When I go shopping, I am bothered by all the plastic packaging. For example, organic apples (6 pieces) wrapped in cardboard trays and plastic wrap. The plastic wrap could be recyclable, for example. Like the protective plastic film from the Swiss Paraplegic Foundation Nottwil brochure, which is even compostable. There are alternatives. Why are they not being used?
Hi @Carry78 Thank you for your message. Of course, we try to avoid plastic wherever possible. Contrary to popular belief, alternatives such as biodegradable plastic do not perform better in life cycle assessments than petroleum-based plastic, although the former are mostly made from renewable raw materials and are partially compostable. The reasons for the poor performance of biodegradable bags lie in the cultivation of renewable raw materials, such as intensive agriculture, monocultures and the use of genetically modified plants (e.g. genetically modified maize). In addition, more material has to be used for bioplastic bags in order to achieve the same stability and tear resistance. Another problem is that biodegradable materials sometimes compete with food production. For example, bioplastics are made from corn, potato or soy starch - plants that are an important source of food for many people. Last but not least, plastic bags in Switzerland do not end up in landfill sites, but in modern waste incineration plants. The energy released when the bags are incinerated is reused to produce electricity and heat, and the resulting flue gases are effectively cleaned. You can find more information here: https://generation-m.migros.ch/de/nachhaltig-leben/verpackung.html Best regards Sebastian
