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‘Vegan spider silk’ provides sustainable alternative to single-use plastics

cam.ac.uk

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Re: ‘Vegan spider silk’ provides sustainable alternative to single-use plastics

#11

Post by this15testing »

withinboredom wrote: post #10
pizza234 wrote: post #2

Something I don't fully understand is why single-use plastics are still in use. Every once in a while, a replacement is advertised, but still not used. The reasons I can think of are: 1. cost - this could be an very simple reason; 2. conflictual requirement - the supposition that chemical indestructibility is what makes plastic at the same time necessary but problematic. Is there any other factor/complexity I'm missi…

Here in the NL, plastic bags are an extra charge (at least where I shop), it costs just a tiny bit extra to get nice reusable ones or bring your own - you can return most other single use plastics — like bottled water — and get your money back. This alleviates #1 above, but I don’t think it would ever fly in the US. Here, grocery shopping is almost a daily experience in the city. You can’t walk 10 minutes without pas…

though the amount of single use plastics encasing so much of the food (like at AH) seems to be a problem as well...

Re: ‘Vegan spider silk’ provides sustainable alternative to single-use plastics

#12

Post by robertlagrant »

shadowlight wrote: post #6
pizza234 wrote: post #2

Something I don't fully understand is why single-use plastics are still in use. Every once in a while, a replacement is advertised, but still not used. The reasons I can think of are: 1. cost - this could be an very simple reason; 2. conflictual requirement - the supposition that chemical indestructibility is what makes plastic at the same time necessary but problematic. Is there any other factor/complexity I'm missi…

3. Business Incentive. It's very simple. If I'm the owner a plastic factory not only will I fight any product that can potentially replace the product I make, but I will delude myself and pay to delude others into thinking the replacement product is inferior. No system is perfect and one of the negative side effects of capitalism is that short term individual interests often overpower long term collective interests.

I think they generally only do this in the short term, though.

Re: ‘Vegan spider silk’ provides sustainable alternative to single-use plastics

#13

Post by robertlagrant »

mytailorisrich wrote: post #5
pizza234 wrote: post #2

Something I don't fully understand is why single-use plastics are still in use. Every once in a while, a replacement is advertised, but still not used. The reasons I can think of are: 1. cost - this could be an very simple reason; 2. conflictual requirement - the supposition that chemical indestructibility is what makes plastic at the same time necessary but problematic. Is there any other factor/complexity I'm missi…

> Something I don't fully understand is why single-use plastics are still in use. Because it's not so simple to replace them in the supply chain, taking everything into account. I am also not convinced that there really are better alternatives in term of pollution in all cases. I think analysing the pros and cons fully in the complete chain (e.g. from mining to disposal of waste) is also complex. For instance: Is a t…

Perhaps one issue with any plastics is they are generally made from a finite resource, whereas energy and water can be more sustainable

Re: ‘Vegan spider silk’ provides sustainable alternative to single-use plastics

#14

Post by vinay427 »

withinboredom wrote: post #10
pizza234 wrote: post #2

Something I don't fully understand is why single-use plastics are still in use. Every once in a while, a replacement is advertised, but still not used. The reasons I can think of are: 1. cost - this could be an very simple reason; 2. conflictual requirement - the supposition that chemical indestructibility is what makes plastic at the same time necessary but problematic. Is there any other factor/complexity I'm missi…

Here in the NL, plastic bags are an extra charge (at least where I shop), it costs just a tiny bit extra to get nice reusable ones or bring your own - you can return most other single use plastics — like bottled water — and get your money back. This alleviates #1 above, but I don’t think it would ever fly in the US. Here, grocery shopping is almost a daily experience in the city. You can’t walk 10 minutes without pas…

> This alleviates #1 above, but I don’t think it would ever fly in the US.

Both of these are already the case in many parts of the US. My home state had refunds on plastic/metal/glass containers for ages, and CA (for instance) has a statewide plastic bag fee that I believe passed in a public referendum years ago. This is still the exception both in the US and Europe, from what I can tell.

