On a remote Australian island, the birds are so full of plastic they crunch

They don’t need to be.

Things must be shelf stable for months or years and that requires aseptic packaging in plastic. Plus preservatives and fresheners that are accumulating inside you. Capitalism.

You jest but we can make non plastic Ridgid biofoams from other materials. I think it would be better for the planet.

You can make both leather and biofoams from mushrooms.

I think that counts as medical.

Metal scissors will be more expensive and likely still take a set and not work eventually, perhaps even sooner than a plastic bit.

Totally agree. Plastic is useful. It's great for medical, sterilized, environments. It's great for emergencies. It's *terrible* for almost everything else.

*If you'd like to read a relevant anecdote about plastics, please continue:*

I'm currently **struggling** with the plastic industry on my keyboards right now. I have a 2016 Macbook Pro, but the scissor mechanism on my key broke on the board (not the key). In order to replace the keyboard, I'd have to spend $200-$400 on it. So, it's basically only good for recycling for parts now since the value of the Macbook Pro 2016 is basically the cost of the keyboard replacement. Someday, I might use it for just the hardware (e.g., on a docking station), but I want a laptop for - you know - walking around.

Instead, I "rescued" a Lenovo Thinkpad from eBay for $60. Unfortunately, the scissor mechanism on the *same key* broke last night. I got the laptop yesterday afternoon! But at least I can replace the whole keyboard myself for $30 so I guess I'll have a working laptop by Saturday night. Assuming no other plastic things break.

Anyways, my point is that plastic - especially plastic with a short lifetime - sucks. They should just use teeny metal bits for the scissor mechanism. Give my laptop keyboards some umph and durability. Stop building things that inevitable (apparently) will break!

I look forward to leather bicycle helmets filled with cotton and rubber.

>I would go so far to say ALL plastics need to be banned … with exceptions made for medical, military and space applications.

This is why hyperbole is meaningless.

Amen. Wash a fucking spoon. Drink from the glass. Use alternative packaging for food.

Whatever happed to soybean wax paper?! Water resistant, biodegradable.

I would go so far to say ALL plastics need to be banned ... with exceptions made for medical, military and space applications.

That's just, like, your opinion, MyOpinion@lemm.ee.

There are things that can't be replaced, however there is no reason we should be dumping it into the ocean.

If we must have plastic, it must incinerated with carbon capture - that's a cost but it's a cost that must be incorporated into the purchase of the raw polymers. Japan does not have a single use plastic problem, despite almost everything being wrapped in single use plastic.

All single use plastic needs to be banned today.

Taxidermists hate this one trick.