To ask what one thing you would ban to help the environment?

[AngryBirdsNoMore]

Following on from @GADday’s well meaning thread about disposable sanitary products being an option to phase out to help the environment - what one thing would you ban to help the environment?

Let’s not get into sanitary products again. That thread makes clear that disposable sanitary products are probably here to stay for a range of reasons…

Ill go first:

Private planes. I’m struggling to think of any reason why they’re necessary especially for short flights.

Take away cups for hot drinks. Buy yourself a Yeti cup or cheaper and use that.

Seems like some posters aren’t aware that you can get genuinely biodegradable wipes these days.

Really? Thought that wasn't true

Ban council tax for anyone gardening in an environmentally friendly way.
We have to stop growing grains for meat production, 80% of wheat goes to animal feed. Most of that could go back to wild.
Stop nimbism, we try to tell Africa, India, Brazil to protect their wild lands but we can't even tolerate badgers ffs. The uplands are essentially unproductive and should be turned back to woodlands, yes it's a culture but just like coal mining it's run its course. The idea the public like to see barren field and stone walls is absolute trash, I would much prefer to walk in rich wooded forests.
All farmers should have to run a percentage of land back to wild, every grower knows they have an unproductive area that it is non profitable to be growing on anyway.
Flying has to be restricted, weekend breaks abroad are criminal
Fyi, riverford farm home deliveries are plastic free
Food should not be subsidised anymore, let it be it's true value and the ability of the average consumer to buy crap they don't need will drop.

No honestly didn't know this, if I could get compostable ones that would be really useful. Are they biodegradable even in landfill?

Totally agree with those that just say humans. We are a plague, and yes, if we were asked to vote on exterminating the population I would say yes and I would give my life up willingly.

Plastic drinks bottles and make them all cans or glass. With a deposit scheme for the glass bottles and cans, so people can get x amount per item returned.

UPF

Are biodegradable wipes really a thing outside of lab conditions
https://citizensustainable.com/biodegradable-wipes-better

Patio heaters (pointless and we are heating the earth enough!)
Disposable BBQs (because they cause massive fires (in the hands of idiots))

They do. And?
Some people are in a position to cycle. Many people aren’t.

@TheCountessofFitzdotterel

More people can cycle than drive

Yes, they are @Pestispeeved. Lots of inaccuracies on that (rather biased) website.

I know that this may sound insensitive and I apologise if it’s offensive but something we could and should do is have an honest discussion about the quality of life experienced by those who are over 60/70/80/90.

Those who are happy and healthy we need and value: those who have advanced dementia and whose bodies won’t allow them to live without pain should be allowed death with dignity.

We need a discussion about the costs of supporting a rapidly aging and infirm population. Our grandchildren would thank us if we began that conversation given the predicted numbers of young people VS older dependent people from 2100. Environmentally this is an important issue.

Agree with PP. I could make a huge list of things that I don't use and which are bad for the environment (make up, gel nails, pretty much every drink which isn't tap water,...) but this would understandably cause protests from people who do value these things.

I do however think there are some quick wins which won't negatively impact people. And we've seen such improvements from reducing plastic bags which did negatively impact everyone but we all adapted.

Glitter

Single use plastic bottles (i like the recycling ideas up thread like in Germany)

Unused buildings being lit at night - both inside and the outside of the building. Utterly pointless.

Plastic tat used in party bags, crackers and as stocking fillers. Utter waste of resources.

Vast majority of things stored in the cloud/on servers. I mean seriously, how many emails are stored which don't need to be? How many photos? It all has a huge, unseen environmental impact

@Lovecleansheets its already apparent where I live we have the highest population of elderly in the whole of Scotland, all the young people go away to uni and don’t come back so we already have a severe shortage of carers and care homes. I dread getting older so am planning an advance directive so I won’t be pumped full of antibiotics if I have dementia or have invasive cancer surgery/treatment

I know it is a biased website @Tippexy so are the manufacturers ones.

Some flushable wipes seem to become less degradable after storage https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-86971-z anyone up for doing a meta analysis of the available papers?

No doubt, but there’s a big gap between ‘I know how to ride a bike’ and ‘it would be the safe and efficient way to get my kids to school.’

Private jets
glitter
helium balloons
plastic grass
fast fashion, ie primark

im sure there are more,but they are the obvious

@TheCountessofFitzdotterel

That gap being?

I and many of my friends do it daily

In the same way people learn to drive cars, I guess they can learn to cycle efficiently

Private water companies
The Tories
climate-change deniers.

''@Redebs
Second homes
Carnivorous pets
Motor sports''

So, to save the planet you are going to cull cats and dogs?...

I think I might add ''idiots'' to my initial list.

Birth

Until all the unattended nuclear power plants/reactors went into melt down at least.
Humans have really fucked up the planet.

So many things:
Plastic grass
Single use wipes (makeup removal, bottom ones - any and all of them)
Single use plastic bottles
Plastic around every cucumber and swede etc in supermarkets
Primark
Plastic toys in kindereggs