Plastic has made modern life incredibly convenient.

It's in our food packaging, takeaway containers, children's products, bathroom cupboards, clothing, cleaning products and countless other everyday items.

But researchers are continuing to investigate what happens when some of the chemicals associated with plastics make their way into our bodies.

A recent Australian study has brought that conversation back into focus, particularly around a chemical called DEHP and exposure during pregnancy. (source: News.com.au)

So, should we panic and throw every plastic item out of the house?

No.

A much more realistic approach is to understand where plastic exposure can come from, then make simple swaps where they make sense.

What Did the New Australian Research Find?

Researchers from the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and collaborating institutions studied children from the Barwon Infant Study.

Their research looked at DEHP, or di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, a chemical used to make some plastics softer and more flexible.

The study examined prenatal DEHP exposure and later autism and ADHD symptoms in 847 children. Researchers reported associations between prenatal DEHP exposure, changes in DNA methylation and autism and ADHD traits in early childhood. (Source: www.lifescience.net)

Previous research from the same Australian cohort has also reported associations between prenatal DEHP exposure and autism-related symptoms in early life. (Source: National Library of Medicine)

But there's an important distinction.

This doesn't mean researchers have discovered that plastic causes autism or ADHD.

Autism and ADHD are complex conditions influenced by many genetic and environmental factors. Independent experts commenting on the latest research have cautioned against interpreting one environmental exposure as determining whether an individual child develops either condition. (Source: www.scimex.org)

What the research does add to is a growing scientific conversation about our everyday exposure to chemicals associated with plastics.

It's Not Just About "Plastic"

When we talk about possible health concerns around plastics, we're actually talking about several different things.

Plastic isn't one single material or chemical.

For example, phthalates such as DEHP can be added to certain plastics to make them flexible.

You may also have heard of BPA, another chemical used in some food and beverage packaging.

Small amounts of chemicals can migrate from packaging into food under certain circumstances. Factors such as the type of food, temperature, storage conditions and whether packaging is heated can influence migration. 

Australian regulators continue to assess these exposures. Importantly, FSANZ's Australian food surveys have generally found dietary exposure to BPA and several packaging chemicals to be low, so this isn't a reason to become frightened of every plastic container in your kitchen. (Source: www.foodstandards.gov.au)

Think reducing unnecessary exposure, rather than trying to create a completely plastic-free life overnight.

Where Does Plastic Show Up in Everyday Life?

Probably more places than we notice.

Some obvious. Some less so.

Think about an average day:

In the kitchen: food containers, takeaway tubs, cling wrap, bottled drinks, food packaging, chopping boards and utensils.

In the bathroom: shampoo bottles, body wash bottles, toothbrushes, cosmetic packaging and cleaning bottles.

In the laundry: detergent bottles, fabric softener bottles, cleaning-product packaging and some synthetic fabrics.

Around the home: vinyl products, toys, storage containers, furnishings and various household materials.

You don't need to replace all of these tomorrow.

Instead, start with things you buy, throw away and replace frequently.

That's where small changes can really add up.

7 Simple Ways to Reduce Plastic in Your Everyday Routine

1. Don't Automatically Heat Food in Plastic

This is an easy place to start.

FSANZ advises using food packaging according to its intended purpose and checking the manufacturer's instructions to determine whether a container is suitable for microwaving, freezing or dishwashing. It also advises against repeatedly reusing packaging designed for single use. (Source: www.foodstandards.gov.au)

If you're unsure whether a container is designed for heating, transfer the food to something intended for the job.

Simple swap:
Plastic takeaway container → microwave-safe glass or ceramic

You don't need to throw away perfectly useful food-safe containers. Just use them for what they're designed to do.

2. Replace Cling Wrap Where It's Easy

Cling wrap is convenient, but plenty of everyday jobs don't actually need it.

Try:

Cling wrap → reusable container with a lid
Covered leftovers → glass container
Half-cut fruit → reusable food cover or suitable container
Lunches → reusable lunchbox

It's a small change that can also mean fewer disposable things going into the bin.

