Re: Plastic waste from Supermarkets

Where to start?

1. Expensive to make
2. Paper making is directly very polluting to water sources
3. Paper bags are thicker and heavier than the plastic equivalents so, transport costs are higher
4. Birth to death carbon footprint of paper bags is larger than for plastic bags (if treated the same)
5. Paper bags are single use only, plastic bags (even the thin ones) can be reused.

Re: Plastic waste from Supermarkets

There's a shop opened in our town, about a year ago, which offers just this service, from olive oil to washing powder. The problem is, it's still cheaper to buy from Sainsbury's so the shop is always empty. I have no idea how the shop stays open tbh.

The plastic waste you see in the supermarket is only the half of it. You would be amazed how much plastic they get through behind the scenes so to speak, although it is all sent for recycling along with cardboard and paper.

Re: Plastic waste from Supermarkets

I really can't see how plastic products can be removed completely, it's used for so many items, not just packaging. Most things you can name have plastic in or on them. Our window frames are plastic, DVD & CD cases are plastic, Lego is plastic other toys for kids are plastic, mobile phone cases are plastic. I could go on & on.

Re: Plastic waste from Supermarkets

I agree.

Re: Plastic waste from Supermarkets

Yes, I agree Tiff.
We are surrounded with it when you think.

Whatever did we do before?

Re: Plastic waste from Supermarkets

Thanks.

Thanks.
We had wood, metal, paper, pottery, leather, shopping baskets made of wovern rushes & withies. There were no mobile phones, no cassettes, no singles or LP's, no CD's or DVD's. Can't remember what 78's were made of.
Those were the good times.

Re: Plastic waste from Supermarkets

78s were made from Shellac (resin).

Does anyone remember Bakelite - an early form of plastic? My first tranny radio was made from that.

Re: Plastic waste from Supermarkets

I seem to think plugs were made of it too, weren't they Tabs?

Re: Plastic waste from Supermarkets

I have some slippers made of bakelite.... bloody uncomfortable they are.

Re: Plastic waste from Supermarkets

Thanks, yes, Shellac. My first portable radio was a Bush Bakelite TR82C Portable Radio, 1960s. I listened to it in the stable & the horse I was mucking out, lifted it up & dropped it in the water bucket, it didn't work after that. She didn't like my choice in music.

I think early ones were.