The Plastic Conundrum

Going Green

Should we stop all oil production. Should we turn to electric cars powered by wind power. Should we get rid of the coal mines and only use clean wind and tidal power.

Sounds great but … What would you wear? Plastics are made from Oil. No oil - no clothes, no glue, no spectacles, no computers, no cars, no phones - no kitchens units, no tea bags, no batteries!!

We could be stuck in the 1870's - We might have to go back and use lead pipes for water, Wires would need hazardous lacquer rather than the plastic, There would be no semiconductors, and no phones, no toothbrushes, there would be no paint.

So what are the alternatives to plastics made from Oil. Can we cope with plastics made from plants in a batch process?

Can we dispose of plastics in a better way - Wax worms - eat plastics

Some bacteria can digest plastics and help landfill - even biodegradable plastics take a while. Now we could use plants as a plastic feed stock - these are not biodegradable but 57% more energy is needed in the production. Philp and Paul talk about the alternatives and what we can do.