Plastic Has a Big Carbon Footprint – But That Isn't the Whole Story

https://text.npr.org/s.php?sId=735848489

by Ultramanoid • 7 years ago

17 8 7 years ago

text.npr.org

dzhiurgis• 7 years ago

This article seems to directly contradict other articles that say cotton bag production is equivalent of 7000 plastic bags in terms of greenhouse gases

benj1112• 7 years ago

I havent heard 7000. I'm not sure where you got the direct contradiction?

Here's one saying 131 uses [1].

Cotton isnt actually all that green though. And as the article points out plastic bags can be very light weight so aren't that bad. If I were choosing a boogie man, plastic bags wouldn't be top of the list. But I wouldn't be using a reusable cotton bag either.

[1] https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/...

Edit: This is actually linked to from the article.

dasanman• 7 years ago

A re-usable bag is always better IMO, as it does not generate trash, while single use plastic bags are often disgarded right away

mc32• 7 years ago

One thing that irks me is SF city rushing to enact laws and code of varying types to address perceived wrongs. But they rush to it. They want to signal that they are thoughtful and progressive. So they often grab at shiny things without understanding the full impact. Oh, someone at UC Davis did a study which showed something we agree with, let’s go with it! These are hi-viz, low impact measures. Often they are counterproductive. Like the ban on straws. As if that’s the biggest threat that must be addressed with utmost urgency. Housing problem: oh, rent control!

defterGoose• 7 years ago

The straw ban might be "small beans", but I can't think of a reasonable argument that it's counterproductive. Let's refocus: you sound hostile to any perceived threats to profit, which are unfortunately some of the most direct paths to reducing our impact on the Earth.

JoeAltmaier• 7 years ago

Easy way to half the footprint of anything: use it twice. Not very hard and more effective than many other suggested alternatives.

Plastic Has a Big Carbon Footprint – But That Isn't the Whole Story

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