Permanence versus Impermanence: The Plastic Revolution

31/1/2015

The issue

At the start of this new school year, I heard of a child that had been playing ‘teachers’ over the holidays. And guess what that child acted out as part of this scenario? It wasn’t writing on a blackboard or giving assistance with arithmetic… no, it was laminating! Not surprising, seeing as this has been a task I have also undertaken most school holidays since I started my teaching career in 2013. It has quite a therapeutic effect; feeding the pages in and watching them come slowly out the other side, infused with the warmth that melted the plastic together. The reason for lamination is usually to protect documents and displays from wear and tear, particularly those to be written on with whiteboard markers or handled frequently by students.

Over the last few months, I have been paying more attention to where my rubbish goes, and have been looking for appropriate recycling or reuse avenues as an option to landfill. It occurred to me to research how to dispose of laminated paper, and this is what I found out:

·      Plastic lamination might never break down, or might only decompose if it is broken up with moisture and warmth over time.[1]

·      Laminated paper is not recyclable, as it is a mixed material and cannot be separated.[2] Paper is broken down with water and plastic is broken down with heat.²

·      Laminated paper can be reused as a coaster or placemat, as they are water-proof,¹ or made into a divider in a folder or a dry-erase board.[3]

·      Plastic sleeves are a better option as they can be reused to protect multiple documents and can be separated at the end, and the paper recycled.²

The positives:

·      I have noticed that ‘long-lasting’, ‘weather-proof’, ‘flexible’, ‘affordable’ and ‘unbreakable’ all seem to be driving the current obsession for plastic items. Admittedly, this self-confessed ‘butter-fingers’ prefers plastic drink bottles and containers for obvious reasons!

·      Many plastics can be recycled, including plastic bags and soft packaging at Coles supermarkets, in partnership with The Red Group.[4]

The negatives:

·      Many plastics are not recyclable and recyclable plastics are often thrown into landfill bins, filling up tips and the ocean with a material that does not break down for centuries.[5] In a study in the U.S., 86% of plastic bottles were thrown into landfill bins.[6]

·      Plastic is made from petrochemicals and natural gas among other ingredients [7] and toxic chemicals, such as phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA), which are released throughout its manufacture, use and disposal, and also absorb other toxins in its environment. These toxins have been linked with reproductive and organ problems, birth defects and cancer. Edible fish are being contaminated through eating plastic in the ocean.⁵

·      Plastic manufacture and recycling release dioxins, carcinogenic compounds, into the air. Often plastic recycling workers in Asia, where some of the main plants are, do not have the appropriate protective clothing to stop them from breathing in these chemicals.⁷ Plastics also give off toxic gasses, phthalates, into the air even after they are made. This is often the ‘new’ smell that goes with a soft plastic product. Phthalates have been associated with male fertility problems, worsened asthma and allergy symptoms, birth defects and behavioural problems.^{7
What do you do with a material that continues to be made but does not readily break down??? 
There is surely a reason that even the human body goes back to dust!}

Points for action:

Follow the recycling steps, IN ORDER!

1. REFUSE single-use plastics. Instead, bring your own shopping and produce bags to the market. Use reusable bottles. Bring your own containers for take-away or ask for non-plastic disposable packaging.

2. REDUCE waste. Choose products with the least plastic packaging. Cut back on plastic disposable goods like razors, straws, cups, plates and silverware.

3. REUSE preferably non-toxic containers and goods to make less waste.

4. RECYCLE plastics as a last option, after exhausting the first three options.⁵

Look for alternatives to plastic

^·      Glass and ceramic that do not contain lead are safe, non-toxic, inert alternatives to plastic.[8]

^·       Choose glass bottles and jars over plastic ones.⁶

^·       Choose biodegradable packaging, such as paper, cardboard and bamboo.⁶

·      Take your own containers and bottles with you when eating or drinking out.⁶

·      Take your own reusable shopping bags with you. Paper, material or string bags work well![9]

·      Use crockery at a party, or consider using a compostable plate or serviette for guests to rest their finger food on.

·      Consider a plastic-free lifestyle! Check out: http://myplasticfreelife.com/plasticfreeguide/ for 100 steps to living without plastic!

     My next steps? Using protective sleeves instead of laminating, and gradually eliminating plastic from my grocery shopping… Let's see how it goes!

     Yours musingly,

     The Learning Philosopher

 

---

[1]http://www.answers.com/Q/How_long_it_takes_to_degrade_a_laminated_brown_paper_notebook_cover

[2] http://www.scu.edu/sustainability/stewardship/recyclingfaq.cfm?c=10890

[3] http://www.keenforgreen.com/recycle/is_laminated_paper_recyclable

[4] http://recyclingnearyou.com.au/news/display/553

[5] http://recyclingnearyou.com.au/news/display/553

[6] http://www.banthebottle.net/articles/plastic-water-bottles-impose-health-and-environmental-risks/

[7] http://www.momscleanairforce.org/whats-plastic-got-to-do-with-clean-air/

[8] http://www.lifewithoutplastic.com/store/glass_and_ceramic#.VMy2N0vsu0s

[9] http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-tech/sustainable/5-plastic-substitutes.htm#page=2

A Reflection on 'Seeing The World'

I have noticed a pattern in my generation that it seems reasonable, and in fact even mandatory, to 'see the world'. I have been on exchange to Argentina myself, visited my husband's homeland in Peru and been on a few touristic trips up the Eastern coast of Australia. Although beautiful places, I did sense some emptiness and futility in the cultural push to attempt to 'see everything there is to see' on this incredible planet. 

