Bags of trouble
Monday, April 28th, 2008 by Nigel
So now it’s not just biofuels that are in the news for creating problems; bioplastics are getting it in the neck for not being the quick fix they were touted to be. Well, as our younger readers might say, duh. This weekend’s papers carried stories about how “sustainable” plastics made for packaging out of maize, sugarcane and wheat were nowhere near as biodegradable as they’re supposed to be, worse, that they produce large quantities of the greenhouse gas methane when they do degrade, and they also create run off pollution if used in landfill sites.
This kind of news can appear disheartening. It can seem that every attempt to solve environmental problems simply creates ugly new complexities down the line. But the truth is, degradeable plastics already had a weak spot. This was pointed out to me by one of the members of the Magpie recycling collective in Brighton a couple of years ago, who said, “Well, I don’t know how comfortable you feel about carrying round your shopping in a bag made of potatoes. I don’t like the idea much at all.”
So even if the science worked - which it seemingly doesn’t - bioplastics are made out of potential foodstuffs and so are another factor pushing up world food prices. And, after all, the more effective solution is there all along: less packaging, and take your own bags. Like the lovely one below which folds up small so you can carry round with you in a pocket or a handbag.
On that note, there’s another event for Plastic Bag Free Brighton coming up in next month’s Brighton Festival Fringe at the Sealife Centre on May 8th. It’s been organised by the Royal Society For the Protection of Birds. Details on the Plastic Bag Free Brighton website.
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