Solving Our Plastic Predicament, by James



November 7, 2020


Today, a well-known nonprofit called Environment Saving Solutions (ESS) based in Portland, Oregon, finalized their program to replace all plastic bags in stores with eco-friendly, compostable bioplastic. ESS began this program because they knew that plastic was the main part of all trash and bad for the environment. The Pacific Trash Vortex, a patch of plastic and garbage the size of Texas floating in the North Pacific, is particularly troubling. ESS is supported with money and personnel from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Together, the ESS and the EPA are working together to create a new era for shoppers.

During the program, ESS and EPA have discovered how serious our plastic problem is and was. The United States was almost completely depending on petroleum for our plastic products. Because we are almost out of oil, our plastic products are about to use up all of our fuel. If ESS and EPA had not acted sooner, the U.S. plastic market would have run dry!

Luckily, the ESS and EPA acted fast enough, and they saved the U.S. economy, and a lot of nature. "We did it for the people, not the profit," says the chair of the board of ESS, a amazing man from Portland, OR, named Alex Seeker, who has dedicated his life to ESS, and saving the environment.



Posted by on

8 comments:

  1. AnonymousJanuary 7, 2014 at 8:07 AM

    I appreciate this solution to a troubling set of circumstances about plastic's place in our world. What might be the benefit to bioplastics over something completely different such as paper-only bagging at stores or intense incentives for using reusable products and bringing bags from home. I know that Hawaii has just implemented a state-wide ban on plastic bags at grocery stores...can you teach me about the costs and benefits of bioplastics vs non-plastics?

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJanuary 7, 2014 at 11:22 AM

    Well, plastics take millions of years to degrade, while bioplastics can biodegrade in a much shorter amount of time, without the human processing that regular plastics take. Bioplastics also are made of corn and other starches, while regular plastic is made of oil, and that is being rapidly used up while the price rapidly rises , so bioplastics don't only cost less,they also come from a more reliable source!

    Thanks for commenting,
    James

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ginia KingJanuary 8, 2014 at 11:13 AM

    This is a great idea! I really liked the visuals of the bioplastics "life cycle" and the video.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJanuary 8, 2014 at 6:38 PM

    Thanks! I think that the visuals are a very important part of the blog post!

    Thanks for commenting,
    James

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousJanuary 15, 2014 at 3:50 PM

    I'm a student at Punahou school, and I find that this idea of bioplastics are very important. Like you said, the bioplastics will save us oil, that will eventually run out of supply. Keep up with the eco-friendly ideas!

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousJanuary 15, 2014 at 3:59 PM

    Hi! My name is Reynn and attend Punahou School. I am glad that something is being done about plastic bags. The visuals were very interesting and made this post even better. I think that this is a genius idea.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousJanuary 15, 2014 at 4:41 PM

    Hello, My name is Jake and I'm a student at Punahou School. I am glad that the ESS has such a dedicated person as their leader, and that he was able to solve the issues relating to the plastic being consumed by the US. The video greatly added to the overall content of this, and also helped me understand the bigger picture. Nice Job!

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousJanuary 28, 2014 at 5:36 PM

    Students of Punahou School:

    Thank you for commenting. I am glad you like my blog. I think bioplastics are our solution to our plastic problem.

    Thanks again,

    James

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)