The blog formerly known as   Fake Plastic Fish

Monthly Archives: April 2010

April 7, 2010

Where Should Fake Plastic Fish Live?

Fish in the Plastiquarium

In a Plastiquarium, of course!

Plastiquarium is the creation of artist David Edgar, whose work was pointed out to me long ago by an astute Fake Plastic Fish reader. According to legend:

The Plastiquarium is immersed in mystery. Modern myth suggests that a century of increasing phosphate levels in Earth’s marine environment caused new, synthetic life forms to emerge. As recyclable HDPE plastic containers spread concentrates of consumer product pollutants, the Plastiquarium creatures evolved in the image of their packaging forbearers.

And it’s not just fish. Other marine creatures like crustaceans have evolved into plastic versions of their former selves.

The Artist Explains

Wow, I thought. Another human has the same idea as I do, that “if we keep filling up our oceans with plastic, [fake plastic fish] could be the only kind we have left….” and has realized it beautifully it in a tangible way. It’s t… Read the rest

April 6, 2010

No More Toxic Plastic Food Containers, Please!

Dishes & plastic containers in cupboard

Plastic food containers: not so great. Even toxic.  And yet, how many of us have a ton of them stashed away in our kitchens? I still do, actually, high above the ceramic bowls and plates.  A reminder of the way I used to live.

What’s Wrong with Using Plastic Containers?

When I first started eliminating plastic from my life, I didn’t worry about the plastic I already had in my kitchen. I continued to use plastic food containers for eating and storage because I didn’t want to waste what I already had. But after learning so much about the chemicals that can leach from plastics, I eventually decided that eating from any kind of plastic was not worth the health risks.

Why? Because in addition to the chemicals we do know about and try to avoid: BPA, phthalates, antimony, and recently antibacterials, there are a whole host of additives in plastics we don’t know about at all. Plastics manufacturers are not required to disclose any of t… Read the rest