This blog may help people explore some of the 'hidden' issues involved in certain media treatments of environmental and scientific issues. Using personal digital images, it's also intended to emphasise seasonal (and other) changes in natural history of the Swansea (South Wales) area. The material should help participants in field-based modules and people generally interested in the natural world. The views are wholly those of the author.
Sunday 24 July 2022
Plastics Pollution; Saved by the Covid?
Plastics are made from petrochemicals. The extraction of oil, of course, has a major role in 'climate change'. Plastics are, however, also very much pollutants in their own right. Prior to the Covid19 pandemic, the plastics producers were seriously worried about their industry's image. Plastics pollution of the the oceans, was the dominant story. Plastics were suddenly persona non grata (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jul/24/how-the-plastic-industry-turned-the-pandemic-to-its-advantage). Things, however, changed with the Covid19 pandemic. The general public were reminded that plastics are essential for many healthcare and hygiene products. The resulting attitudinal change has enabled the plastics industries to 'push back' against e.g. legislation to ban single use plastics. A number of countries (but not the EU) have reversed earlier bans. That's all very well but the recent mass of worrying data on microplastics must have an impact on legislation. The production of 'new' plastics should be minimal and its reuse maximised. The plastics industry needs to be strongly regulated, rather than operating in their 'wild west' fashion.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Jumping Into the Limelight?
Jumping spiders don't make webs. As their name suggests, they leap on their prey. A current total of 17 non-native jumping spiders, hav...
-
The UK government continue their quest to turn England's rivers back into sewers. They first facilitated the privatised water companies...
-
Garden plants in France, The Netherlands, The UK and Sikkim (NE India).
No comments:
Post a Comment