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econads

@Ailbhe
If someone tells you something plastic is compostable, read "turns onto microplastics and forever chemicals". Biodegradable is also measured in the lab under specific conditions and temperatures, not the variable ones you find in the ground.
@renwillis @sinituulia

28 August at 11:46 | Wall-to-wall | Open on mendeddrum.org
5 comments
Ailbhe
Ailbhe

@econads @renwillis @sinituulia (my coffee pods vanish in my compost bin quite quickly, especially if someone stirs it occasionally)

28 August at 12:09 | Open on mendeddrum.org
econads

@Ailbhe
Well the thing about microplastics is they're not visable with the human eye. I can't speak to the coffee pods actually, but I'm basing this on some digging I did after a debate with family about "biodegradable" plastic bags. Basically all the research that I could find was done by the plastics companies or industry bodies, and it was all "in the lab under x-y deg C, certain pH etc. I'd be interested to see some real independent research.
@renwillis @sinituulia

28 August at 13:14 | Open on mendeddrum.org
Ailbhe

@econads @renwillis @sinituulia "biodegradable plastics" and "bioplastics" aren't the same thing, the plastic bags that were a big deal in the UK 20 years ago were made of quite different materials from the compostable things now. If you put anything in a "biodegradable" bag in the attic, it's surrounded by a pile of tiny fragile flakes now. And if anything compost heaps preserve them.

28 August at 13:38 | Open on mendeddrum.org
chico

@econads
Also, compostable plastics add carbon to the carbon cycle, which means a part of that will be carbon dioxide.

So if the precursors of that material are fossil in nature, we get more emissions.
@Ailbhe @renwillis @sinituulia

28 August at 16:10 | Open on mstdn.social
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