% of cigarette filters are plastic. So, it’s long-term litter that will never decompose and break down into microplastics. There’s another reason to quit smoking!

Of course, the swap here is to just stop. I’m sure it’s easier said than done but if you haven’t quit yet for your own health, do so for the health of your loved ones and our shared home.

Some country’s money

Money is often made of plastic, at least partially. Why? It’s extremely durable! I’m sure you’ve seen a torn US dollar. That’s because the US dollar is 75% cotton and 25% linen…probably the most eco-friendly thing our government does! But here are a few countries that have money made out of plastic (technically speaking, Biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP)) partially or fully:

Canada

England

Mexico

It’s still quite common for most countries to use cotton or paper which is cool! But plastic is becoming more and more popular.

Wrapping paper

I talk about this one every holiday season…yes, your wrapping paper likely contains plastic unless explicitly stated otherwise. How can you tell? Check out this video:

In short, when you ball it up and it bounces back, it’s fully made out of plastic. When you ball it up and it stays in a ball, it is likely paper-based but may not be 100% paper. Check for visible signs of plastic like glitter. If your wrapping paper stays in a ball but it’s shiny, it may be a plastic coating or it may be a wax coating, it’s hard to say.

When you run out of your old wrapping paper, opt for something plastic-free. My favorite brand that makes such fun designs is Wrappily. But, you can also reuse old wrapping paper, reuse newspaper, reuse brown shopping bags, or head to your local craft or office supply store and get a big roll of brown craft paper.

Sponges

Though the name “sponge” comes from the animal in the ocean that was traditionally used for cleaning, sponges have since moved to a more modern material: plastic. This means it has the potential to release microplastics every time you use it and it cannot be recycled or composted.

Some better options are natural sponge, lufa (which you can grow yourself!), a bioplastic sponge (I like these ones from TruEarth), Swedish dish cloth (I like these from Who Gives a Crap) or swap to a wooden or bamboo scrub brush. Here are some great cleaning options from Zero Waste Store and Earth Hero.

Produce stickers

Though not always, produce stickers are made from plastic. That’s right, even the most perfect zero-waster cannot avoid this hidden plastic. And, they’re not even recyclable, they’re just too small, and thin plastics are rarely recycled.

But, some fruit stickers are made from paper…at least partially? Banana stickers are often paper as this is a piece of produce that is kept dry and at room temperature. The banana stickers do not need to be as durable. But, the adhesive may or may not be natural. Synthetic adhesives may still disrupt your compost.

What can you do? Not much. Sure, you can pick through the produce selections and try to find ones that may have been missed when it comes to having stickers put on them. But, that’s not very practical. If you have access to a farmers market, that is your best bet for finding locally grown, delicious, and truly plastic-free produce!

Bandages

This may or may not come as a surprise, but bandages are almost always made from plastic. I get why plastic is so prevalent in the medical field: cheap, durable, usually waterproof, and sanitary. It makes sense. I’m not saying to stop buying bandages, but this is just something to keep in mind.

I think it’s also important to be mindful about bandage use. What I mean is, do you really need a bandage for that? If so, that’s fine! But your next step is to chose the right size and shape. Picking a bandage that fits that body area the best will limit how often you have to replace it and therefore reduce your bandage consumption.

If you want to try out a natural, truly plastic-free bandage, I love Patch! But, they aren’t that durable or waterproof so keep that in mind.

Nail polish

Woah, this one sure shocked me! Some, but not all, nail polish ingredients are either made from plastic or made from fossil fuel byproducts. These polymers may not be plastic in the sense that we think of plastic, but anything coming from the fossil fuel industry is pollutive.

Now, you don’t have to give up your polish if you enjoy it. You can stick to whatever polish you like if you prefer, or you can try one of these lower-waste options. None of these brands are perfect, but they are better!

