Yeah, I know St.J. I know we piss people off, and honestly I personally don't like pissing people off. I mean, only the other day, I mentioned in the General Sports thread that F1 is basically a bad example for the environment, and I showed an electric vehicle. And that pissed off LTL and Libby, and that really disappointed me that people don't see the bigger picture. I don't want to think that they don't care, but it's part of this change of behaviour and attitude. We've got to drop our careless passion for things that are patently a bad example for the environment. Ok, Formula E isn't carbon neutral, but it's a far better example. I dropped MotoGP like a stone about 18 months ago, after following it since Barry Sheene, and I'm starting to follow Moto-EGP instead, so that's another of those lazy attitude changes. These E-Sports aren't zero pollution, but they get people thinking and changing.
That is very interesting. I would be interested on how biodegradable these products are. There are some findings that some biodegradable products only degrade to a certain point and end up in the gut of small sea creatures like shrimps. And there are a lot of feeders who eat shrimps, including fish we consume, and mammals like baleen whales.
I have very quickly read up on this and there are over a 1000 species of bamboo, some of which are NOT invasive. You have to buy the right one for you. For example: Clumping Bamboo: Clumpers or sympodial bamboos will expand, just like any other plant. However, it tends to stay in one place, slowing widening from its center, rather than reaching out and popping up throughout the garden and lawn. Most are perennial down to USDA Hardiness Zone 4, making them very adaptable garden plants. Actually, there are some great reasons for planting bamboo, especially on a environmentally beneficial commercial basis. For example: Environmental benefits. Bamboo absorbs 5 times more greenhouse gases and releases 35% more oxygen into the atmosphere than a hardwood forest [that's astonishing]. It is also a renewable resource that may help save the world’s dwindling forests. A hardwood forest isn’t replaced for many decades, but bamboo, among the world’s fastest-growing plants, can be harvested in one to five years, depending on the species. Because of its extensive root system, prevention of soil erosion is a valuable bamboo benefit in many soil-depleted areas. Easy to grow. Pros of bamboo include the plant’s easy growth habits. As long as the climate is right, bamboo grows in nearly any type of reasonably fertile well-drained soil. It requires little maintenance and is relatively drought tolerant, although it performs better with regular irrigation. Used around the world. Bamboo is a highly nutritious plant that provides food and medicine for people (and livestock) around the world. The strong fibers are used for building material and to make necessities ranging from floor mats or paper to fishing poles or musical instruments.
Trust me St Jabb .... I am looking at what other countries are doing. You say stop the supply from thin single use plastic.... why don’t you say “make the plastic thicker” like it used to be so that it can be recycled and used again and again. The reason? Money. Greed. Supermarkets drove the cost out of those bags that I used to use as bin bags, by making them thinner and thinner. Interesting that your quote brings up the value of types of plastic for recycling. Value shouldn’t even be the question (although it does have value) and you’ll always have different values for different types of plastics, But they still have value and should still be recycled. Polystyrene is recycled here and used for producing benches as one example. Your “in principle” statement here (or from the quote ) is misleading. It can and should be recycled. I am not in favour of in-necessary single use plastic (I don’t need a stirrer in my drink thanks) but the clamour to just ban it, rather than manage the people who use it, is so unbalanced. Bottom line is value should be even be in question, unless the value of the planet is being put in question. The reason I get so passionate about this is because of the completely unbalanced message being put out there about plastic.
Yeah, SIS, you certainly can get the wrong one. The easy thing to do though is to get the right one. Before you buy, do 5 minutes of research.
I think it's a balance of getting people to change their habits and best practice with plastics. We can't live in the modern world without plastics... yet. And maybe not forever. It's a great material. But it has a back end issue,and lots of that is down to people, companies, and governments. Btw, if you're feeling a tad misunderstood, I don't doubt your concern with plastics, FLT. I realise you see the picture.
If you’re referring to biodegradable plastic, it’s not good at all A common misconception that even is misunderstood within the industry itself.
Oops Missed that. St Jabb should have put it in red or something sorry. I need to read that in detail. On first scan, it referred to bio degradable and then said 80% was compostable. I don’t get that. Bio compostable is what you want so I don’t get the reference to bio degradable.
Wind yer neck in. You asked what alternatives were being used this an example. You appear to have access to the impact of materials other than plastic please advise with source. It's locally produced probably small scale production I think it's progress at least in attitude and effort.
Simply no need Jab. Do you want a sensible discussion or not. I asked the question because you made a statement and then when questioned on it, your reply was “ducked if I know” - fair to question that. Read on and you may see an apology. Once TSS pointed out to me what I’d missed. I read it and bamboo looks pretty good, but nearly everywhere you go Plastic is being pushed to be replaced by other mainstream materials, glass, paper, card, which all have more questionable environmental impact. My sources? I work in the plastics industry and it’s my job to know the impacts of our materials and alternative materials. It’s my livelihood at stake here as the media fill the public with one sided views and half information given out. I have a fairly good knowledge of what’s going on and what’s been said. I can send report after report on it. I did before when I dared to step in after reading sweeping, inaccurate statements on here. I was lambasted. People hear what they want to hear. Right now “War on Plastics” (as the BBC delightfully chose to name their program) is the message being brainwashed into the public. It should be “War on People Behaviour” All I want is there to be a fair and balanced view giving full information. It’s not being given right now.
I see you’ve edited your post now and added the tongue/cheek part. You’ve also add the 400 customer plastic plant part too - what do you mean by that? I didn’t understand that edit.
I've just edited my reply and hadn't realised you had read all. I'm a retired instrumentation and control systems engineer with experience on bulk plastic production plants as well as oil and gas upstream and downstream projects. When I've had a mug or two of coffee I'll do a bit more research on the company linked. Understand the behavioural changes needed worldwide but also understand the day to day struggle many have to live in less affluent societies. That makes environmental issues less of a priority than food and shelter, particularly in Asian mega cities I have experience of
The company making the cassava bags and ponchos with 400 customers is small scale in comparison with a plastics plant. I think that's what I said.
Ah ok. That’s good and it sounds very worthwhile. I applaud that as my limited knowledge on materials such as bamboo is that they are sustainable, if grown locally and if grown specifically for that purpose too without detracting from any local eco system requirements for the bamboo.
