The Intractable Issue with Plastic Waste

The civilization is doing a terrible job with respect to plastic waste.

Some people remain unaware of the issue, and most of the people who understand it are unwilling to alter their lifestyles accordingly.

Compounding the problem is that the corporate world has no compunction about shoving it down our throats; they’re ramping up the use of plastic rather than finding substitutes.

There was a time when lifecycle analyses (LCAs) were a big thing, but what appears to have happened is that they’re simply a waste of time and money.

I was on a call a few years ago with some environmental consultants and a guy from Walmart who was trying to push off the idea that his company was committed to eco-friendliness, as evidenced by all the LCAs they (ostensibly) do.  Someone asked, “OK, so what happens at Walmart when it turns out that Pampers is terrible for the environment?”

Have you ever heard a dog choking on its food?  That’s what this poor slob sounded like, grasping for words that simply wouldn’t come.

A sustainable society is one that fulfills its needs without making it impossible for future generations to fulfill theirs.  Such a notion is utterly impossible without an improved use of plastic.