It’s seed-starting and planting season, and that means it’s likely buying season. This year, consider not only the gardening gear and plants you bring home, but also whether they’re made of, contained in or wrapped in plastic.
Those plastic products eventually break down into minuscule particles called microplastics, which can leach into and contaminate our food and the earth in landfills. Common household sources of microplastics include food-storage containers, kitchen utensils, detergent bottles and even some clothing, and the particles have been detected in everything from drinking water and food to human bodies.
