21–30 of 291 posts
As long as we can keep plastic waste out of the environment, does it really matter?
I think the only solution is global legislation forcing consumers and businesses to use alternatives.
Just one bite, and you had to throw it out. It was more plastic than food. Whole Foods was the same. I think it is a crime against environment and I started feeling bad about it, and stopped taking samples when there were plastic utensils.
It think behaviour like this should be legislated out. For something like a sample, just a small wooden spoon, or anything else renewable, should be enough.
The externalities of that plastic, is something that neither Trader Joe or Whole Foods pays, but we all do in some way.
I can't access the paper, but can anyone verify: Do I understand correctly that this means the US might be as high as third in terms of contributing trash that ends up on the US's coastline?
I believe it. But that doesn't mean we're innocent in the rest of the western world. One really cool improvement here in Sweden recently, besides "banning" plastic bags at supermarkets, was one store called ICA started selling their burger pattys in cardboard packaging. So the only plastic is a top foil that you peel off to open the package, the rest is cardboard. Pretty cool! That's one area where we're all guilty,…
I believe it. But that doesn't mean we're innocent in the rest of the western world. One really cool improvement here in Sweden recently, besides "banning" plastic bags at supermarkets, was one store called ICA started selling their burger pattys in cardboard packaging. So the only plastic is a top foil that you peel off to open the package, the rest is cardboard. Pretty cool! That's one area where we're all guilty,…
And how much does it actually differ, plastic vs cardboard?
For the cardboard, the basic ingredient also has to be harvested, or won another way. Then it needs to be transformed into cardboard.
When given an option between blaming the individual and blaming multinational corporations, I tend to blame the latter
Yeah everyone does, which is why those big oil companies are causing global warming but not me.
And even if one company cares enough to do something, they will change their tune when they have to start charing more.
The only way this will get better is if the external costs of single use plastic are borne by the companies that make them and consumers are subsidized to absorb the extra cost.
When given an option between blaming the individual and blaming multinational corporations, I tend to blame the latter
I believe it. But that doesn't mean we're innocent in the rest of the western world. One really cool improvement here in Sweden recently, besides "banning" plastic bags at supermarkets, was one store called ICA started selling their burger pattys in cardboard packaging. So the only plastic is a top foil that you peel off to open the package, the rest is cardboard. Pretty cool! That's one area where we're all guilty,…
Isn't the cardboard 'lined' ? And how much does it actually differ, plastic vs cardboard? For the cardboard, the basic ingredient also has to be harvested, or won another way. Then it needs to be transformed into cardboard.
Does anyone know what it would look like for the US to stop using single use plastics? Always thought it would be a cool thing for us to try, but can’t quite figure out how practical that really is
In practice we don't really have replacements for a lot of things "single use plastic" is used for. Sterilized medical equipment, storage and distribution of prepared food products for people with disabilities, and probably a myriad of other minor uses that don't get a lot of attention just don't have practical alternatives without making life untenable for a lot of people. So I don't think there's a world in which w…