Surely, for everything you see, there are one million other things that you don't see, and in order for every person on the planet to see every famous landmark, the planet would heat up at a multiplied rate from the plane fumes, one would lose the sense of awe in each location, and no one would be in one spot long enough to create and maintain these touristic treasures! On the contrary, so much traffic would probably destroy most of these natural and man-made treasures and cultures. Besides, plane trips are extremely expensive and often come at the cost of not owning property, for example, and while 'seeing' and 'experiencing' are all very well, aren't long-term relationships and the mutually beneficial work in community more rewarding and productive in the long term? 

All this said, I salute those travellers who dedicate themselves to enjoying eco-tourism, volunteering in ecological and community projects, and attending conventions and conferences on sustainable living and the like, in order to multiply the positive effects of these ideas back in their home towns and cities.

This poem came about as I noticed how far I travelled to arrive in Far North Queensland (seeing only sky and clouds on the way), in contrast to the richness of experience that I derived from starting a nature journal once in a fixed spot up there, beginning to look much more closely at what surrounded me.

Travelling Too Far, Too Fast

The faster we go, the further we travel.

The further we travel, the less we notice.

The less we notice, the less we observe.

The less we observe, the less we understand.

The less we understand, the less we value.

The less we value, the less we protect.

The less we protect, the more we destroy.

The more we destroy, the less there is left to see…

It is better to know and love every insect, leaf, flower, tree and bird in your own neighbourhood than it is to travel the world and notice nothing.

The Learning Philosopher

For further reading, see:

‘8 reasons to do Nature Study’ in the Charlotte Mason approach

https://simplycharlottemason.com/blog/8-reasons-to-do-nature-study/

‘Nature Study’ – more information

https://simplycharlottemason.com/planning/curriculum-guide/math-science-language-arts/nature-study/

All about Nature Study and its benefits, paraphrased from the complete works of Charlotte Mason, Volume I (see Part II)

https://www.amblesideonline.org/CMM/M1complete.html#045 

Willing Workers on Organic Farms (WWOOF)

http://www.wwoof.com.au

Conservation Volunteers

http://www.conservationvolunteers.com.au

Ecotourism Australia

http://www.ecotourism.org.au

The Real ‘Super’ Markets

Walking through the Gembrook Market today, I enjoyed perusing the home-grown fruits and vegetables, fragrant handmade soaps and candles, colourful woollen clothes, sparkly jewellery, and smooth, wood-turned ornaments. Everyone was friendly and relaxed, enjoying the winter sunshine. A skilled quena player from Bolivia set the mood with his haunting music, and ended up becoming a new friend after some conversation in Spanish, sharing about experiences as migrants in Australia. We also got chatting with Jen from ‘Jen’s handmade soaps’ about her business and what it was like being part of the local market scene in Eastern Victoria. We left after a good hour or more there, laden with carrots, apples, lemons, honey and soap.

This was a rare day out with the leisure to browse and enjoy quality, local produce. The trap that we usually fall into in my family is that of leaving purchases of food, gifts and other products until they have run out, and then the only place open at that time that sells them is the large franchise down the road. Everything that one could possibly need is on offer in these supermarkets, discount stores, chemists and other large-scale chain stores. Items are usually sold for a reasonable price and there is a wide range from which to select one’s purchase.

But who really benefits? The original producers are far away, unknown, faceless workers who, one can only hope, are paid a fair wage for their labour. In order to produce such a large quantity of food, land and animals on the supply farms are stretched to the limit and often lose their quality as a result. The materials for non-fresh food products may come from a place entirely foreign to where they are assembled, and the owners and designers of the products sit in boardrooms in wealthy countries, planning how to reach a wide target audience with the minimum cost and the maximum profit. Foreign products are often subsidised to make them more competitive than their Australian counterparts, taking profit away from our magnificent country. The stores themselves may or may not even be owned in Australia, let alone locally, and look the same wherever you go.

To give credit where it is due, many supermarkets are now putting photos of the Australian farmers on some fresh food products. This helps to at least put a face to the food. There are also products that are certified ‘Australian made’ and ‘Australian owned’ and state that they are made by a family business. Purchases of these items do help to stop the ever-present infiltration of home brand replacements that end up closing down many a medium-sized business in favour of the franchise giants’ more ‘economical’ cheap, mass-produced versions.

In comparison with the franchises, products in local farmers’ and craft markets are unique and have a story. Every stallholder knows their wares inside out, having designed and made them themselves. Every purchase directly benefits the local community and local people, and products are often made in ways that use less chemicals and large machinery, and help to maintain skills learnt in families and community settings.

It may take more planning, browsing and may cost a little more, but can you imagine the benefit to everyone if local markets were the main place to buy and sell the items needed for everyday living? Imagine the creativity, the blossoming of small businesses, the new friendships made and the skills that would be learnt.

Could it be that local produce and craft markets are the real ‘super’ markets?

Comment time…

What would you like to buy in a local market?

What would you sell at a local market?

What is one item that you would like to learn to make yourself?

For more information see the websites below:

http://www.australianmade.com.au/why-buy-australian-made/

http://www.marketguide.com.au/vic-1.htm

http://www.whitehat.com.au/victoria/markets/marketsv.asp