I'm all for reducing plastic consumption

But isn't it kinda fked up a consumer can't even get a plastic bag after spending money at a store, meanwhile companies have NO restrictions on how much plastic (or any kind of packaging material) they can use for their products?

In a lot of cases, a bag is a lot more useful than packaging as well, and can actually be reused.

Why are these things being limited at the consumer level (when things are already produced) rather than the production level?

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FloorGenAdm · 51-55, M

Seems to me paper envelopes would be better recyclable if they'd remove those plastic windows. ♻️

caccoon · 36-40

@FloorGenAdm yeah I think it is done to eliminate an entire other process of printing on the envelope individually. Which makes sense to me. We can remove the windows (I do)

cherokeepatti · 61-69, F

@FloorGenAdm most of the companies that send bills these days don’t have the plastic windows in them.

Classified · M

It feels like that it's only for show doesn't it?

NerdyPotato · M

A lot of plastic "reduction" is indeed done by transporting it to the supermarket in the exact same way as before but ripping some off before putting the products on the shelves. That obviously doesn't help at all.

As for bags: we used to get a plastic bag everywhere without asking if we needed one, even when buying one item, just so we'd carry their logo around. Now that we need to pay, stores ask first and most people decline, so that's a good development. But it's ridiculous that payment was needed to accomplish that.

caccoon · 36-40

@NerdyPotato yeah but I don't even know why it's trying to be limited at the consumer level at all

It doesn't do much good in comparison to what could be achieved by having strict guidelines about how companies are allowed to package their products

NerdyPotato · M

@caccoon true. All that individually wrapped produce that could easily have been delivered in just crates, candy that's double or triple wrapped in the shelves and probably a few more times before, single use bottles that are crushed when returned instead of washed and refilled like before, ...

But sure, ban plastic straws while still allowing plastic cups, plastic lids and plastic wrappers for paper straws. 🙄

caccoon · 36-40

@NerdyPotato exactly

cherokeepatti · 61-69, F

Yes it is. Some stores allow customers to buy a thicker plastic bag as a reusable bag. Did that a few times in Commie-fornia when on vacation.

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caccoon · 36-40

@cherokeepatti those still exist and I buy them instead of the plastic ones

I am talking like less useful packaging, like the stuff that's formed around the product. I don't know what you'd call it. Like the ones that would form around, say a videogame controller. Completely useless for anything else

cherokeepatti · 61-69, F

@caccoon oh yeah I understand now. I think it’s to prevent product breakage for more expensive items.

caccoon · 36-40

@cherokeepatti sure, but in many cases, I'd say they could limit the amount of plastic used, which is the point I'm trying to make

SW-User

Definitely that should have more restrictions

caccoon · 36-40

@SW-User yep 😔

CountScrofula · 41-45, M

It's same as the plastic straw deal. No this isn't an industry problem it's a consumption one and we're the bad guys.

Yeah plastic use is Extremely Bad but this kind of consumers-are-to-blame attitude completely skips the fact that shit like tires and synthetic textiles are the source of most microplastics and -that- is a question of what we're producing and in what quantities and how we deal with the waste.

caccoon · 36-40

@CountScrofula yessssss!! Fuck

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