Comments on: A Bittersweet Symphony called D2W

By: KidBean

KidBean — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 23:51:56 +0000

Thanks for this informative post! I’m a retailer and I’ve just started researching d2w since one of my suppliers began packaging all of their products in it. I definitely prefer the precautionary principle, especially in light of our recent experiences with BPA and phthalates, so I’m very reluctant to trust d2w won’t leach. I also have concerns about contamination of the soil, groundwater, and air AND of the release of more CO2.

It sounds like it may make disposables a tiny step better, but sustainably-produced reusables are still a MUCH better option in my opinion.

By: Adie

Adie — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 08:18:19 +0000

Honestly, what a load of rubbish. He asked a school teacher about these “heavy metals”, a term which is considered to be nonsense in scientific circles, its a phrase used by sensationalist media.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_metal_%28chemistry%29

I think you dont want a solution to the plastic because you have nothing less to moan about.

This looks to me like a good solution.

By: Fake Plastic Fish

Fake Plastic Fish — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 21:16:01 +0000

Hi Anonymous. I have actually brought up the point about methane gas here:

http://www.fakeplasticfish.com/2008/11/contest-answer-biobags-okay-for-compost.html

That said, I do thing that bio-based bags are a better choice when they can be composted properly. And I feel like we need to be pushing ourselves and our communities to be properly composting our food and other green waste instead of sending it to the landfill where it too gives off methane gas.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:39:55 +0000

I've been researching this matter as an aside to my Environmental Studies course. I'm also a mature student – have a kid and everything – I use bags I've made myself, either from scrap material, or crocheted cotton string bags (which are like the TARDIS – they just seem to grow as I need).
What no one seems to have focussed on yet is that biodegrading plastic releases CO2, or Methane (depending on whether it's decomposing in aerobic or anaerobic conditions) – which is an even more damaging greenhouse gas. Right now it seems to me that if we HAVE to use plastic it's actually better to use non-biodegradable plastic which will return the carbon back to the earth from whence it came, and keep it there.
It's not pretty, it has it's own environmental problem for wildlife, and I don't like it, but on balance I think it is the lesser of two evils.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 26 May 2009 02:03:36 +0000

My first awareness of d2w came today, when I received a newspaper wrapped in a bag made with the d2w additive, so I started doing Internet research on it (and this blog came up in that search). Thank you Beth for obtaining the paper listing the metals that they may be using. The Symphony websites don't list them, and neither do the Material Safety Data Sheets for their products. I also have chemistry training, and indeed I agree with Solvig that I wouldn't worry at all about manganese or iron, and only slightly about cobalt. I still consider nickel to have a level of toxicity that would want me to investigate this further though.

The biggest (gaping) hole I see in the PDF note they sent you, though, is that it mentions SOIL accumulation and PLANT uptake, but it doesn't even mention leaching into FOODS which might be stored in plastic containers made with the d2w additive, and which would then be eaten. I'd feel a bit more comfortable with this technology if they were a bit more forthcoming with the study data on THAT aspect. Just saying it complies with EU Directive 2002/72/EC doesn't tell me much.

That having been said, I do agree with some other posters: it's probably not a perfect technology, but any help with making plastics easier to break down (without causing further harm) is a least a step in the right direction. However I'm also a firm believer in reuse, and have been reusing bags (sometimes hundreds or literally thousands of times) for decades. Reuse is DEFINITELY the first and best option. People just have to learn to get in the habit of doing so.

Matt, in Los Angeles

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 03:56:00 +0000

Have you heard about an Australian innovation – Goody. Check out http://www.goody.com.au. They have an additive that makes plastic compostable, without the use of heavy metals.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 03:33:00 +0000

i think the d2w is great.

you can keep looking and looking for the right answer to our problem but you will never find it. Atleast these people are doing something about it, maybe not yet perfect but just give them time. Most of green people are just following a life style, but what do you really contribute to changes and i mean really changes?? i prefer for NOW a bit nicle in the soil than to find plastic bags everywhere… Face it… we always look at the negative side of things, thats just human nature… if we really want to find the solution to save this planet before it will stop turning eventually because the earth core will stoll or the sun will die… well lets just kill us all so the animals can live in peace on this planet. problem solve, great work d2w keep on improving…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:13:00 +0000

Hi, I’m a vendor of oxo-biodegradable plastic disposable products. I am all for using cloth bags for groceries where practical, but I think that choice should be in the hands of consumers, not governments. You can find many relevant facts on my website at http://biogreenproducts.biz . I discuss the many costs of the various alternatives to the environment, which can even include mass starvation in the third world if hydro-biodegradable bags become extremely popular. Our company concentrates more on garbage bags-I don’t think many people want to reuse those! -Tim Dunn

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 09:55:00 +0000

I am seeing Symphony work on oxo biodegradable additive development onfor packaging sector is excellent-They just made plastic’s non reversible nature in terms of degradability to reversible (bio degradable) –Their worked on un-zipping the macro polymer that is just opposite to polymerizing needs to be truly appreciated
Replacing plastics is not the right approach but looking forward to solving the current issue seems to be –OK –I believe the team working on this sector will able to clear the issue since they have all critic from you and me now

k.pugalendhi –india

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:36:00 +0000

I came across this site and think it is great that the discussion is active and that some bits of ‘conventional widom’ get challenged. I am a bit dismayed lately as I scan the internet that so many “environmentally friendly” people are actually narrow minded and they take a small bit of information as gospel and don’t consider the larger scope. For example, some bloggers or posters simply say “Don’t use plastic bags, use paper.” But here’s a link to a website about the energy required to make paper bags versus plastic. http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/1315/
Apparently they agree that plastic ends up overall using less energy to make and distribute, but then the downside is that the disposal is less friendly with plastic than with paper. So we, as citizens of the world have to decide what is the better overall choice: If we use plastic, are we responsible enough to have them recycled or re-used for something that does not impact the environment? Those that use paper do so thinking they are greener for the environment, but they don’t consider the energy that was used to make them and ship them to the store, and the fewer re-uses that they provide. So are they really better? But if I throw them in the trash or recycling bin, the chances they sit around for 100 years in a dump are much less. You can’t win 100%, you can just try to do better than what you have been, and encourage others as well. I also see posts where people talk about the health impacts that plastics have from their by-products, but I have not found any scientific information on what those byproducts are..?!?Anybody got anything to share there?
I saw a poster say that we should ban plastics altogether. But after being at the hospital and seeing my 8 yr old neighbor kid getting a blood transfusion from a plastic bag, administered by a plastic syringe, I can’t totally agree with that thinking. Remember before the plastic revolution, when products were not individually packaged, before supermarkets, the estimate was that 65% of all fruits and veggies were spoiled and never eaten. After the introduction of freezing technologies and packaging advancements (plastic included) the amount of food spoilage and waste is closer to 1%. With the amount of underfed people and the food shortage in some areas of the world, I don’t see how the argument “we did so well without plastic for hundreds of years” stands up. I saw the other blog about the Oxo-degradeable plastic which breaks down in certain conditions into compostable materials. Instead of people welcoming the fact that companies are pushing this technology envelope, it seems that the majority of posters criticized them because the technology was not perfected already and there were still quesions about the nickel left behind. Should we not applaud those companies that are moving technology in the right direction?
I know most folks have the best intentions, but the abundance of mis-information, the lack of full disclosure, and the narrow-mindedness is maddening!