Watched The Plastic Detox on Netflix? Here's What to Actually Do Next

Netflix's The Plastic Detox — which premiered on March 16, 2026 — has left a lot of people feeling alarmed, motivated, and a little overwhelmed. The documentary follows six couples with unexplained infertility through a 90-day plastic detox under the guidance of environmental epidemiologist Dr. Shanna Swan. The results were striking: measurable drops in bisphenol and phthalate levels, improved sperm counts in most of the male participants, and three of the six couples conceiving shortly after filming concluded.

If you watched it and immediately thought "I need to do something about this" — you're in exactly the right place.

**Note:** Plastic Free Rating is not affiliated with the filmmakers or Netflix. We simply share the same mission: helping people reduce their plastic exposure through accurate, independent information.

What the Documentary Actually Demonstrated

The documentary focused primarily on two chemical classes: phthalates (plasticizers that make plastic flexible, also found in fragranced personal care products) and bisphenols (including BPA and its replacements BPS and BPF, found in hard plastics, can linings, and thermal receipts).

The good news: these chemicals are not permanently fixed in your body the way PFAS are. Bisphenol levels dropped significantly within weeks of reducing exposure. Your choices today have a measurable effect relatively quickly.

The Six Highest-Impact Changes to Make First

1. Stop Reheating Food in Plastic — Today

This is the single highest-impact change most people can make immediately. Heat dramatically accelerates the leaching of bisphenols and phthalates from plastic containers into food. Switching to glass or ceramic containers for reheating costs almost nothing and eliminates one of the largest daily exposure sources.

2. Switch to Fragrance-Free Personal Care Products

Phthalates are used as carriers for synthetic fragrance in personal care products. "Fragrance" on an ingredient label is a legal catch-all that can represent dozens of undisclosed chemicals, many of which are phthalates. The couples in the documentary saw some of the most consistent phthalate reductions after eliminating fragranced products. Look for products labeled "fragrance-free" — not "unscented," which may still contain masking fragrances.

3. Stop Touching Thermal Paper Receipts

Thermal paper receipts are coated with bisphenol A or its replacements. Studies have found that bisphenols absorb through the skin, and that using hand sanitizer before touching a receipt dramatically increases absorption. Opt for email receipts whenever possible.

4. Replace Synthetic Clothing with Natural Fibers

Polyester, nylon, spandex, and acrylic are all plastic-based synthetic fibers. They shed microplastic fibers when worn and washed. Start with the clothing that sits closest to your skin for the longest periods — underwear, activewear, and sleepwear.

5. Filter Your Drinking Water

Tap water in most of the United States contains detectable levels of microplastics and PFAS. Bottled water is not a solution — plastic bottles leach their own chemicals, and studies have found that bottled water often contains more microplastics than filtered tap water. A quality water filter certified by NSF International for PFAS removal addresses both concerns.

6. Replace Non-Stick Cookware

Most non-stick cookware is coated with PTFE (Teflon) or similar PFAS-family compounds. When scratched or heated above 500°F, these coatings can release PFAS particles and gases. Cast iron, carbon steel, or stainless steel are the most established alternatives.

What the Documentary Didn't Cover

The Plastic Detox focused on reducing new exposure. It did not address what to do about the chemicals already in your body — particularly PFAS, which accumulate over time. Our Help Your Body page covers six science-backed strategies for reducing the chemical burden already in your system, including plasma donation, which has been shown in peer-reviewed research to meaningfully reduce PFAS levels.

How to Know Your Starting Point

If you want to know your actual chemical levels before and after making changes, consumer testing is now available. Our guide to testing for microplastics and forever chemicals covers the options, what they cost, and what they actually measure.

The Bigger Picture

One of the most important points The Plastic Detox makes is that the regulatory system in the United States has not kept pace with the science. The vast majority of chemicals used in consumer products have never been tested for long-term human safety. That is precisely why independent resources like Plastic Free Rating exist.

Browse our product ratings directory to find specific safer alternatives in every category.