Utterly heartbreaking read, my sincerest condolences to her sister and family. Made all the more heartbreaking by the fact that these stories seem to be getting more and more common.
BPA and phthalates are everywhere. A new test can reveal how much of both are in your body.
I actually messed up the article link! It should be linking to a New York Times article, which goes over the same (excellent) points you make about plastic packaging being important for lengthening the shelf-life of fresh foods and reducing food waste. The suggestions in the article to combat plastic packaging for food sound great - but as you say, not all of the options are all that economical.
In terms of alternatives - it’s tough. I think things like using more cardboard, or waxed paper, seem feasible. I buy pasta that comes in a plain cardboard box, and I’ve been buying tomatoes and oranges that just come in cardboard boxes as well.
I’d love to see more grocery stores embrace bulk bins for dry goods - I think that could really help the plastic packaging situation, even if we aren’t there yet for fresh foods. Or even a butcher counter - a bit of waxed paper and your own box, and you’re good to go!
What it really comes down to with food waste though, seems to be about access (and price): it’s not fair that people live in food deserts and have to stock up and buy in bulk to access cheaper prices. We need to move to a “buy what you need” model and make that accessible (in every sense of the word) to everyone. It feels like in Europe, you have more people buying every day or every couple of days, whereas in America there is a bigger emphasis on buying for the week or for the next couple of weeks. If we can buy for the next day or next few days instead of for the next week, we’re probably a lot less likely to waste that food.
As governments impose limits on plastic food packaging, climate-friendlier alternatives are in the works. Here are some that might be coming to a grocery store near you.
New research reveals that common UK food items contain PFAS pesticides ('forever chemicals'), including grapes, spinach, and strawberries.
I’ve not tried the brand myself (but am planning to) and I’m conscious it’s an expensive option, but I’ve heard Goral shoes have good repairability, as they are resole-able. Made in England if that matters to you. But without having tried them myself, it’s hard for me to give a full recommendation.
My reading was that the Judge was saying that, whether the climate crisis existed or not, it was irrelevant to the deliberations. This doesn’t necessarily call into question the existence of a climate crisis or give insight into the judge’s opinions. Still, the convictions in light of the UN report are chilling.