What If Plastic Was Never Invented?
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Date: 2023-11-26
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Comments and reviews: 22
James
There-s an old home site on my dad-s property in Arkansas, dated from the later 40-s and very early 50-s. The family of 5 who lived there were relatives of mine, and were pretty standard middle class for the time and place. There was no trash collection, so all their permanent waste went into a midden. I checked it out once, a very shallow pit containing only flattened metal food cans and a very few broken bottles. I-d guess there were several hundred cans, perhaps a thousand. It wasn-t a large pile at all. That was ALL the permanent waste produced by a fairly well to do family of five, who lived there 8 or 9 years. What happened to everything else? Wooden stuff - burned for heat in the stove, or rotted into the ground. Clothing - passed down to a younger child to wear as hand-me-downs and, when really worn out, cut up and reused for cleaning rags or bags. Metal objects - reused. Glass - kept for continued use unless broken.
One small pile of flattened cans, for 5 people over 8 or 9 years. And those folks led quite happy and fulfilling lives, I knew them all personally. We have made a terrible MESS of things in these last several decades, and aren-t even happier for it. I-m not saying we should go back to the Stone Age, but our level of consumerism and stuff-accumulation has become simply insane.
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There-s an old home site on my dad-s property in Arkansas, dated from the later 40-s and very early 50-s. The family of 5 who lived there were relatives of mine, and were pretty standard middle class for the time and place. There was no trash collection, so all their permanent waste went into a midden. I checked it out once, a very shallow pit containing only flattened metal food cans and a very few broken bottles. I-d guess there were several hundred cans, perhaps a thousand. It wasn-t a large pile at all. That was ALL the permanent waste produced by a fairly well to do family of five, who lived there 8 or 9 years. What happened to everything else? Wooden stuff - burned for heat in the stove, or rotted into the ground. Clothing - passed down to a younger child to wear as hand-me-downs and, when really worn out, cut up and reused for cleaning rags or bags. Metal objects - reused. Glass - kept for continued use unless broken.
One small pile of flattened cans, for 5 people over 8 or 9 years. And those folks led quite happy and fulfilling lives, I knew them all personally. We have made a terrible MESS of things in these last several decades, and aren-t even happier for it. I-m not saying we should go back to the Stone Age, but our level of consumerism and stuff-accumulation has become simply insane.
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James
I like to go through antique and old-stuff stores. You find some interesting things. Did you know that Velveeta used to come in long metal tins with fitted lids? Or that crackers (-biscuits-, I believe for British folks) used to come in wooden boxes? And rice, dried beans, flour etc came in big reusable burlap or fabric bags, of about 25 lb capacity? All of it suitable for reuse either for the original purpose, or for storing stuff. I went through an old barn once - I found old food tins with lids were reused to store axle grease, wax/linseed oil waterproofing paste, small nuts/bolts/washers/cotter pins, etc. Old cracker boxes were used to store nails, small tools, and metal parts for machines. There were unused wooden -blanks- for fitting as replacements for broken broom or tool handles. There were spliced ropes, -mended- coveralls, repaired boxes and barrels, etc.
Stuff was obviously expected to last, to be reused, and to be repaired if broken.
Now, I know you just can-t repair or reuse a lot of our stuff today. But how much of that results from our society-s -choice- to accept disposable junk instead of durable, repairable items?
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I like to go through antique and old-stuff stores. You find some interesting things. Did you know that Velveeta used to come in long metal tins with fitted lids? Or that crackers (-biscuits-, I believe for British folks) used to come in wooden boxes? And rice, dried beans, flour etc came in big reusable burlap or fabric bags, of about 25 lb capacity? All of it suitable for reuse either for the original purpose, or for storing stuff. I went through an old barn once - I found old food tins with lids were reused to store axle grease, wax/linseed oil waterproofing paste, small nuts/bolts/washers/cotter pins, etc. Old cracker boxes were used to store nails, small tools, and metal parts for machines. There were unused wooden -blanks- for fitting as replacements for broken broom or tool handles. There were spliced ropes, -mended- coveralls, repaired boxes and barrels, etc.
Stuff was obviously expected to last, to be reused, and to be repaired if broken.
Now, I know you just can-t repair or reuse a lot of our stuff today. But how much of that results from our society-s -choice- to accept disposable junk instead of durable, repairable items?
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Val
Humans likely would have found something else that serves the same purposes that plastic does (and was hopefully much less damaging to the environment, rather than descend into the -dark ages-, as your video strongly implied.
Furthermore, humans aren't the only species on this Earth that is important, as your video also implies.
We all need to work together to find less environmentally hazardous means of making electricity, and of making plastics that are -biodegradable- and much less dangerous to dolphins, birds and other animals.
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Humans likely would have found something else that serves the same purposes that plastic does (and was hopefully much less damaging to the environment, rather than descend into the -dark ages-, as your video strongly implied.
Furthermore, humans aren't the only species on this Earth that is important, as your video also implies.
We all need to work together to find less environmentally hazardous means of making electricity, and of making plastics that are -biodegradable- and much less dangerous to dolphins, birds and other animals.
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Emily
I don't think all plastics should be banned as it has some desirable qualities, but regulations are needed to control the amount of plastics being produced. For one, we should stop using polyester in fashion because besides being cheap and wrinkle resistant, it's uncomfortable to wear and it's not even good for our health. Then when we discards these plastic clothing, more of it will end up in landfill which will take centuries to degrade, and when it does, there will be microplastics everywhere.
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I don't think all plastics should be banned as it has some desirable qualities, but regulations are needed to control the amount of plastics being produced. For one, we should stop using polyester in fashion because besides being cheap and wrinkle resistant, it's uncomfortable to wear and it's not even good for our health. Then when we discards these plastic clothing, more of it will end up in landfill which will take centuries to degrade, and when it does, there will be microplastics everywhere.
