Consumer guide to aluminium foil and plastic wrap

Aluminium foil
● The production of aluminium requires large amounts of energy and aluminium never breaks down.

 

● Try to use aluminium foil sheets and containers sparingly, reusing and recycling whenever possible. Recycling aluminium uses just 5 per cent of the energy used in produc- ing new aluminium.

 

 

Plastic wrap
● Most plastic wraps are made from polyethylene, but chemicals called plasticisers are added to some types of commercial wrapping to make them pliable. Many of these chemicals, including phthalates and adipates, are toxic and have been shown to leach into food.

 

● To protect against this, try to minimise your use of plastic wrap, especially for storing food.

 

● If you buy food sold in plastic wrapping, particularly cheese or other fatty foods, remove the plastic when you get home and rewrap the food in waxed or greaseproof paper or cellophane (which is plant-based).