Read 'n' Seed 4: Third Quarter of Paper or Plastic

Paper or Plastic 

"The dramatic increases in plastic packaging, single-use disposable food containers, and shopping bags, collectively known as "white pollution," has prompted increasing numbers of Asian cities and national governments to impose bans on certain types of disposable packaging." - Paper or Plastic: Searching for Solutions to an Over-packaged World (Daniel Imhoff)

Chapters and Pages


I am now on to my second book for quarters 4 and 5. I covered pages 6-54, chapters: The Packaging Landscape and the Search for Solutions. 


Main Topics


Some main topics in the first chapter are: the package is the product and does packaging waste equal more food. In the package is the product,"the laws of modern retail design dictate that primary package must accurately reflect contents in order to achieve its ultimate goal-repeat the purchase (12)." In 2000, for every 100 pounds of goods or food waste thrown away by Americans, 65 pounds of packaging waste were also thrown out (20). The second chapter it talks about different companies that package more with less! I am sure we have all heard of Aveda and maybe have some of their products, which we know their products are mostly natural, well so is their packaging. They use post-consumer recycled (PCR) content for all packaging. It is hard for them to find companies that will support this option, but they think its a smart way to help the environment. Another company they talk about is Ben & Jerry's and I know we all love their ice cream!! At least I do! :) Ben & Jerry's developed a 100%, non-chlorine bleached, virgin wood, kraft paperboard container for their ice creams. This eco-friendly way has helped with adding chemicals and bad things into the packaging that could get into your food. 

                                                     




Learned & New Terminology 


I learned that companies are producing more plastic packaging then products. Also, we are dumping are excess plastic in other countries that we don't think is important. That is not right, in my book it shows pictures of miles and miles of trash that we just dump in areas where people live. I can't believe we do this and we think it is acceptable. 


Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR): This is any material that was used by a consumer and then recycled for use in a new product. 
http://www.blueegg.com/Green-Glossary/Post-consumer-recycled-PCR-content.html


Packaging Chain


Raw Material--Processing--Design--Manufacture--Distribution--Use--Post-Consumption


Implications


This affects society because not only are we spending more money on plastic on consumers goods, but we are also dumping our waste in other countries! We should care because we are affecting other peoples area of living and the earth. Producing and wasting all the plastic is not eco-friendly. I think companies should all adopt a cleaner way to produce and use plastic and not dump it in other countries! I still can't believe this!