You have to consider the economies of scale. A few dollars multiplied over millions of manufacturing orders and shipping costs. And that's just cost. The reaso

You have to consider the economies of scale. A few dollars multiplied over millions of manufacturing orders and shipping costs. And that's just cost. The reason I'm stressing about virgin plastic over recycled is also in consideration of the electricity you use to recycle, the water costs, transportation costs, human labor, ect. The same applies to glass and cardboard. That sand isn't coming from thin air. The cardboard wasn't made from hopes and dreams. These are physical commodities which are either as finite as natural gas (sand) or require space, water and nutrients to grow (trees for paper for cardboard). Yes, paper is biodegradable and plastic is not, but you're spending a LOT of time and energy to make something that could be better served quickly via plastic.