Quote:
Originally Posted by spadlet
Don't worry, they already make packaging that is transparent, waterproof etc from potato starch, and McGardener knows of some using corn starch. We don't depend upon fossil fuels for plastic manufature. The current industry is just based around the use of fossil fuels as the feedstock.
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Okay spadlet, I hear what you are saying, but I don't think your reply inspires confidence that we will have replacements for current grade plastics. I think this all very much at the pie in the sky/experimental stage and would be unlikely to satisfy the demand for high grade plastics used in many industries (e.g. electronics, electrical and power distribution, to name but a few) and then we have a huge volume requirement for products that require medium to low grade plastics. My question is; how is this demand going to be satisfied?
There was talk a few years back that biofuels (e.g. from industrial rapeseed) could be used to manufacture some plastics. Whilst this advance in biotechnology should be applauded, there is no way that growing industrial crops is going to meet the world demand for plastics, more-so in future years where land use will probably have to be designated for food crops only due to growing food shortages.
Besoeker, your comment "
However, if we had to live without them, we probably could and would". With reference to my comments above, I'm sure you will agree that it is not quite that simple is it, unless were willing to turn back the clock at least 60/70 years and move forward without the modern technologies, comforts and life styles that we take so much for granted in the 21st century where electronic communication is king.