The problems with plastics and replacements

Yes, plastic can be wonderful.  But.  It does not degrade easily.  We have tons of it in the oceans, in landfills, everywhere.   Everything is wrapped in plastic, has plastic elements, and only a small portion is recycled. (and even that recycling is sent to CHINA to be recycled.  Really?)  And it is downcycled.  

So.  Plastic is made from oil.   Black gold.

Oh!  We have lots of corn!  Lets make plastic out of corn!   Waittaminute, kiddo.   How is corn grown?  (hint, black gold)

I've read that it costs more in oil to make biofuels from corn, and plastics from corn (because of the oil used in growing the corn) than it would just be to use the oil itself.

This morning I read about a fabulous new project, making bioplastic out of shrimp shells.  Which is actually a really good idea, except....

how are the shrimp raised?   Are they raised in one of these awful farms?   It is and it isn't helping solve the problem.  Because those shrimp farms are horrible for the environment in their own way.  

So you are still just exchanging one problem for another.

Do we need to do something?  Yes.

We need to clean up our act worldwide.

We need to cut down on our use of plastics in everything/for everything.

We need to find ways to recycle.

We need to cut down on our use of oil.

So yes, keep looking for bioplastics and biofuels, but also look at where the material is coming from.  Is it an abundant material because it comes from a fish farm?  Or an oil-heavy industry?

We need options.  We need more glass, stainless, etc.

We need more wooden toys for our kids.

We need options for the vegans, who don't want to wear leather.  "Vegan leather" is plastic (and one of the more toxic varieties, too).  

How much throwaway plastic will be generated this Mother's Day?  For each holiday, I see more and more plastic...  piles and piles and piles.

And we need to stop.  Stop buying the plastic.  The cellophane.  Buy a nice wicker basket.    Put some moss in it, with some flowers..  (and yes, the moss and the flowers will probably come in plastic...)

The plastic use has got to stop somewhere.  And it stops with each of us.  As we decide to use a reuseable container instead of a throwaway ziplock.