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Introduction
Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) is a synthetic polymer celebrated for its water solubility and versatility. From laundry pods to pharmaceuticals, PVA plays a crucial role in modern industries. However, concerns about its incomplete biodegradability and environmental impact are driving conversations about more sustainable alternatives. This article examines PVA’s lifecycle, challenges in wastewater treatment, and why eco-friendly options like Live for Tomorrow (LFT) products may provide a better path forward.
Applications of PVA: Useful but Problematic
Invented in 1924, PVA has become a key material in textiles, packaging, and other industries due to its strength and water-soluble properties. It’s widely used in coatings, adhesives, and films. However, while its functionality is undeniable, its environmental sustainability is increasingly questioned. Its solubility in water often leads to misconceptions that it fully degrades (1).
The Biodegradability Problem: Misconceptions About Wastewater Treatment
PVA is marketed as biodegradable, but standard wastewater treatment plants are unable to completely break it down. While specific conditions in advanced treatment processes can facilitate biodegradation, typical facilities often achieve only partial degradation, leaving microplastics and other residual compounds in treated water (2). These persistent particles can end up in rivers, lakes, and oceans, creating long-term environmental risks.
From Treatment Plants to Oceans: The Ripple Effect
The incomplete degradation of PVA in wastewater treatment plants results in residual particles entering aquatic ecosystems. These microplastics can accumulate in marine organisms, affecting biodiversity and threatening food safety for humans. Fish and other aquatic creatures ingest these particles, which can move up the food chain and potentially harm human health (2, 3).
Health and Environmental Impacts: Microplastics in the Food Chain
PVA-derived microplastics pose risks for aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. When humans consume seafood containing these microplastics, they may be exposed to pollutants carried by the particles. Although the long-term effects of such exposure remain under study, potential risks include endocrine disruption, inflammation, and cellular damage (3).
Live for Tomorrow: A Truly Sustainable Alternative
In the face of these challenges, products like Live for Tomorrow (LFT) provide a sustainable alternative to PVA-based solutions. LFT cleaning products use biodegradable, plant-based ingredients designed to minimize environmental impact. Unlike PVA, LFT’s formulations break down completely, leaving no harmful residues behind.
Key Advantages of LFT Products:
- Readily biodegradable, ensuring complete breakdown in natural environments.
- Reduced use of plastics in packaging.
- Transparency in ingredient sourcing and environmental responsibility.
By switching to products like LFT, consumers can actively reduce their contribution to the growing microplastic crisis.
Conclusion
While PVA has enabled many industrial advances, its environmental costs cannot be ignored. Its incomplete biodegradation in wastewater systems contributes to the growing problem of microplastics in ecosystems and human food chains. Products like LFT cleaning solutions offer an opportunity for consumers to choose truly sustainable alternatives, fostering a future where innovation and environmental stewardship coexist.
Updated Sources:
- Chemical Book: Polyvinyl Alcohol Properties, Production Process, and Uses
- Royal Society of Chemistry: Poly(vinyl alcohol) Biodegradation
- Springer: Poly(vinyl alcohol) as Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Packaging
Make a difference with Live for Tomorrow and support SHARE Society!
This season of giving, get all the warm feels with Live for Tomorrow!
Spread the love at our food drive and fundraising "Community Giving Event" in support SHARE Society, taking place Thursday, Nov 28 to Monday, Dec 2 (closed Sunday).
Join us at our Factory Showroom & Refill Store in Port Coquitlam to enjoy giveaways, prizes, and our BIGGEST SALE of the year.
Event kick-off - "Mix & Mingle"
Our Community Giving event kicks off with a "Mix & Mingle" on Wednesday, November 27 from 5-7:00PM for Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce members.
Tri-Cities Chamber Members please register here for the event and bring a donation for SHARE* for entry. See registration page for further details.
Community Giving Event
We welcome everyone to join us on Thursday, Nov 28 to Monday December 2 to support SHARE Society with non-perishable food items* and/or financial donations at our Port Coquitlam Factory Showroom & Refill Store.
We are collecting non-perishable food items and financial donations for SHARE*. Bring a donation and enjoy:
⭐️ Chance to win Live for Tomorrow product bundle valued at $105.50
⭐️ Free gift on purchases - and up to 2 eco-colouring kits for children - (min $60 spend – while supplies last)!
Take advantage of our Black Friday / Cyber Monday deals - BIGGEST SALE of the year - to green up your home, your office, or gift to your loved ones!
🎄✨ FREE Eco "Grab-Bag" for the first 10 people each day ✨🎄
📆 Community Giving Event
Thursday, Nov 28 - noon to 5pm
Friday, Nov 29 - noon to 5pm
Saturday, Nov 30 - 10am to 2pm
Monday, Dec 2 - noon to 5pm
*🥫🍝 SHARE Society has specifically requested the following non-perishable food items: Rice, Pasta, Lentils, Canned Tuna, Chunky Tomato Sauce, Diced Tomatoes, Beans in Tomato Sauce, and Cooking Oil.
