How the plastic industry is using the crisis

Unfortunately, in some US states, the influence of the plastics industry has already led to a postponement of the planned The Legislation Banning Certain Plastic Products. A letter from the Plastic Industry Association reached the US Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Food and Drug Administration, asking for it to be announced that single-use plastic for, for example, shopping bags is a hygienic way to protect against viral infections, and that reusable products accelerate the spread. Interestingly, one of the studies cited in the letter was funded by the American Chemistry Council, a trade association representing the plastics and chemical industry.

The EU Commission was also informed by the European Plastic Converters ` rejected by the Commission.

Plastic products in everyday life are not more hygienic

Quite the opposite: New Studies resulted in the virus surviving on plastic for even twice as long as on, for example, cardboard and seven times longer than on copper. Another Study found that plastic is the surface on which the virus survived the longest. Reusable products are always cleaned anyway. You don't do that with plastic products, which creates a high likelihood that there Sprouts can be found.

In general, however, it has already been established that the virus spread through the air and you get infected this way, rather than via the reusable cup or lunchbox. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment knows so far not a single case, in which the virus about objects or food was transferred.

In addition, the entire plastic manufacturing process is harmful to the environment and health. More than 12,000 chemicals These are used for food packaging, which are very harmful to our health in the long term.

Why reusable products like HALM are still safe

Our glass straws are very easy to clean, as they can withstand a temperature of Up to 200 degrees Celsius withstand - flu viruses like the coronavirus cannot do that. The inner diameter is large enough for the water to clean the glass straw in the dishwasher Flush through completely can. HALM drinking straws are therefore perfectly cleaned and there is no risk of infection.

The coronavirus is from a Lipid layer surrounded by skin that has been proven to react sensitively to grease-dissolving substances such as alcohols and surfactants. These are in Soaps and dishwashing detergents contain. For the related SARS virus, a laboratory study found that cleaning a surface/cutlery, etc. with standard dishwashing liquid for 5 minutes at room temperature inactivates the virus. In other words: the hotter and the longer, the better – dishwashers are capable of 60 degrees Celsius to rinse and therefore place a Inactivation of the virus safe.

Our glass drinking straws continue to help avoid the plastic problem by HALM selling each set projects worldwide to remove waste from the environment promotes.

What can we really do to avoid getting infected?

Careful and respectful behavior can prevent the spread of the virus – not the use of disposable cups, cutlery, or packaging. What really helps is:

The Touch of the eyes, nose, and mouth avoid, not toward other people and not into the hand sneeze or to cough, wash your hands properly wash, Safety clearances respect the rules and generally show consideration for others. Despite the unlikely infection by this route, objects and surfaces should be cleaned after contact and reusable products with Clean with hot water and soap (preferably in the The dishwasher, as it can reach the temperature that kills bacteria).

The use of single-use plastic in our daily lives is not a means of combating the virus, and reusables do not increase its spread. We should not allow the spread of more unnecessary single-use plastic and should not place too much faith in the pretextual arguments in favor of single-use.