Virus Crisis Gives Throwaway Plastic a New Lease on Life
Phoenix666 writes in with this story from Phys.org:
Masks, visors, gloves or screens ... all are crucial accessories to keep COVID-19 at bay.
Other uses are manifold-from hairdressers using throwaway aprons to UN recommendations that airline food be distributed in blister packs to the bubble tents that allow some relatives to visit elderly and sick loved ones, touching them through a transparent plastic film.
Even California has had partially to lay aside its green credentials by dropping for two months a ban on single use plastic bags. In Saudi Arabia, some retail centres insist customers don wear-and-throw gloves.
Industry has been quick to highlight plastic's versatility. In March, one French plastics group stated that "without single use plastic you will no longer have wrapping to protect your food against germs."
In the long term, will fears over pandemics win out against fears over the environment?
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