BKind

Kapa Nui Nails

Habit Cosmetics

Drink cartons

A product I can talk on and on and on about…in fact, I do rant about this product in this post or this video. Tetrapak or cartonboard (they’re synonymous, Tetrapak is just the brand name like Styrofoam) does reduce plastic, but it’s not plastic-free. It’s a combination of paper, metal, and plastic. Think about it, if you put milk in a paper box, it would leak everywhere, it needs plastic to hold it is. This is the same for ice cream cartons, coffee cups, and more.

Yes, it is recyclable…sometimes. It’s growing in popularity to recycle cartons, but it’s still not that common. Check your rules before placing this item in your bin. Regardless, it’s still harmful to create plastic AND when cartons are recycled, they’re actually downcycled. They will never get reused as another carton again.

It’s very nuanced though. It does reduce the amount of plastic created, and in the environment, but the recycling for this item is quite bad. For me, when I have access to carton recycling, I choose cartons over plastic. But now, I don’t have carton recycling, so I’m back to choosing plastic cause at least it’s recyclable where I live. Pick the option that makes the most sense to you!

Receipts

Technically receipts ARE made from paper…but they’re almost always coated in BPA or BPS: plastic. This renders them not only non-recyclable but also toxic as we discussed above with BPA (if you want a full post on BPA, let me know!). They’re covered in plastic since printing receipts usually needs heat and heat may burn the paper.

Thankfully we are moving to a more digital world and it is becoming more common to deny receipts or get an emailed/texted receipt instead. This is great! But, not every establishment has this option.

I spent my summer volunteering at Voyageurs National Park and here, our registers always print the receipt no matter if people want it or not. It’s such a shame we have to let it print and immediately throw it away, especially with how toxic it is.

So, opt for no or digital receipts again, for your health and also the health of the planet.

Some paints

Every used acrylic paint? That’s got plastic in it! Again, not in the same way that a plastic water bottle is plastic, but rather a plastic-like polymer. It’s still made from oil, it’s still toxic, and it still doesn’t decompose. I first learned this when watching an artist on TikTok try to separate her dirty paint water. It’s not good to wash your acrylic paint water down the drain since it doesn’t decompose.

This goes for art paint as well as paint for painting buildings, furniture, etc.

So, opt for plastic-free paint such as Linseed Oil paint, this natural home paint from ECOS Paints, this natural art paint from Natural Earth Paint, and more!

Laundry Sheets

I can’t believe I left this one til now…but yes, laundry sheets contain plastic. It’s not a plastic like we know a disposable water bottle to be, but it is an oil-based polymer. It’s toxic to create and only biodegrades under very specific circumstances. I talk in-depth about laundry sheets and PVA, polyvinyl alcohol, in this video AND this video. I’m passionate about it can you tell?

What you can do is call your sewer company and see if they have the capabilities to break down PVA. PVA is popular so chances are that big cities are equipped to handle PVA properly. You can also add these microbes to your personal septic system if you are not part of the sewer grid.

You can also opt for PVA-free laundry detergents such as powders of the Eco Egg. I love brands like Meliora the best!

Dryer sheets

An item I have not bought for years thanks to dryer balls is dryer sheets. I quit buying them to save money and also reduce waste since they are made from plastic. They’re designed to be used once and replaced making this a single-use plastic item you probably didn’t think of as being a single-use plastic.

I already hinted at it, but switch to dryer balls made from natural wool. They are reusable for YEARS and are compostable when they’re done. Plus, they also reduce dry time by fluffing your clothes making them extra eco-friendly!

Wow, that’s a lot of items that contain hidden plastic! And this isn’t even the tip of the iceberg. If you’d like to see a part two, let me know and I will make it.

As you can see, it’s hard to be perfectly zero waste when plastic is so embedded in modern society. Even the most hardcore zero-wasters can’t avoid all of this plastic. But, we can do our best!

Keep learning, keep making swaps where you can, and try to be as plastic-free as possible but don’t sweat the stuff you can’t control like car tires or receipts that must be printed.

What’s the wildest hidden plastic you’ve seen?

As always, remember that your small actions make a big difference in the long run :)

Emma