Canada sets sights on next plastic waste target: food packaging
Canada sets sights on next plastic waste target: food packaging
The federal government is calling for input from grocers, food and beverage producers, provincial governments and the general population.
The federal government is calling for input from grocers, food and beverage producers, provincial governments and the general population.
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The sheer amount of plastic waste created before it reaches the customer is far worse... Tons of shrink wrap and Styrofoam filling the garbage bins of every store and we're worried about the little plastic window in your box of pasta. This is just straws and shopping bags again and again; no meaningful change and even worse is that it makes people think something's being done so they don't look too deep.
Can we stop complaining about progress?
Yes, you're right, there are bigger issues. Doesn't mean we can't celebrate the small victories. Any and all waste reduction is a good thing.
I think what they're worried about is sort of like giving a hypothermic person hard alcohol to "warm" them up. It masks the real problem and can result in real harm. If we get caught up in these small victories , which I agree are good, we may lose sight of some of the heavy lifting we need to do to make real change. Many corporations rely on misdirection and topic fatigue to keep from having to do anything of real substance.
I agree with you but I also think the large companies seem to always get away with this and it's the consumers that have to do all the work.
How much per unit though? Like if a skid with a thousand boxes of doodads is super-shrinkwrapped, yes when you cut off the wrap it's a lot but how much wrap per doodad?
It of course depends on the product. Clothing tends to be individually wrapped for example. Some foods are actually not too bad because they come in a big box or crate. Manufacturing creates a good bit. Some places use way more plastic than they ever used to; look at how silage bales are done these days. There's also the tons of stuff thrown away by stores instead of being discounted or donated; it's of items that are returned just go straight to the bin, never mind seasonal items that are just disposed of.
My point is we keep putting the target on the little things that are more visible, the danger being that this makes the public perception of the progress made inaccurate and is sort of a "green washing" diversion.
Extended producer responsibility FTW.