Re: ‘Vegan spider silk’ provides sustainable alternative to single-use plastics

#15

Post by Synaesthesia »

pizza234 wrote: post #2

Something I don't fully understand is why single-use plastics are still in use. Every once in a while, a replacement is advertised, but still not used. The reasons I can think of are: 1. cost - this could be an very simple reason; 2. conflictual requirement - the supposition that chemical indestructibility is what makes plastic at the same time necessary but problematic. Is there any other factor/complexity I'm missi…

The plastics/oil industry mislead the public and government about how recyclable plastic is (it's not) to prevent legislation from passing which would reduce unnecessary plastics.

https://www.npr.org/2020/09/11/897692090/how-big-oil-misled-...

Re: ‘Vegan spider silk’ provides sustainable alternative to single-use plastics

#16

Post by hannob »

pizza234 wrote: post #2

Something I don't fully understand is why single-use plastics are still in use. Every once in a while, a replacement is advertised, but still not used. The reasons I can think of are: 1. cost - this could be an very simple reason; 2. conflictual requirement - the supposition that chemical indestructibility is what makes plastic at the same time necessary but problematic. Is there any other factor/complexity I'm missi…

A lot of bioplastics turn out not to be so green if you run a full lifecycle analysis.

Appart from that: Plastic has this somewhat unique property that nobody is really held responsible for its emissions, even in places where emissions are regulated. E.g. the chemical companies are usually only considered responsible for the emissions of their plants, while the bulk of emissions happens on landfills or in incinerators. Waste-to-Energy-Incinerators on the other hand are in many places even considered "green" energy, because they say we're only using waste that's already there.

Re: ‘Vegan spider silk’ provides sustainable alternative to single-use plastics

#17

Post by bushbaba »

mytailorisrich wrote: post #5
pizza234 wrote: post #2

Something I don't fully understand is why single-use plastics are still in use. Every once in a while, a replacement is advertised, but still not used. The reasons I can think of are: 1. cost - this could be an very simple reason; 2. conflictual requirement - the supposition that chemical indestructibility is what makes plastic at the same time necessary but problematic. Is there any other factor/complexity I'm missi…

> Something I don't fully understand is why single-use plastics are still in use. Because it's not so simple to replace them in the supply chain, taking everything into account. I am also not convinced that there really are better alternatives in term of pollution in all cases. I think analysing the pros and cons fully in the complete chain (e.g. from mining to disposal of waste) is also complex. For instance: Is a t…

When I buy rice at the store. It’s in a plastic bag.

This is totally in necessary. It could be in a paper bag or even a bulk-bin.

I think banning the majority of single use packaging would go a long way at reducing our waste.

Re: ‘Vegan spider silk’ provides sustainable alternative to single-use plastics

#19

Post by simtel20 »

bushbaba wrote: post #17
mytailorisrich wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Something I don't fully understand is why single-use plastics are still in use. Because it's not so simple to replace them in the supply chain, taking everything into account. I am also not convinced that there really are better alternatives in term of pollution in all cases. I think analysing the pros and cons fully in the complete chain (e.g. from mining to disposal of waste) is also complex. For instance: Is a t…

When I buy rice at the store. It’s in a plastic bag. This is totally in necessary. It could be in a paper bag or even a bulk-bin. I think banning the majority of single use packaging would go a long way at reducing our waste.

In most of the world, bulk containers of grain equal insect infestation. If there is not enough turnover fast enough, there is also the potential for going stale, mold etc. So there is a need for packaging so the age and condition of a discreet quantity can be evaluated and if needed disposed of without infecting the total quantity.

In addition many plastic packages allow you to see the condition of the grains inside the package, and will maintain the inefrety of the packaging, not degrading when you store them in relatively easy to create dark and cool conditions.

I do hope there are other materials that can replace plastics, but they will be adopted more rapidly for grains, at least, when they can satisfy these needs at least. Stores won't have good reason to switch how they sell these things until they do.

Re: ‘Vegan spider silk’ provides sustainable alternative to single-use plastics

#20

Post by DFHippie »

hypertele-Xii wrote: post #18

The unnecessary inclusion of 'spider' in the article makes the claim 'vegan' suspect. It's plant-based silk. There are many creatures that spin silk, no need to mention "spider-like" specifically.

Well, perhaps this is more similar to spider silk than other silks. I would like more detail on this point. But you can't expect too many details in a press release.
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