A plastic depression
"Today's problems can not be solved if we still think the way we thought when we created them" - Albert Einstein
So I've recently been watching a lot of documentaries. I don't know why, maybe I like depressing myself...
Most recently, I started watching Toxic - Garbage Island on www.VBS.tv
http://www.vbs.tv/video.php?id=1485308505
After watching about 2 minutes I was committed to try to live without plastics. Well, let's be realistic, I was going to try to limit my usage of plastics. I have tried to do this before, and have failed miserably, because plastic is so ingrained in the supply chain now that it's impossible to eliminate completely without DRASTIC lifestyle changes (Car, computer, TV, Radio, etc)
This depressed me. I remember when I was a child they still used wax paper bags in the cereal and cracker boxes. Now everything is either plastic, plastic lined, plastic capped or plastic has been applied in some other way. So I looked to the more "environmentally friendly" companies for packaging. Surprise! Just about every one uses plastic. Grrr!!!!
I became depressed, very depressed. I feel like there is nothing I can do to keep these substances from leaching into the environment. And it's such a murky issue.
Am I ok with recycled plastic? Well, if it's 100% recycled I am happier with it than with new plastics, but most packaging that is "recycled" contains only 25-70% recycled plastics, and how many of them are post consumer? And what would happen with these petrochemicals if we didn't have plastics? Would they get dumped into the environment in other ways? Is the solution a better recycling and disposal chain that keeps plastics and petrochemicals out of the ocean (and environment)? argh!!!!
I am at a loss, and I want to be a part of the solution, and not just whine about the issue.
I can look at the problem and break it down into some areas we need to address (I know this isn't all of them, I'm mostly brainstorming at this point):
1) The current petrochemicals that are polluting the oceans and environment (already disposed of)
2) Reformulating current products and packaging of products using biodegradable alternatives and 100% recycled plastics.
3) Recycling all recyclable plastics (requires the packaging industry to USE recycled plastics, and requires local municipalities (and people) to support FULL recycling programs)
4) No longer creating non-recyclable petrochemical products
5) Finding a proper disposal method for all petrochemical products that can not be recycled.
Or alternately, we can try to create a super race of creature that can utilize plastic as it's sustenance, and excrete something more valuable to us as a result...
Any ideas? Either to cheer me up, or to make me feel like I can actually make a difference?
Thanks!
So I've recently been watching a lot of documentaries. I don't know why, maybe I like depressing myself...
Most recently, I started watching Toxic - Garbage Island on www.VBS.tv
http://www.vbs.tv/video.php?id=1485308505
After watching about 2 minutes I was committed to try to live without plastics. Well, let's be realistic, I was going to try to limit my usage of plastics. I have tried to do this before, and have failed miserably, because plastic is so ingrained in the supply chain now that it's impossible to eliminate completely without DRASTIC lifestyle changes (Car, computer, TV, Radio, etc)
This depressed me. I remember when I was a child they still used wax paper bags in the cereal and cracker boxes. Now everything is either plastic, plastic lined, plastic capped or plastic has been applied in some other way. So I looked to the more "environmentally friendly" companies for packaging. Surprise! Just about every one uses plastic. Grrr!!!!
I became depressed, very depressed. I feel like there is nothing I can do to keep these substances from leaching into the environment. And it's such a murky issue.
Am I ok with recycled plastic? Well, if it's 100% recycled I am happier with it than with new plastics, but most packaging that is "recycled" contains only 25-70% recycled plastics, and how many of them are post consumer? And what would happen with these petrochemicals if we didn't have plastics? Would they get dumped into the environment in other ways? Is the solution a better recycling and disposal chain that keeps plastics and petrochemicals out of the ocean (and environment)? argh!!!!
I am at a loss, and I want to be a part of the solution, and not just whine about the issue.
I can look at the problem and break it down into some areas we need to address (I know this isn't all of them, I'm mostly brainstorming at this point):
1) The current petrochemicals that are polluting the oceans and environment (already disposed of)
2) Reformulating current products and packaging of products using biodegradable alternatives and 100% recycled plastics.
3) Recycling all recyclable plastics (requires the packaging industry to USE recycled plastics, and requires local municipalities (and people) to support FULL recycling programs)
4) No longer creating non-recyclable petrochemical products
5) Finding a proper disposal method for all petrochemical products that can not be recycled.
Or alternately, we can try to create a super race of creature that can utilize plastic as it's sustenance, and excrete something more valuable to us as a result...
Any ideas? Either to cheer me up, or to make me feel like I can actually make a difference?
Thanks!