Very interesting paper. I personally think some serious attention needs to be given to use cases, which in turn drive the issue of plastic waste (which I assume is the one the Action Plan aims to solve). Single use plastic packaging, microbeads, textiles that generate microfibres. These are more of an issue than activists going after "an industry" IMO.
Agreed I think. I've been thinking about externalized costs of certain industries either in plastic packaging, agriculture, or even just internal combustion engines. Right now we are used to getting goods and services for remarkably low upfront costs, but I think we are for the most part externalizing longer term costs to the environment in the form of unwanted clothing, plastic waste, nutrient runoff, or emissions. I do not think this something we can keep doing long term and thinking of an alternative plan is difficult from a policy perspective.
Philosophically, I'm wondering how much our "modern" way of life might have to change if we want to really solve some of our problems and how painful that change might be.
Yes -- externalized costs are a massive issue. We in the West have a high standard of living for not much money, because we're kicking the big expensive problems down the road for future generations to deal with...
Very interesting paper. I personally think some serious attention needs to be given to use cases, which in turn drive the issue of plastic waste (which I assume is the one the Action Plan aims to solve). Single use plastic packaging, microbeads, textiles that generate microfibres. These are more of an issue than activists going after "an industry" IMO.
Agreed I think. I've been thinking about externalized costs of certain industries either in plastic packaging, agriculture, or even just internal combustion engines. Right now we are used to getting goods and services for remarkably low upfront costs, but I think we are for the most part externalizing longer term costs to the environment in the form of unwanted clothing, plastic waste, nutrient runoff, or emissions. I do not think this something we can keep doing long term and thinking of an alternative plan is difficult from a policy perspective.
Philosophically, I'm wondering how much our "modern" way of life might have to change if we want to really solve some of our problems and how painful that change might be.
Yes -- externalized costs are a massive issue. We in the West have a high standard of living for not much money, because we're kicking the big expensive problems down the road for future generations to deal with...
"The Polymerist Policy Position on The Presidential Plastics Action Plan"
I dislike puns, but I love a good alliteration.
I could be wrong with all of this. Australia actually just implemented a sort of plastics ban of their own: https://www.environment.gov.au/protection/waste/plastics-and-packaging/national-plastics-plan/prevention
This will be a good model to see if a plastics ban does actually work or if they start importing more wood, paper, and pulp as alternatives.