this post was submitted on 28 Jul 2023
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Environment
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Environmental and ecological discussion, particularly of things like weather and other natural phenomena (especially if they're not breaking news).
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Most PET doesn't make it back into the loop. There can even be more demand for rPET than there is supply, which will definitely affect places like AU that mandate rPET use. There is also the problem of maintaining the needed quality of the material throughout the loop, as some PET products require higher standards, so some rPet drops out eventually. Even here there isn't a perfect system. I'd guess that aluminum, a similar "endlessly recyclable" material, has the same issues.
The real problem is that the first "R", "Reduce (consumption)" was quickly forgotten in a consumer world. Add to that planned obsolescence and it's no wonder how we got here.
As long as the rich continue to have nice things, a message of “don't have nice things” will win few hearts and minds. We humans are jealous creatures, and for good reason: it's how we protect ourselves from others taking advantage of us.