Video coming soon
Manufacturing
Beyond Plastic
What is the Alternative to Throwaway Materials?
Plastic is cheap, light and incredibly useful, which is why it has spread into every corner of modern life. But throwaway products, plastic made from oil and gas, and poor waste systems have filled landfills and polluted rivers and oceans. Reuse, refill systems and better recycling can cut the damage, while plant fibers, mycelium, seaweed-based materials and carefully designed bioplastics offer alternatives for packaging, foams, films and coatings.
(Illustrated guide coming soon)
3.0overall
How this solution scores
- Impact2 / 5Plastic is made from fossil fuels, though it is a modest share of total emissions.
- Speed3 / 5Alternatives and refill systems can spread quickly.
- Cost3 / 5Substitutes still cost more than cheap virgin plastic.
- Readiness3 / 5Some replacements are mainstream, others are early.
- Nature4 / 5Directly tackles the pollution choking rivers, oceans, and soils.
