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I sort of wonder this too. The logic seems simple. Companies are attacked for being bad for the environment. In ways such as fossil fuel consumption it is impos

by bb2018 7y ago

I sort of wonder this too. The logic seems simple. Companies are attacked for being bad for the environment. In ways such as fossil fuel consumption it is impossible for them to change. However, in ways such as making packaging slightly lighter or of different materials it is easy to change. Companies support existing environmental groups fixated on fringe issues as a way of appearing progressive while the main issue (which would be costly) goes on touch. As a resident of California who has seen plastic straws be banned (which are highly visible but small) while millions of other types of waste are allowed I suspect it is the case.

FakeComments 7y ago
“Lightning rod activism”, where a group creates a lot of emotional discharge around a visible but useless aspect of a serious issue — but ultimately just diffuses energy and stalls progress on the core issue. It doesn’t just happen with the environment. And yes, companies fund such activism for various reasons.
esotericn 7y ago
That's more an issue of PR departments pushing out platitudes whilst not actually doing anything. The solution to plastic pollution is not 'make the container thinner' because the amount of material used is not really relevant. Two thin plastic bags are likely worse than one 3x thickness bag a pollution perspective. It would be equally silly for companies to talk about "hey we now use 3% less petrol" or whatever. They need to use 90%+ less.
- azinman2 7y ago
  It’s not about platitudes. It’s about raising awareness with a small gesture in hopes it will lead to a bigger change. It already is a pretty needless thing (especially as compostable straws exist) that accumulates in large numbers, and is purely single use. We already have had single use plastic bags banned for a long time in SF, and I cannot imagine going backwards. We need to continue moving onward... not bringing back straws but further reducing this single use plastic lifestyle.
  - esotericn 7y ago
    I think you're misreading my comment. I agree with you. I'm saying that making plastic containers a bit thinner is a platitude (greenwashing), not that reducing plastic use is a platitude. The meaningful move would be to stop producing single-use plastics entirely. A jar of jam or something that lasts a few weeks is low priority at the moment. A microwave meal is lazy. A plastic fork is just a piss take.

by bb2018 7y ago

FakeComments 7y ago

“Lightning rod activism”, where a group creates a lot of emotional discharge around a visible but useless aspect of a serious issue — but ultimately just diffuses energy and stalls progress on the core issue. It doesn’t just happen with the environment. And yes, companies fund such activism for various reasons.

esotericn 7y ago

That's more an issue of PR departments pushing out platitudes whilst not actually doing anything. The solution to plastic pollution is not 'make the container thinner' because the amount of material used is not really relevant. Two thin plastic bags are likely worse than one 3x thickness bag a pollution perspective. It would be equally silly for companies to talk about "hey we now use 3% less petrol" or whatever. They need to use 90%+ less.

azinman2 7y ago
It’s not about platitudes. It’s about raising awareness with a small gesture in hopes it will lead to a bigger change. It already is a pretty needless thing (especially as compostable straws exist) that accumulates in large numbers, and is purely single use. We already have had single use plastic bags banned for a long time in SF, and I cannot imagine going backwards. We need to continue moving onward... not bringing back straws but further reducing this single use plastic lifestyle.
- esotericn 7y ago
  I think you're misreading my comment. I agree with you. I'm saying that making plastic containers a bit thinner is a platitude (greenwashing), not that reducing plastic use is a platitude. The meaningful move would be to stop producing single-use plastics entirely. A jar of jam or something that lasts a few weeks is low priority at the moment. A microwave meal is lazy. A plastic fork is just a piss take.