Final Up to date on January 23, 2024
I’ve been getting some superb questions from readers. This previous week Meaghan emailed in with a query about recycled plastic.
“Though I hardly ever buy bottled water anymore, there’s a bottled water firm that I nonetheless discover myself buying from on occasion.
They’re in all probability essentially the most moral bottled water firm to exist.
They donate a portion of their income to water charities, they’ve sustainable practices in how they receive their water, they’ve delivery insurance policies that scale back their carbon footprint, and so they solely use recycled plastic for his or her bottles.
They’re not the one firm I’ve come throughout recently which have good enterprise practices, however use recycled plastic for his or her merchandise.
My query is, am I doing the suitable factor by supporting firms that solely use recycled plastics? By shopping for from them, am I displaying that there’s a demand for recycled plastic, which might assist enhance the commodity worth, and in flip make it extra worthwhile for recycling firms?
Or by supporting them, am I simply rising the demand for plastic basically?
I’ve tried to analysis this myself, however I’m having hassle discovering concrete solutions. I used to be simply curious what a fellow zero-waster’s opinion on this was.”
It is a query I’ve additionally requested myself, and actually there aren’t going to be any concrete solutions. That is a kind of very grey conditions just like the query about recycling Michael requested a few weeks in the past.
Now, I do know this isn’t the query, however I’m actually curious which firm makes use of 100% recycled plastic for his or her bottles? I’ve been wanting on-line, and I’m going to imagine it’s Nika Water?
I couldn’t discover something stating the place they supply their water, but when all of their info is true they appear like a very good firm to assist.
Based on the web site they donate all of their income which is actually a noble trigger.
Bottled water in itself just isn’t evil or dangerous. We actually want bottled water in instances of disaster, the issue is when it turns into an on a regular basis accent.
I additionally don’t suppose plastic is dangerous. Plastic is superb and has allowed us to make a number of developments as a society. The issue is how we’re utilizing it. A cloth designed to final ceaselessly, shouldn’t be used for objects that final solely seconds.
Clearly the very best factor to do is to have your personal bottle with you after which pop into a restaurant, restaurant, or fuel station to have it stuffed whenever you’re out.
However, if that weren’t an choice, I’d say supporting an organization like this can be a good factor. It’s significantly better than supporting Nestle.
I additionally need to discuss this query on the bigger scale. It’s all the time higher to purchase merchandise made with recycled plastic.
Are you rising the demand for plastic general? Sure.
However, you’re additionally rising the demand for recycled plastic which is a crucial a part of recycling. Are you actually recycling in the event you don’t assist firms which might be making merchandise from recycled supplies?
Proper now the demand for recycled plastic is low like actually, actually low.
Creating a requirement within the US for recycled plastic may be capable to assist with the present recycling ban imposed by China.
Environmental points apart, plastic isn’t nice for our well being. I’m curious if the plastic remains to be a pure HDPE or LDPE or if it’s combined?
Most recycled plastics are combined, plastic quantity 7, after they’re recycled, making them just about not possible to recycle.
It’s a troublesome query to reply, that may actually solely be decided in a case by case foundation. It’s a must to go along with the very best resolution within the second.
Being educated on the problems to make an knowledgeable determination is 90% of the battle. It sounds such as you’re already there!
On complete, I’d say recycled plastic is unquestionably higher than virgin plastic.
What do you suppose? Do you agree with me?