MYTH V/S FACTS
As we are all scrambling for solutions to reverse climate change, there are some false solutions that we would like to warn you about... solutions that are "GREEN WASHING" and can lead to bigger problems.
Paper Cup
Drinking hot beverage in papercup is equivalent to ingesting micro-plastics. Paper also has a high enviornmental foot print compared to plastic when used as single use item. Replacing plastic cup with plastic lined paper cup is a bad solution
[More reading: Is Paper the new plastic? The disposable cup crisis The wired ]
Biodegradable Pads
In recent times, multiple sanitary napkin brands that have christened themselves as ‘eco-friendly, bio-degradable and better for the body’. They are wanting in disclosure of all the materials used and the composting procedure and time-frame for complete bio-degradation. In the absence of these answers, they are are also part of the greenwashing brigade.
For more reading: https://www.greenthered.in/single-post/2019/08/17/biodegradable-sanitary-pads-testing-the-tall-claims
Biodegradable Pads
In recent times, multiple sanitary napkin brands that have christened themselves as ‘eco-friendly, bio-degradable and better for the body’. They are wanting in disclosure of all the materials used and the composting procedure and time-frame for complete bio-degradation. In the absence of these answers, they are are also part of the greenwashing brigade.
For more reading: https://www.greenthered.in/single-post/2019/08/17/biodegradable-sanitary-pads-testing-the-tall-claims
Micro-incinerators
Small scale incinerators are being promoted as a way of dealing with sanitary waste at source. These operate are much lower temperatures (300-400deg) than what is mandated as per law (800-1200deg) resulting in release of cancerous dioxins. Also because of the moisture content in the used pads, they emit thick black smoke that makes them immensely polluting. In many places that these are installed, they are not even operational for these reasons.
For more reading: Eco femme, swmrt, WhyBurnWaste
Non-woven bags
Single-use non-woven polypropylene bags are frequently promoted as being eco friendly, while they are worse. People mistake them for cloth bags, but they are made using plastic polymers. Hence difficult to biodegrade. These bags are a menace for waste management, as they disintegrate easily and are difficult to recycle and block drains and hurt birds etc.
How to recognise:
they are not stitched but are heat-sealed.
they tear easily with bare hands
For more reading: https://toxicslink.org/publications/reports/environmental-illusion-the-non-woven-bags
Non-woven bags
Single-use non-woven polypropylene bags are frequently promoted as being eco friendly, while they are worse. People mistake them for cloth bags, but they are made using plastic polymers. Hence difficult to biodegrade. These bags are a menace for waste management, as they disintegrate easily and are difficult to recycle and block drains and hurt birds etc.
How to recognise:
they are not stitched but are heat-sealed.
they tear easily with bare hands
For more reading: https://toxicslink.org/publications/reports/environmental-illusion-the-non-woven-bags
24-hr composters
In recent times, there are several companies selling these machines which look sophisticated and promise to produce compost from organic waste in 24 hours. Any composting process will take anywhere between 15-45 days based on miscrobes and other conditions. These machines instead burn the waste, kill all microbes and remove nitrogen both of which are must for compost. What comes out is just carbon. Converting organic waste to compost is the right way to manage this waste, but 24-hour composters are a #FalseSolution.
For more reading: https://savitahiremath.com/category/24-hr-composting-machines/
Compostable Plastic Bag
Many retailers and e-tailers are using compostable bags as produce bags. While a handful of bags are made from corn starch and are compostable, most others are fraud duplicates and have a good amount of polyethylene. Corn starch bags do not have the strength to hold 1 kg of tomatoes. Even if they are genuine, why should food be used to make use-and-throw bags? Can our waste workers distinguish compostable bags and regular plastic bags? Instead of compost pile, if the corn starch bags are put in dry waste, they block the filters in our recycling systems.
Detailed analysis here (courtesy 2bin1bag.in)
Compostable Plastic Bag
Many retailers and e-tailers are using compostable bags as produce bags. While a handful of bags are made from corn starch and are compostable, most others are fraud duplicates and have a good amount of polyethylene. Corn starch bags do not have the strength to hold 1 kg of tomatoes. Even if they are genuine, why should food be used to make use-and-throw bags? Can our waste workers distinguish compostable bags and regular plastic bags? Instead of compost pile, if the corn starch bags are put in dry waste, they block the filters in our recycling systems.
Detailed analysis here (courtesy 2bin1bag.in)