Plastic packaging

[Red Robin]

Originally Posted by Amarillo

Relying on consumers to only buy ethical stuff is not going to work. The government should force the retailers and manufacturers to meet certain standards and make sure that the "quick, convenient option" is also the environmentally friendly option.

....I agree. Although I buy my meat and fish from local specialists rather than supermarkets and also most vegetables, it's simply not practical even for me to avoid some currently non-ethical plastic packaging and I do use my local Waitrose regularly as well. So, when you factor in the reality that far too many typically English people only buy food to eat and not so much to enjoy, and are only price led due to their financial circumstances (I could debate that one though), they buy nearly everything from a supermarket.

Consequently, the legislation should oblige the supermarkets to lead the way. I'm surprised I'm supporting more legislation - I'm normally against the nanny state and political correctness etc etc etc.

[Red Robin]

Originally Posted by Moonmoth

What happened to cardboard packaging and Brown paper bags ? it seems to have disappeared in favour of plastic eg . I used to buy my son coloured waxed paper sandwich bags for his break until they introduced New Improved Plastic ones ! Why is it taking so long for the msg to get through

....It's driven by legislation to do with food standards and safety - Intended to preserve foodstuffs better and for longer. There is also the consideration of food protection during transport from source to retailer.

I'm not supporting the use of plastics which aren't recyclable but just stating the reasons as I understand them.

[Gill Catton]

I wouldn't mind betting that we'll be 'mining' the plastics back out of landfil when the oil runs out!

(and metals when the ores run out but that's another issue!!)

[Red Robin]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

I wouldn't mind betting that we'll be 'mining' the plastics back out of landfil when the oil runs out!

(and metals when the ores run out but that's another issue!!)

....It'll be a very very long time before oil runs out, and by which time most/more plastics will hopefully be recyclable and demand for oil may even have reduced as other technologies become established. The problem may be that there are serious downsides to whatever technologies mankind develops - We've already began to realise that with bio fuels and also batteries.

Fix one thing and insodoing screw up another. But we still have to try to progress - It's human nature.

[tom00_uk]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

I wouldn't mind betting that we'll be 'mining' the plastics back out of landfil when the oil runs out!

(and metals when the ores run out but that's another issue!!)

landfills are all ready being mined, since you know there is going to be a decent amount of metal in them that has all ready been extracted from ore for a start

[jaelen]

The primary problem is that very little plastic is actually recycled in this country- it is too expensive and too difficult to do properly. What really happens is that it is shipped to countries with less stringent environmental controls, (or health and safety guidelines). Usually China.

British waste adds to environmental crisis across China | News | The Guardian

What I've been doing for several years is I save up my plastic packaging- (especially milk cartons, because in this country it's supposed to be the No.1 plastic throwaway)* and I post them back to Sainsbury's and Tescos. I take it in turn.

* oh- and this is where the lids of milk cartons can end up, so I make sure to include those, too....

http://www.chrisjordan.com/gallery/m...78%2019x25

That's what's left of a baby albatross.

(if you have time, click on 'about this project' below the photo- sad and sobering.

[Wild-Woman]

We managed perfectly well without plastic carrier bags years ago, therefore I don't see why we can't go back to the days when we took a proper shopping bag/basket with us!

We should be boycotting food with excessive packaging and manufacturers should be reducing its use.

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

We managed perfectly well without plastic carrier bags years ago, therefore I don't see why we can't go back to the days when we took a proper shopping bag/basket with us!

We should be boycotting food with excessive packaging and manufacturers should be reducing its use.

Living in a small town in Yorkshire and going round the town every day, I watched recently with interest as we nearly got rid of plastic carrier bags, but the impetus has gone, most are sliding back to not taking bags with them. A great shame, I really think a couple more pushes and it would have worked, but a free bag for life for 10p has sort of got lost in some other campaign. Grasshopper minds when Winter is coming along.

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by Meta menardi

Living in a small town in Yorkshire and going round the town every day, I watched recently with interest as we nearly got rid of plastic carrier bags, but the impetus has gone, most are sliding back to not taking bags with them. A great shame, I really think a couple more pushes and it would have worked, but a free bag for life for 10p has sort of got lost in some other campaign. Grasshopper minds when Winter is coming along.

Yes- a real shame. Perhaps the shopkeepers need a little reminder and the residents. Is there a local Green Party that might be placed to put out an ad in the local paper- or a contact campaign with the public?

[posie]

They go on about saving trees, but there is soooo much junk-mail and waste of paper in industry and offices, all that paper could be recycled into paper packaging and carrier bags....trouble is they get a longer shelf-life with some things..(Meat and veg and fruit?) if they are packed airtight in plastic,..... also clear plastic gives a good presentation...and doesn't tear so easily as paper..what is needed is a clear non tearable paper from recycled paper waste...Posie