Business

Pack Man - 06 August 2008

The short answer to the question is clearly no. Ms Jeavens is doing a very good job at showing how modern life would be impossible without plastic - in all its forms.

The problem is how people take what she says. Today's argument that no plastic reduces the waste in her bin is more likely to cause another attack on plastic rather than highlight the bigger issue of poor recycling facilities.

But then it could just be that the BBC was looking for something to fill its summer schedule. It makes a nice change from those all those repeats.

Julie Elliott - 07 August 2008

I notice on Ms Jeavons blog that she is wasting less food since she started giving up plastic, which can only be a good thing.

However, surely she must realise that plastic packaging will ensure that the food products she buys arrives safely and will be fresh.

Walter Lewis - 07 August 2008

Why oh why is Packaging News giving this brainless project the credibility of featuring it on its Soapbox. There are serious issues about how we use the world's resources. The last thing they require is this headline seeking, infantile approach. Shame on you Joss for giving it some credibility!

Walter Lewis

Faraday Packaging Partnership

PS Oddly a similar response direct to the BBC blog seems to have been edited out!!!!!!!

Tony Parry - 07 August 2008

I have to agree with Pack Man - we have to avoid the crankier and "back to paper" sides of the arguments; really good recycling facilities would save a fortune and are likely to be the only effective way ahead.

Sure - there is some excess in some areas of packaging but for the most part plastic packaging has saved a fortune and brought food to us in a much fresher state.

Let's not throw out the baby with the bath water.

Josh Brooks - 12 August 2008

Walter,

Thanks for your comments. I agree that this experiment is headline grabbing and far from scientific. I'd be interested to know if the journalist is using a wooden, paper or metal keyboard to write her blog!

That said, I think that the blog does highlight the public's (or at least, the mainstream media's) terror of plastic bags and plastic generally. I think the packaging industry should have the chance to respond to that and all the other (often spurious) claims in the mainstream media about packaging - this is exactly why we set up Soap Box.

Anyway, lecture over! If anyone has any suggestions for topics we should be comvering here, please let me know at josh.brooks@haymarket.com.

Josh Brooks

Editor

Packaging News

Gillian Wight - 18 August 2008

Christine Jeavans' attempt to live without plastic for a month is certainly morally commendable. If more people took the same attitude to protecting our planet, it would be a much pleasanter place to be. However, I have to say, that is where my admiration ends.

In my view, she is looking at the concept of plastic far too naively. Of course, the material has its cons, but if we look at it from an objective point of view, it is quite simply the most revolutionary and innovative invention of the last 140 years. While I do agree that in some cases, plastic is unnecessarily over-used, for the most part, it is an incredibly time, cost and waste saving material that can’t be rivalled by any other product currently on the market.

Currently Christine Jeavans states on her blog that she is reducing her food waste without plastic. That’s great news for the time being, but it won’t be long before the balance tips as a lack of plastic starts to impact on the shelf life and longevity of her consumables. Whilst plastic is being portrayed as the bad guy for now, it’s only a matter of time before it is revealed as more of a hero than a villain.

Gillian Wight

Sun Branding Solutions

Albert Shuttleworth - 27 August 2008

Love it or hate it this debate is happening. Consumers are debating the merits of your industry. I have logged on to contribute every single day and tried hard to deliver a balanced view of the wider facts in our defence.

Sadly I am a voice in the wilderness. the fact that the rest of you seemingly cannot be bothered are do not see fit to contribute is shocking given this is a major debate that could impact your organisation.

The people contributing are largely well intentioned but naeive. They are more than happy to actually 'debate' with you so I urge you with one week to go, get on there and stick up for industry!!