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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

#31

Post by fsflover »

Synaesthesia wrote: post #15
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-...

Relevant discussion on HN: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24714880.

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

#32

Post by sva_ »

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 the case of rice, you'll sadly quickly be dealing with these little critters:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_weevil

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

#34

Post by goatse-4-u »

Synaesthesia wrote: post #15
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-...

A lot of people should go to jail for shit like this.

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

#37

Post by derriz »

readams wrote: post #27
withinboredom wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

Looking at a full lifetime you need to reuse cloth bags thousands of times to break even on their higher impact. For sturdier plastic reusable bags you need to reuse them a few hundred times to break even.

Could you explain what you mean?

I find it hard to believe that the environmental impact of one sturdier plastic bag is equivalent to hundreds of slightly flimsier bags.

I’ve shopped in a few European countries, and found the reusable plastic bags have maybe twice or three times the mass of the “non-reusable” one. I can’t see how they would have multiple orders of magnitude environment impact.

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

#38

Post by dkdbejwi383 »

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…

> 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.

It's the same in the UK at the supermarket, but then in the same shop I can buy a packet of chocolates in a plastic bag of their own, with each individual chocolate wrapped.

Same for other goods: I bought a new lamp, it came in a box with styrofoam, plastic wrapping around each individual component, a plastic cover over the plug, temporary plastic clips to hold the cable together.

The bastard material is just everywhere.

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

#39

Post by lotsofpulp »

Synaesthesia wrote: post #15
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-...

It has been at least a decade since the futility of plastic recycling has been known.

Any politician that tries to rectify the plastic situation will get voted out because people would experience a reduction in quality of life.

It is the same reason why the solution to reducing carbon emissions has not been enacted worldwide, which is increasing taxes on fossil fuels until consumption goes down (which would also solve the plastic issue).

But again, that will cause short term pain by having to consume less, such as not living in big houses/spread out suburbs, flying and driving to far flung vacations, using large personal vehicles, convenience and cheapness of plastic packaging, etc.

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

#40

Post by specialist »

hannob wrote: post #16
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 incinerator…

Advocates could chart the eventual gains, improvements.

I understand there are costs involved. I'm ok with switchover costs, 1 step back before 2 steps forward.

The future of lithium ion batteries are a great example. Eventually, most material will be recycled, cell production will be carbon neutral, most conflict materials (akin to "blood diamond") will be phased out. I'm ok with temporary negative externalities to get us to that rosy future,

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