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Because the issue of plastic waste isn't about the carbon emissions? Only you and OP brought that up.



Yes because they are low. The reason it is relevant is because a plastic alternative may create more emissions. Carbon isn't the issue with plastic but it is an issue with possible solutions.


Plastic alternatives are not considered because they are more expensive for companies and less customizable, not because they would create more emissions.

Companies would do cost-cutting on product wrapping way before the emissions become a problem.


Kind of the point, though. To the extent those other issues are competing for attention and willpower with carbon emissions in public and political consciousness, we should pretty much ignore them until the climate situation is resolved.

A turtle occasionally eating a plastic bag for breakfast is a bad thing, but the turtles wouldn't be happy if they knew they're about to die off because we're distracting ourselves with bans on single-use bags and plastic straws.


Climate change is taking most headlines but it's not the only planetary boundary being breached. In fact, the IPBES reports are much more alarmist, and the quantified risk is a lot higher. Granted it's a difficult task to compare these things.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planetary_boundaries

Plastic pollution is affecting the "novel entities (chemical pollution)" boundary




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