<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jul/30/reusable-tote-bags>
"I used to keep a plastic bag of plastic bags under my kitchen sink. Like the
water in the pipes above, around which they accumulated, it seemed I had bags
in unlimited supply. A few years ago, when my city enacted a plastic bag ban,
the collection started waning. Now, I treasure the once ubiquitous sacks,
doling them out judiciously for use as diaper pail liners and stewards of wet
bathing suits, while down the hall, at the back of my coat closet, another mass
is metastasizing: totes upon totes upon totes.
They’re often referred to as reusable tote bags. And that sounds perfectly
normal. But it shouldn’t. Imagine saying “reusable backpack” or “reusable
shoes”. Most things were never intended to be used just once – not until
several decades ago, when plastics ushered in an era in which everyday goods
were designed, marketed and sold for exactly that: one, single use.
Now we know better. Doing away with single-use items to cut down on plastic
waste is a mainstream notion. And where there’s a trend, there’s a market. Cups
aren’t just cups; they’re reusable cups. Ditto reusable bottles, reusable bags,
reusable flatware, reusable straws, reusable food-storage containers.
“Marketers are pushing the product for profit, but appealing to consumers’
sensibilities for environmental friendliness,” said Aradhna Krishna, a
professor at the Stephen M Ross School of Business at the University of
Michigan.
“Reusable” is now a selling point for a host of products – largely food-related
– that should, inherently, be reusable to begin with.
We are buying it. And buying. And buying. In the pursuit of fewer throwaway
items, we’re hoarding heavy metal cups, water bottles of every conceivable size
and more bags to fill with ever more stuff – all while feeling like we’re
making the “environmental” choice."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
