Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS) in Japan have one-upped themselves in their quest to solve our microplastic problem. They report a new plant-based plastic made from cellulose, the world’s most abundant organic compound. The new plastic is strong, flexible, and capable of rapid decomposition in natural environments, setting it apart from other plastics marketed as biodegradable.
Stories like this pop up all the time “Bugs eat plastics” “Plastics turned back into fuel” “Plastics reused into new objects”
None of it turns into any real solutions, and I can only assume it’s a greenwashing campaign with a science veneer, by spreading the idea that eventually science will make plastics fully recyclable/reusable/compostable.
The greenwashing plastics/petroleum industry is preying on the idea that there’s a solution on the horizon for the unsolvable problem of plastics recycling and reuse.
Please reduce or even eliminate plastics use, if possible.
It takes decades to move the needle on manufacturing lines around the world. Once you make a new discovery you have to deploy it. That’s the difficult part. Unless you have a government mandate, it takes even longer. Companies are lazy and won’t change. Why do something when I can do nothing and continue to make money?
I think of it as pablum used to keep people complacent with the status quo. Don’t change, a fix is right around the corner a few years away. Same idea just a different way to say it.
Stories like this crop up around plastics, carbon capture (like @[email protected] said), and batteries. How many stories have you seen about batteries with the term “game changer” in it?
Not making a case for nihilism or apathy. Just healthy skepticism and make the changes you can in the meantime, like reducing single use plastics where you can.
How many stories have you seen about batteries with the term “game changer” in it?
Can you honestly look at the world today and say with a straight face that the game has not changed with regards to battery tech?
Compare electric cars and battery-powered computer runtime from 20 years ago, 10 years ago, and 5 years ago. It’s crazy! I just worked all day on my laptop without plugging it in and the battery isn’t even half dead. I can go anywhere to work and don’t require an outlet. The game has changed. This advancement in battery tech is ongoing and has not stopped.
That is definitely true. And it is also true that YouTubers and other tech news outlets have been promising that new battery tech will make EVs work just like gas cars and you won’t have to suffer any inconvenience or trade offs. Just wait a few years and all the problems will go away. Or maybe it will be hydrogen again this year.
Meanwhile progress is a slow grind that gets better incrementally every year. Real step changes are pretty rare. But not according to headlines.
I’m happy with the progress and cheer for more. But am going to continue to be skeptical of the “game changers” until they show up in the market and prove themselves out.
There needs to be a financial benefit or punitive incentive for companies to move from conventional oil based products. Ethics or the viability of the planet just aren’t viable grounds under capitalism.
Stories like this pop up all the time “Bugs eat plastics” “Plastics turned back into fuel” “Plastics reused into new objects”
None of it turns into any real solutions, and I can only assume it’s a greenwashing campaign with a science veneer, by spreading the idea that eventually science will make plastics fully recyclable/reusable/compostable.
The greenwashing plastics/petroleum industry is preying on the idea that there’s a solution on the horizon for the unsolvable problem of plastics recycling and reuse.
Please reduce or even eliminate plastics use, if possible.
Especially single use plastics.
It takes decades to move the needle on manufacturing lines around the world. Once you make a new discovery you have to deploy it. That’s the difficult part. Unless you have a government mandate, it takes even longer. Companies are lazy and won’t change. Why do something when I can do nothing and continue to make money?
Also, solutions like this will obviously cost more, even with further development and scale. It takes legislation to force the issue, so, more time.
It’s reminiscent of this XKCD:
I think of it as pablum used to keep people complacent with the status quo. Don’t change, a fix is right around the corner a few years away. Same idea just a different way to say it.
Stories like this crop up around plastics, carbon capture (like @[email protected] said), and batteries. How many stories have you seen about batteries with the term “game changer” in it?
Not making a case for nihilism or apathy. Just healthy skepticism and make the changes you can in the meantime, like reducing single use plastics where you can.
Can you honestly look at the world today and say with a straight face that the game has not changed with regards to battery tech?
Compare electric cars and battery-powered computer runtime from 20 years ago, 10 years ago, and 5 years ago. It’s crazy! I just worked all day on my laptop without plugging it in and the battery isn’t even half dead. I can go anywhere to work and don’t require an outlet. The game has changed. This advancement in battery tech is ongoing and has not stopped.
That is definitely true. And it is also true that YouTubers and other tech news outlets have been promising that new battery tech will make EVs work just like gas cars and you won’t have to suffer any inconvenience or trade offs. Just wait a few years and all the problems will go away. Or maybe it will be hydrogen again this year.
Meanwhile progress is a slow grind that gets better incrementally every year. Real step changes are pretty rare. But not according to headlines.
I’m happy with the progress and cheer for more. But am going to continue to be skeptical of the “game changers” until they show up in the market and prove themselves out.
There needs to be a financial benefit or punitive incentive for companies to move from conventional oil based products. Ethics or the viability of the planet just aren’t viable grounds under capitalism.
This is apparently also the case with carbon capture.