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mclaine33
The title should be -what if we never allowed disposable plastic-. Yes plastic invention is good for items that are not disposable. But using throwaway plastic containers, plastic utensils and straws, plastic bottles, and plastic bags are a massive amount of waste. Furthermore all the nonessential plastic wrap that is used for packaging is unnecessary and that is a major factor people don-t consider.
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The title should be -what if we never allowed disposable plastic-. Yes plastic invention is good for items that are not disposable. But using throwaway plastic containers, plastic utensils and straws, plastic bottles, and plastic bags are a massive amount of waste. Furthermore all the nonessential plastic wrap that is used for packaging is unnecessary and that is a major factor people don-t consider.
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G. D.
I don't believe we should get rid of all plastics. I know it's useful in many ways. But considering how misused it is everyday by throwing away into the trash rather than recycles, I think we should regulate it to at least more important items such as environmental/hazmat suits, containment of dangerous chemicals or diseases, etc.
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I don't believe we should get rid of all plastics. I know it's useful in many ways. But considering how misused it is everyday by throwing away into the trash rather than recycles, I think we should regulate it to at least more important items such as environmental/hazmat suits, containment of dangerous chemicals or diseases, etc.
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sriLakshmi
There are 60, 000 types of plastics world widely and we only use 6 types in our daily life. 40 to 60 kgs of plastic is found in animals stomach after postmortem and they say that plastic is more dangerous than an atom bomb for future generations
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There are 60, 000 types of plastics world widely and we only use 6 types in our daily life. 40 to 60 kgs of plastic is found in animals stomach after postmortem and they say that plastic is more dangerous than an atom bomb for future generations
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savingfoam
Actually that -Illegal to use plastic bag in Bangladesh- is misinformation. We literally throw trash EVERYWHERE and we also use -Plastic-Bags. - It was banned in 2002 for polluting environment. But Now. --Sigh--
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Actually that -Illegal to use plastic bag in Bangladesh- is misinformation. We literally throw trash EVERYWHERE and we also use -Plastic-Bags. - It was banned in 2002 for polluting environment. But Now. --Sigh--
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Alex
Who cares about people dude planet is dying. we can live without it but mother earth can't live with it. who cares if we live in 1980 or 1500. it's about planets health not about our lifestyle
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Who cares about people dude planet is dying. we can live without it but mother earth can't live with it. who cares if we live in 1980 or 1500. it's about planets health not about our lifestyle
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Salty_Taco9357
A question I like to bring up in a group for some fun debate is; -did Leo Baekeland do good or bad for the world- it's super interested to see what people opinions are on this
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A question I like to bring up in a group for some fun debate is; -did Leo Baekeland do good or bad for the world- it's super interested to see what people opinions are on this
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Big
If plastic were never invented, the marine animals would be happy about that. Plus, plastic in the ocean would never have been something to talk about in the first place.
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If plastic were never invented, the marine animals would be happy about that. Plus, plastic in the ocean would never have been something to talk about in the first place.
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Yanis
Most natural fabric are (somewhat) fire-proof. Cotton is not thought. Anyway smoke is more dangerous than fire.
Not every innovation today is based on plastic.
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Most natural fabric are (somewhat) fire-proof. Cotton is not thought. Anyway smoke is more dangerous than fire.
Not every innovation today is based on plastic.
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MRA
Plaatics is like campfire you light in forest camp. If it big enough, it'll burn everything. If it too small, you'll get no benefits of it
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Plaatics is like campfire you light in forest camp. If it big enough, it'll burn everything. If it too small, you'll get no benefits of it
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Yvng
Since it's man made I'm sure we can create an alternative that's also composable. Y'all need to recycle. Damn humans always fuccin sht up
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Since it's man made I'm sure we can create an alternative that's also composable. Y'all need to recycle. Damn humans always fuccin sht up
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Bluds
I-d rather have a mildly inconvenient life and have great environment, than a mildly more conveniently and a horrible environment.
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I-d rather have a mildly inconvenient life and have great environment, than a mildly more conveniently and a horrible environment.
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Dylan
U don't we make the plastic hard and start making plastic houses Ik it dont sound amazing but if it saves our world we shud do it
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U don't we make the plastic hard and start making plastic houses Ik it dont sound amazing but if it saves our world we shud do it
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Brett
Single use plastics should be replaced with plant made bio-degradable plastics. Plastic waste should be turned into roads
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Single use plastics should be replaced with plant made bio-degradable plastics. Plastic waste should be turned into roads
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Lucas
People here are like -Oh lemme show to everyone how superior my morals are while eating my ships from a plastic bag-
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People here are like -Oh lemme show to everyone how superior my morals are while eating my ships from a plastic bag-
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Mohamed
What if we use the plastic wastes to make space crafts by that way we can recycle the large amount of plastics.
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What if we use the plastic wastes to make space crafts by that way we can recycle the large amount of plastics.
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sawke
Teabags used to be made of non plastic, we would have to go back to inconvenience. If great granny can so can we
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Teabags used to be made of non plastic, we would have to go back to inconvenience. If great granny can so can we
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Purple
What? You said plastic bag is illegal in Bangladesh! I am from Bangladesh and plastic bag is everywhere here.
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What? You said plastic bag is illegal in Bangladesh! I am from Bangladesh and plastic bag is everywhere here.
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Not
We don't need to stop using plastic we only need to find a way to get rid of it and not damage anything
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We don't need to stop using plastic we only need to find a way to get rid of it and not damage anything
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