Studying the migration of synthetic substances from packaging materials into food and water: social and management aspects

The development of technology and the growth of people’s living standards and quality of life have made adjustments to the use of various materials for the production and packaging of products and goods. One of these really useful inventions of mankind, which has greatly simplified our life and contributed to the development of technology, was the development and introduction of various polymers / plastics and other synthetic substances into widespread use. However, there is also a negative impact of such innovations, in particular on the human body and the environment. The article analyzes and proves the negative impact of synthetic substances through migration from packaging materials into food and water or through the household use of products containing them on the human body. The study also included a survey of Ukrainian youth about their attitudes toward the use of plastic packaging. A total of 127 university-age respondents (18...23 years old; 47,2 % men, 52,8 % women) took part in the survey. Respondents used a 10-point scale to answer the questions, where 1 meant a clear desire to switch from single-use to reusable packaging before signs of wear and tear, and 10 meant absolute rejection of the idea of reusing plastic packaging. The idea of reusing plastic packaging for berries in supermarkets (returning used packaging for re-packaging) was generally favored by 60,7 % of respondents. Regarding the reuse of plastic packaging for ready-to-eat meals, respondents expressed a large number of arguments that prevent the effective implementation of such an initiative. All objections are divided into three broad groups: concerns about the microbiological safety of reusing packaging; distrust of the significant environmental benefits of such measures; and the impossibility of spontaneous purchases due to the need to come to the store with their own packaging. When developing and implementing possible solutions to the crisis of plastic pollution and synthetic materials in general, it is concluded that transparency is the key to success. At every stage of the life cycle of plastics, synthetic materials and other harmful components used in production, decisions must be made in compliance with the human rights to health and a healthy environment.