Plastic bags are just one small part of the problem but, removing them, symbolises what can be achieved by people power.
Bio bags are not recommended by my local authority, by all accounts, it can corrupt the recycling plastics mix, and it can't be put into amenity composting, it screws-up their shredding machines? Sounds a bit feeble but, that's the feedback I get. Also has been suggested to me that having packaging made totally from a suitable plastic, is actually the way to go. 'If' all these were returned to our recyclers, it would make perfect sense. In the real world though, I'm not sure perhaps, only a % would return.
Packaged products need to be hygienic, robust, and attractive (buy me). Now that sustainability is being seen as the way forward, recyclability is being added to this list, broadly speaking though, this is a relatively new design imperative/vision.
It's also true to say that, some corporations use the whole sustainability thing, as a cynical “Green Wash”. But, when one considers that perhaps as much as 90%+ of packaging isn't easily kerbside recyclable, and that the packaging industry is immensely powerful, with turnover to match. It's hardly surprising that it's a very difficult juggernaut to move from it's determined course.
But, move it must and, it knows it.
Being a pragmatic individual, I saw this problem about three years ago and, decided to do something about it. I was also tired of being encouraged to mess about with ill-thought-through packaging for our many recycling bins. It's just unreasonable and defies logic.
So, I built PullApart:
PullApart® Packaging Survey, Graded for Easy Kerbside recycling. First Page(Area Selector):
It demonstrates graphically, how poor our packaging is for kerbside recycling and offers local people colour coded information as to the breaking down of packaging for our many bins. It's also about material choices, recycling awareness and how packaging now delivers bad value for consumer £££.
For a local website, I receive a considerable number of visitors, professionals and the public alike, from home and abroad. It's probably one of the most advanced (free), kerbside recycling systems in the world (other peoples words, not mine).
It places the environment and consumers first.
What's now needed is; good rubbish.
However, at times, I'm frustrated at the slow pace of packaging change but, re above, hardly surprising. On the bright side though; retailers are now printing “sorry” on packaging for “none recyclable!” The organisation responsible for packaging design, recommendations, seems to have finally woken-up to the significance of these recycling and sustainability issues. Also the industry has flattened in the use of plastics, a lot of effort has recently gone into quantity of plastic/package reduction for a growing market.
Personally I say; councils please take the best advice available, try and be consistent with other council areas, and speak with one UK voice. Manufactures please listen to the recyclers, they know what material are of most value. Make your packaging of these materials only, and use sparingly, where absolutely necessary. Display plastic recycling codes/numbers loudly, don't be shy, sometimes the plastic is different from that stated on the box! Develop designs that require no/minimal consumer water/energy use. Plastics; use only low number, no colour added, with paper labels, that's consistent with most/all council areas. Don't stick labels on fruit, or plastic string bag them. In multi pack products, use only cardboard retainers/trays, and please don't be tempted to add superfluous plastic wrap or cardboard boxes and sleeves.
I also think that, in time, there will be a local product kerbside recycling standard. If your product doesn't meet this, it can not be sold here!
All this will not happen if people remain silent and do nothing (constructive), so, well done to all those plastic bag people, for demonstrating to the rest of us - what can be achieved, when the public's imagination is fired-up.
Re: Say no to plastic bags
Say No To Plastics
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