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I guess we’ll have to go back to our old friends glass and copper. Petrochemicals were a fad anyway; glass and copper have been with us the whole time.

rob74 1y ago
Well yeah, if we insist on continuing to burn our limited supply of hydrocarbons, soon(ish) we won't have enough for making plastics either. Or plastics will become prohibitively expensive...
- nisegami 1y ago
  The eventual end goal should probably be production of hydrocarbons using solar power and CO2/water. In other words, synthetic photosynthesis.
  - ifwinterco 1y ago
    Yep, there isn't exactly a shortage of hydrogen, carbon or energy in the world. Currently we get all three from the same place, but there are other approaches
- igor47 1y ago
  This is not true in a practical sense. There is a lot of petrochemicals still out there and our ability to recover marginal reserves keeps improving. I was really into the idea of peak oil when I was younger but it really hasn't panned out. Rather, if we continue to using oil, we'll cook ourselves and drown ourselves in plastic.
ang_cire 1y ago
Though sand is actually becoming a problem commodity to source now, too: https://www.clarknexsen.com/the-global-sand-crisis-examining-causes-consequences-and-sustainable-alternatives/ https://www.clarknexsen.com/the-global-sand-crisis-examining... https://scitechdaily.com/the-sand-crisis-no-one-is-talking-about/ https://scitechdaily.com/the-sand-crisis-no-one-is-talking-a... https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20191108-why-the-world-is-running-out-of-sand https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20191108-why-the-world-is...
- WJW 1y ago
  That's mostly a type of sand needed for concrete, sand which is relatively "young" and has not yet had the sharp edges ground off by wind and water. You need sharp sand in construction, because "round" sand leads to weaker concrete. Sand for glassmaking is more than abundant enough for all but the most distant futures, and even then glass is extremely recyclable.
  - masfuerte 1y ago
    There was an article on here (sometime in the last year?) claiming that the concrete strength issue is a myth. Apparently it's based on a very narrow claim in a single academic paper that's been wildly extrapolated.
excalibur 1y ago
Copper is expensive. If I were looking for a plastic alternative, I would follow the beaten path and start with aluminum.

rob74 1y ago

Well yeah, if we insist on continuing to burn our limited supply of hydrocarbons, soon(ish) we won't have enough for making plastics either. Or plastics will become prohibitively expensive...

nisegami 1y ago
The eventual end goal should probably be production of hydrocarbons using solar power and CO2/water. In other words, synthetic photosynthesis.
- ifwinterco 1y ago
  Yep, there isn't exactly a shortage of hydrogen, carbon or energy in the world. Currently we get all three from the same place, but there are other approaches
igor47 1y ago
This is not true in a practical sense. There is a lot of petrochemicals still out there and our ability to recover marginal reserves keeps improving. I was really into the idea of peak oil when I was younger but it really hasn't panned out. Rather, if we continue to using oil, we'll cook ourselves and drown ourselves in plastic.

ang_cire 1y ago

Though sand is actually becoming a problem commodity to source now, too: https://www.clarknexsen.com/the-global-sand-crisis-examining-causes-consequences-and-sustainable-alternatives/ https://www.clarknexsen.com/the-global-sand-crisis-examining... https://scitechdaily.com/the-sand-crisis-no-one-is-talking-about/ https://scitechdaily.com/the-sand-crisis-no-one-is-talking-a... https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20191108-why-the-world-is-running-out-of-sand https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20191108-why-the-world-is...

WJW 1y ago
That's mostly a type of sand needed for concrete, sand which is relatively "young" and has not yet had the sharp edges ground off by wind and water. You need sharp sand in construction, because "round" sand leads to weaker concrete. Sand for glassmaking is more than abundant enough for all but the most distant futures, and even then glass is extremely recyclable.
- masfuerte 1y ago
  There was an article on here (sometime in the last year?) claiming that the concrete strength issue is a myth. Apparently it's based on a very narrow claim in a single academic paper that's been wildly extrapolated.

excalibur 1y ago

Copper is expensive. If I were looking for a plastic alternative, I would follow the beaten path and start with aluminum.