At no point does it ever stop harming us.

In case you had any doubts about how bad plastic really is, a new study out of the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) has just revealed that plastic is toxic at every stage of its life cycle.

The 75-page document is a sobering read. It points out the shortsightedness of focusing on specific moments in the plastic life cycle, rather than the entire picture. We know that oil refining, microplastics, plastic packaging, and recycling are huge problems on their own, but put them all together and you have an even more dire situation on your hands.

The report reveals "numerous exposure routes through which human health is impacted at each stage". In other words, quitting single-use disposables and living zero-waste doesn't mean you're safe. Your health – and that of your family – continues to be affected by plastic in ways you might not even realize. These include: