To think we are getting inferior products in the name of "environmentally friendly"

[Keyansier]

Just as the title says really. I do think it is very scary and sad for countries that have floods and fires and experience other extreme weather but is that enough reason for example, in this country, for a ban on plastic straws? Nobody I know even likes paper straws, I certainly don't. Does anyone else think that people might care more about this issue if products weren't changed for inferior versions without public consultation and people didn't get looked down upon or made to feel bad for not wanting to recycle?

Ideally the price that you pay for an item would reflect the true cost of producing it including all the "externalities" such as the environmental damage (pollution, hazard to wildlife, carbon etc) caused by producing the product and to include it's entire lifespan such as disposal.

Truly eco friendly products have a lower footprint in terms of the impact they have on the planet - therefore they should be cheaper.

The problem is we don't pay for externalities - the cost of clearing plastic pollution from a river is not borne by the consumer of the plastic products that are in it. The cost of saving people from extreme heat or flooding is not borne by the people who have been merrily pumping out lots of carbon into the atmosphere.

So requiring recycling, banning plastic straws etc is one of the few tools governments have.

Shaming people who can't be arsed to recycle is also totally fine until we can find a way to start making them pay for it

Climate change/environmental issues are only a ridiculous cause if you won't be alive much longer or have nobody you care about in life...

Climate change/environmental issues are only a ridiculous cause if you won't be alive much longer or have nobody you care about in life.

Or when we come to terms with the fact that people aren't prepared to give up what's needed in order to actually make a difference. I accept that I can't change the world and I recognise that posturing about plastic straws make no difference.

I think that's the crux. People aren't prepared to do what's required to save this planet (I'd include myself in that, irrespective of how much recycling I do or buy ethically). It simply isn't enough and personally I think we've actually gone too far with industrialization and development to go back.

Humans were never really meant to create the internet, drive around in cars or fly around in planes. It's all gone a bit wrong from the days of hunting and gathering. Quite an amazing evolution but utterly bonkers.

Don't get me wrong, I love my life and the crazy world we've created but think the world would be better off without us. Eventually when we've wiped ourselves out due to misadventure, the world will carry on in another of its various forms and our insignificant blip in the history of this planet will be forgotten.

Either that or the cordycepts will turn us into zombie fungi 🤯

cordyceps

Are you a troll or are you just having a really bad day today? Every thread you're on you're spouting craziness.

SamanthaCaine Definitely. To all of that.

Unlikely. You'd still care about the issue even if it feels futile.

To think it's a 'ridiculous cause' means you have nobody to care about or are just hugely selfish.

Well, insanity is doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different result.

That's pretty much what we're doing.

In many ways, switching to paper straws is nice but ignores the other damage, which is production, packaging and logistics. None of these feature in our consciousness as long as we consumers feel that our paper straws are preferable to plastic.

To think it's a 'ridiculous cause' means you have nobody to care about or are just hugely selfish.

Well that might be the case for you. I am neither selfish, and yes I do care about my family.

I do find the posturing and seizing on some issues, whilst ignoring the bigger problems ridiculous. Because this approach is not going to make any difference. And I am sensible enough to realise that human nature is human nature. Whilst on some level I think it's sad, I'm not going to spend the rest of my life worrying about the things / people I cannot change. What will be will be. However many plastic straws you recycle.

Suppose poverty is also a ridiculous cause' since it will always exist - except nobody would say that. So, point still stands. You can and should care if you have loved ones, not dismiss it as ridiculous.

As someone from a country that experiences constant fires and floods I'm glad more attention is being paid to how we manage our environment and if lessening our use of plastic helps with that then I'm all for it. That being said, I hate paper straws with a passion but it's not going to ruin my life if I have to use one because I have a choice. I can either use the inferior paper one I'm given or I can buy a pack of silicone, bamboo or metal straws and use them instead.

I think more needs to be done to move away from the use of plastics but I don't think paper is better either (unless it's recycled) but it's better than doing nothing. I just find them hard to drink through and some companies need to find better alternatives (looking at you Maccas) such as silicone, bamboo, metal or BYO.

I do care about poverty. Just think; another reason for hugely increased emissions is because of some countries trying to force their way out of poverty and improve living standards for their children. You can't blame them for that can you. Because you care about poverty. Even though it's helping to destroy the planet. What's more important to you?

YANBU OP. Companies are taling the p*ss

Oh and paper straws are impossible to use