• testfactor@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    Plastic grocery bags Plastic single use gloves Plastic straws Packaging for electronics Packaging for dry goods like beans/pasta Packaging for short shelf life items like fruit/bread

    Honestly, there’s a huge number of things we use plastic for that don’t require it to sit in contact with bacteria/liquid for weeks at a time. I’d be willing to bet it’s the majority even.

    • NuXCOM_90Percent@lemmy.zip
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      1 day ago

      Like I said, it really depends upon what exactly triggers “biodegrading”. Because those plastic gloves might be in a box in a warehouse for months prior to getting to the hospital… and then another month in the supply closet.

      That is WHY so many products have like five layers of packaging. Because maybe someone left the door open on a rainy day and some of those cardboard boxes got soggy. The plastic wrapping your pallet keeps it out and it is mostly the warehouse workers who suffer (and they’re barely people in the eyes of the law…).

      • higgsboson@piefed.social
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        22 hours ago

        is mostly the warehouse workers who suffer (and they’re barely people in the eyes of the law…).

        As someone who works with warehouse material handlers (aka forklift operator with PPE) on a daily basis, I am pretty sure they are barely people in their own eyes too.