If you're interested in stuff about packaging, food miles etc.

[littlefrog]

then have a look at this

I've just been reading it, and it's really interesting. Was particularly struck by their condemnation of 'degradable' plastic bags.

What do people think?

Will have to read some of that later but so far am shocked. Thought paper bags were better than plastic. Hey, may have skim-read it wrongly...
Ta for link!

Interesting reading.
Make syou think, even more.

Yes, I know, I was surprised by some of it. A few things that struck me:

• carbon footprint of a paper bag something like twice that of equivalent plastic
• maximum 'value' you get out of recycling paper/plastic is about 50% (ie it takes half the energy to recycle that it does to start from fresh)
• degradable and starch-based plastics are worse than 'real' plastic, because they mess up recycling, and (in the case of starch) are extremely energy-intensive to make.

Thing is, there's still nowhere near enough information to allow us to make sensible choices. For instance, I can compost a paper bag/cardboard punnet, but I can't recycle a plastic mushroom punnet. Even though the paper one takes more energy to make, the fact that it can be recycled means half the energy can be recouped - does that make it better again? And what about the fact that paper is 'present day' carbon, not fossil carbon (plastic)?

they are proposing to reuse the plastic, I think?

I hope so, that would be the most logical thing to do