Click here to shop our Black Friday Sale online! Nov 28 - Dec 2
Directions:
📍LFT Factory Showroom
Unit 2170 - 580 Nicola Avenue
Port Coquitlam
The holiday season is a time for warmth, joy, and giving. This year, why not make your gift-giving a little greener? At Live for Tomorrow, we believe that thoughtful, eco-friendly gifts can bring joy without adding to holiday waste. Here are 10 sustainable gift ideas perfect for everyone on your list!
1. DIY Gift Kits
For a personalized and practical gift, assemble a kit tailored to the recipient’s needs. Some ideas include:
- Baking Kit: Collect reusable baking tools, a set of spices, and a favorite recipe.
- Eco-Cleaning Kit: Include items like LFT’s natural cleaners, along with reusable cloths, eco-friendly sponges & brushes for a low-waste cleaning solution.
2. Home-Made Goodies
Nothing says “I care” like homemade treats! Prepare jams, cookies, or spice mixes and package them in reusable jars or cloth bags. Not only do these gifts taste great, but they also add a personal touch.
3. Green Subscription Services
Gift a subscription that aligns with their values, like digital magazines, eco-conscious meal kits, or meditation apps. These subscriptions are often paperless and promote mindful consumption.
4. Experience Gifts
An experience gift, like a virtual cooking class, botanical garden passes, or a membership to an art museum, creates lasting memories without cluttering their home.
5. Upcycled or Thrifted Finds
Shop secondhand for unique, vintage items that come with character. Thrift stores often have beautiful ceramics, books, and decor that make thoughtful gifts without the environmental impact of new production.
6. Eco-Hostess Gift
Assemble a gift basket with LFT’s eco-friendly kitchen essentials like Dish the Dirt Dish Liquid and Clean Mitts Hand Soap. It’s a gift that’s as practical as it is sustainable.
7. Adopt a New Habit Kit
Gift every day essentials to encourage them to reduce plastic - include reusable items like beeswax wraps, a bamboo cutlery set, or stainless steel straws. These practical items are easy to incorporate into daily life.
8. Green Office Supplies
For the workspace lover, gift eco-friendly office supplies: bamboo pens, recycled notebooks, or a beautiful plant. Add LFT’s Glass & Surface Cleaner for a clean, fresh workspace.
9. Local and Fair-Trade Finds
Find fair-trade goods from local shops or online marketplaces. Each purchase supports artisans while reducing the environmental footprint associated with mass production.
10. Charitable Donations
For the person who “has it all,” consider a donation to a charity in their name. Whether it’s an animal sanctuary, food bank, or environmental cause, this gift keeps giving well beyond the holiday season.
Happy Holidays from Live for Tomorrow! Give with purpose and make this holiday season your greenest yet.
What are PFAS and why are they a problem?
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “Forever Chemicals” are a group of over 4,700 human-made substances that have unique chemical properties that impart oil and water repellency, temperature resistance, and friction reduction.
Used in a wide range of products such as lubricants, cosmetics, surfactants, firefighting foams, non-stick cookware, food packaging materials, repellents (for dirt, water, and grease), and textiles (carpets, furniture, and clothing). New PFAS are continually being developed.
Source:
The History for Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (‘PFAS’)
1938 – Roy J Plunkett a DuPont research chemist accidentally invented polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE), the first compound in the family of Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs);
1950s – for decades 3M manufactured PFAS;
1955 - A study undertaken by Gordon I. Nordby and J. Murray Luck at Stanford University found that PFAS binds to proteins in human blood;
1961 - A DuPont in-house toxicologist said C8 were toxic and should be "handled with extreme care”;
1960s onwards – new PFAs variants and applications where developed;
1999 - Bilott filed a federal suit in the Southern District of West Virginia on behalf of Wilbur Tennant against DuPont;
2000 - 3M stopped manufacturing PFOS (perfluorooctanesulphonate)-based flurosurfactants;
2017 - The 2001 class-action suit that Bilott had filed against DuPont, on behalf of the Parkersburg area residents, resulted in DuPont agreeing to pay $671 million in cash to settle about 3,550 personal injury claims involving a leak of perfluorooctanoic acid—PFOA or C-8. This was the start of action by authorities to take action.
Canada starts the review process
The Government of Canada has started to review the ‘Forever Chemicals’ also known as Per - and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The regulation of PFAS in Canada is in its infancy. Environment Canada previously recognized small specific subsets of PFAS as “toxic” under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Yet these prohibitions came with several exemptions attached. PFAS chemicals can still be used in manufactured items, which are Canada’s primary source of PFAS substances. The vast majority of PFAS substances remain completely unregulated in Canada.
What are the health risks of PFAS?
Hundreds of everyday products are made with highly toxic fluorinated chemicals called PFAS. They build up in our bodies and never break down in the environment. Very small doses of PFAS have been linked to cancer, reproductive and immune system harm, and other diseases.
The most notorious PFAS chemicals – PFOA, the Teflon chemical, and PFOS, an ingredient in 3M’s Scotchgard – were phased out in the U.S. under pressure from the Environmental Protection Agency after revelations of their hidden hazards. (They are still permitted in items imported into Canada.)
