What makes cling wrap

And while that might seem like an obvious choice, many companies are not bold enough to choose planet over profit. Since the change in formula, Saran Wrap's control of the market dropped from 18 to 11 percent. And the company no longer touts the product's superiority over other competitors. The rest is shadow," he wrote, citing his great-great-grandfather Samuel Curtis Johnson in It's been the CEO's guiding motto for all of his career, and it's what ultimately convinced him to stop clinging to the harmful chemical.

Follow Delish on Instagram. The problem with the static-cling argument is that plastic wrap also clings just as well to metal and glass, two materials that conduct electricity and would thereby eliminate any difference in charge between the bowl and the wrap — and any stickiness.

In fact, plastic wrap actually clings better to glass and metal than it does to plastic! Originally, plastic wrap was made of polyvinylidene chloride PVDC. The tight molecular bond and spring-like quality of the chains are why plastic wrap made from these polymers sticks really well and does a good job of blocking moisture and odors. This article was created in partnership with the National Geographic Society. National Geographic is committed to reducing plastics pollution.

Learn more about our non-profit activities at natgeo. Learn what you can do to reduce your own single-use plastics, and take your pledge. Three things you can do to be part of the solution : 1. Switch from plastic wrap to a reusable wax wrap. Store leftovers in glass containers. Cover foods with aluminum foil instead of plastic wrap. How your toothbrush became a part of the plastic crisis Why carrying your own fork and spoon helps solve the plastic crisis This common plastic packaging is a recycling nightmare Cigarette butts are toxic plastic pollution.

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Because it's the only one that works. Aluminum foil is a humble but hard-working substance. Plastic wrap is an ironed-out version of the blob. It's a confusingly clear substance that sticks to everything in sight, including one's hands and itself, until it's a wadded-up ball of plastic sitting next to a still-uncovered plate of brownies. How does it manage to grab onto everything so well? Many sources say that it is static cling that keeps the wrap holding tight to everything around it.

The plastic acquires a charge and sticks itself to anything with an opposite charge. Many plastic bowls carry a very slight negative charge along their surface, giving the wrap something to hang onto - or be repulsed by.