Comments on: Plastic Challenge: Margaret, Week 4

By: Beth Terry

Beth Terry — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 09:02:02 +0000

Margaret, does the Anarres tooth powder have a plastic lid? I can’t remember now. But Tracey’s awesome and I’ll bet if you asked her to put it in a plastic-free container she would find a way to do it.

I’m actually right now trying a toothpowder from another online company, but I’m at a conference right now and can’t look it up. But I’ll blog about it. It comes in a metal tin.

Also, Lush came out with Toothy Tabs, which are great except they are expensive and too much packaging per product in my book, even though it’s a cardboard box. But still, they work great.

By: Margaret

Margaret — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 06:19:59 +0000

Ok, latest on the toothpaste front:

Back in August 2008 you had a post about hair Product, and had a comment referencing Anarres. They have a toothpaste or toothpowder in a glass bottle. :)
http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/122

By: Beth Terry

Beth Terry — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 04:54:07 +0000

Should be. But keep in mind that plastic recycling is mostly downcycling, and that recycling plastic rarely closes the loop. Have you read any of my blogs about plastic recycling?

By: Margaret

Margaret — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 04:05:56 +0000

Yeah, true.

For toothpaste, I just started reading http://zerowastehome.blogspot.com/ and came across a mention of tooth powder. I’ve never heard of it before! I guess it’s probably the same idea as using baking soda, though.

It looks like mostly come in plastic bottles, but bottles should be easier to recycle than tubes.

By: Beth Terry

Beth Terry — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 20:32:40 +0000

When you go visit Far West Fibers, be sure and ask them what actually happens to the plastic that they collect. From their web site, it looks like they probably collect the material, separate it, bale it, and sell it. It would be good to know where the plastic film goes because most plastic these days is shipped to China. There are some companies in the U.S. that recycle plastic bags into new plastic bags (although the recycled content is a small fraction of the total plastic in the bags) and plastic decking material.

The point is that it’s downcycling, and if it gets loose in the environment, it’s not biodegradable. Tissue paper, on the other hand, will pretty much dissolve in the environment.

This reminds me I need to contact my Safeway and find out what happens to the plastic bags they collect.

By: Margaret

Margaret — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:47:30 +0000

The takeback program is through Fill-air.
http://www.sealedairprotects.com/NA/EN/sustainability/recycle_inflate.aspx

I’m always debating with myself about the plastic versus less packaging. There’s a local private recycling company, Far West Fibers, that takes film plastic – I’m not sure how specific the type of film is, it includes grocery bags. Going there has been on my errand list for a while now…

The TP at work is recycled, but I don’t remember what %. The landlord does janitorial stuff. I’m on my firm’s green team and I think we inquired about it at some point, but I don’t recall the specifics.

By: Beth Terry

Beth Terry — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 04:24:29 +0000

Margaret, who has the take back recycling program? Amazon or Fill-Air?

About the toilet paper dilemma… my feeling is that those thin pieces of tissue paper around rolls of Seventh Gen TP are better than plastic around a huge case of TP because the paper is biodegradable but the plastic is not. And the recycling rate for film of that kind is nil. And even if you have a place to take it to be recycled, the chances it will actually be recycled these days are slim.

But if the concern is the amount of packaging without regard to the type, then you’re right that buying a huge plastic-wrapped case is less packaging than small rolls wrapped in paper which come in a cardboard box. Also, is the TP that is set out at your work recycled? And if so, what percentage of recycled content does it have? Always more questions… :-)

Here’s an idea for your dentist… have them check out the Eco Dentistry Association for ideas for de-plasticking the dental office.