Leading toxicologist Linda Birnbaum, the recently retired director of the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Toxicology Program catalogue the list of diseases and conditions with well-established links to PFAS. Additionally, numerous studies have drawn the same linkages to:
- Testicular, kidney, prostate and ovarian cancers;
- Ulcerative colitis;
- High cholesterol;
- Pregnancy-induced hypertension;
- Thyroid disruption;
- Hormone changes;
- Liver obesity;
- Immunotoxicity;
- Lower birth weight and size;
- Delayed puberty;
- Decreased fertility;
- Early menopause;
- Reduced testosterone; and
- Changes in bone density.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Per_and_polyfluoroalkyl_substances#cite_note-24
Source: Fenton SE, Reiner JL, Nakayama SF, Delinsky AD, Stanko JP, Hines EP, et al. (June 2009). "Analysis of PFOA in dosed CD-1 mice. Part 2. Disposition of PFOA in tissues and fluids from pregnant and lactating mice and their pups". Reproductive Toxicology. 27 (3–4): 365–372. doi:10.1016/j.reprotox.2009.02.012. PMC 3446208. PMID 19429407.
Industry knew about risks of PFAS 'forever chemicals' for decades
Makers of PFAS used these chemicals in everything from cookware to food containers and makeup, had evidence that PFAS substances were toxic as early as the 1970s and obscured the danger, according to a new study based on industry archives held at the University of California.
Governments in Canada and the U.S. are now cracking down on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of more than 4,700 human-made chemicals produced since the 1940s. They have unique properties that make them heat-resistant, oil- and water-repellent and friction-resistant.
PFAS hotspots in Canada
Where are PFAS hiding in your home?
Source: Lon Tweeten
Some examples:
-
Cleaning products – PFAS are used in:
- Cleaners (for glass, metal, ceramic, carpet and upholstery);
- Waxes and polishes (for i.e. furniture, floors and cars);
- Floor polish removers;
- Dry cleaning products;
- Dishwashing products as rinse aid;
- Windscreen treatments for automobiles and also windscreen wiper fluids;
- Car care products;
- Rain-repellent fluids in the aviation industry.
- Beauty products - nail polish and eye makeup;
- Dental floss – help facilitate insertion;
- Cell phones - circuit boards, semiconductors, and insulated wiring that use PFAS, fingerprint resistant coatings for the screen;
- Mattress pads – stain and moisture resistant coating;
- Wall paint – water resistant coatings
- Household dust - if PFAS are in your home in furniture, fabrics, electronics, personal care products, they will become airborne and get into your lungs. Tip – clear dust particles ASAP, especially if you have young children;
- Carpets & padding - 90% of carpets on the market that were tested had detectable levels of PFAS
- Food – food packaging (plastic, grease resistant paper to pizza boxes are PFAS coated);
- Fish & diary products – due to PFAs pollution, fresh food contaminated through oceans and freshwater lakes and rivers;
- Yoga pants & sports bras – approximately 25% yoga pants tested had PFAS in the crotch area, likely to control moisture. And menstrual products, as the vaginal area is highly vascularized, making it especially sensitive to contamination. About 65% of sports bras sampled also showed the presence of PFA. Sports bras can be a potential risk if a mother is breast feeding an infant;
- Tap water – US EPA has set standards but there is no national water testing, so contamination levels are unknown. The EPA estimates 70-94 million US citizens are drinking PFAS contaminated water. In Canada, Health Canada's drinking water screening values (DWSV) are provided as guidance;
- Fire Fighting – as an additive for its flame retardant properties: and
-
Surprising and shocking applications:
- Plumber’s tape (waterproof);
- Guitar strings;
- Candy wrappers (non sticky coating)
- bicycle chain lubricant (repel dirt and water)
- microwave popcorn bags (grease resistant)
- dishwasher and laundry detergent (break down grease)
Personal brands which contain PFAS:
Conclusion
PFAS are everywhere. It will be hard to makes the changes to our lifestyle and choices to avoid products with PFAS’s. Unfortunately, regulations will only go so far, so the final decision will be in your hands as the consumer. Your choices will help protect you, your nearest and dearest, and hopefully future generations. We hope you will make the right choice and choose Live for Tomorrow. Our products are all PFAs free, and we take every effort to make safe products.
Sources used/ reviewed:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Per-_and_polyfluoroalkyl_substances#cite_note-24
https://ecojustice.ca/news/its-time-for-canada-to-end-the-use-of-pfas-forever-chemicals/
https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/pfas-3m-dupont-study-1.6862883
https://time.com/6281242/pfas-forever-chemicals-home-beauty-body-products/
Sources reviewed:
https://dceg.cancer.gov/research/what-we-study/pfas
https://toxicfreefuture.org/toxic-chemicals/pfas-forever-chemicals/
https://www.leafscore.com/eco-friendly-kitchen-products/pfas-pfoa-and-ptfe-everything-you-need-to-know/
https://gurlgonegreen.com/category/clean-living/
https://www.ewg.org/what-are-pfas-chemicals
https://www.nrdc.org/stories/forever-chemicals-called-pfas-show-your-food-clothes-and-home
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