3. Carry a Reusable Water Bottle

Disposable drink bottles are another easy place to cut down.

A reusable stainless-steel or glass bottle can replace hundreds of individual bottles over time.

The important word here is reuse.

Buying ten reusable bottles isn't necessarily better than simply taking care of the one you already have.

4. Look at What You're Buying Again and Again

Take a quick look under your kitchen sink.

How many bottles are there?

Kitchen spray. Bathroom spray. Glass cleaner. Floor cleaner. Another kitchen spray you forgot you bought.

Cleaning products can create a surprisingly repetitive cycle:

Buy bottle → use product → throw bottle away → buy another bottle.

One way to reduce that cycle is to choose concentrated or refillable products where practical.

Which brings us to something we're rather passionate about at Resparkle.

5. Refill the Bottle Instead of Replacing It

This was one of the ideas behind Resparkle from the beginning.

Why keep buying another cleaning bottle when the bottle you already own still works?

With Resparkle Natural All Purpose Cleaner, you can reuse your spray bottle and mix your next refill with water according to the directions.

The same principle applies across our refill range.

Less packaging coming into your cleaning cupboard, fewer bottles being replaced, and a little less clutter along the way.

And you don't necessarily need a special Resparkle bottle either. If you already have a suitable reusable spray bottle at home, use what you have.

That's often the most sustainable option.

6. Choose Concentrated Products

There's another way to think about packaging:

How much useful product are you getting from it?

Concentrated products allow a smaller amount of product to do more.

Our Natural Laundry Powder, for example, is concentrated, so you only use the recommended amount for each load rather than pouring a large amount of liquid detergent from another plastic bottle every wash.

The important part is following the dosage instructions.

More detergent doesn't mean cleaner clothes.

7. Make Changes as Things Need Replacing

This might be the most important tip.

You don't need to go through your kitchen tonight and throw away every plastic container.

That creates waste too.

Instead, when something genuinely needs replacing, ask:

Is there a reusable alternative?

Your next plastic food container might become glass.

Your next disposable water bottle might become stainless steel.

Your next roll of cling wrap might become reusable food covers.

And your next bottle of cleaner might become a refill for the bottle you already have.

One swap at a time is much easier to maintain than trying to make your whole home plastic-free in a weekend.

A Simple Plastic-Swap Cheat Sheet

Where Resparkle Fits In

We're not going to tell you that one cleaning-product swap will remove plastic from your life.

It won't.

Plastic is deeply embedded in modern homes, manufacturing, food systems and supply chains.

But cleaning is one area where households repeatedly buy and dispose of packaging.

That's why Resparkle focuses on making that routine a little different.

Natural All Purpose Cleaner Refill: Refill and reuse your spray bottle rather than replacing the whole bottle.

Natural Laundry Powder: A concentrated powder that helps move your laundry routine away from repeatedly buying bulky liquid detergent bottles.

Foaming Hand Wash Refills: Keep the reusable bottle and pump, then refill it.

Bamboo Microfibre Cloths: Wash and reuse rather than automatically reaching for disposable cleaning wipes or paper towel.

The idea isn't perfection.

It's simply using less where we reasonably can and reusing more of what we already have.

The Bottom Line

Research into plastics and human health is continuing to evolve.

The latest Australian research adds to concerns about prenatal exposure to certain plastic-associated chemicals such as DEHP, but it should not be interpreted as proof that plastic exposure causes autism or ADHD. (Source: www.lifescience.net)

And reducing plastic exposure doesn't mean becoming afraid of everything plastic in your home.

Start with the easy things.

Don't heat food in plastic unless the container is designed for it. Use reusable food storage where practical. Keep your water bottle. Refill your cleaning bottles. Choose concentrated products. And when something eventually needs replacing, consider an option designed to be used again and again.

Less single-use. More reuse. One everyday swap at a time.

A note on this article

This article provides general information and is not medical advice. If you are pregnant or concerned about chemical exposure during pregnancy, speak with your healthcare professional.