For many years now, the drums of war have been well and truly played out in the background for an environmental change. Consistent ignorance and even outright rejection of the idea of environmental protection has led to major, consistent problems in the political, economic and social aspects of day-to-day life. While proponents of environmental improvement feel like they are shouting into the ether, those against the idea of environmental change are the ones most likely to be in a position to do something about it.
It is why, with the invention of hemp plastics, it’s increasingly hard to understand why change isn’t forthcoming. Here we have a solution which is safer, more ‘natural’ and crucially degradable that is ready to be used. It could be the perfect substitute for plastics; yet the commercial industry shows little to no signs of encouraging its growth. When will the world of commerce begin to appreciate the long ago proven benefits of using hemp plastic?
Is Change Possible Without a Mentality Change?
Most probably, not. While the use of help plastics has been documented as being safe, people still associate the plants’ name with recreational uses. Still, hemp-derived products have been proven to have successful applications, even in the beauty industry. Hemp oil is one of the few oils that doesn’t have comedogenic properties. This makes it perfect for curing severe acne breakouts. The beauty industry has successfully embraced the use of hemp oil. Why can’t the major players in the big manufacturing industries grow to appreciate the use of hemp plastics, then?
Probably because there is a big difference in the mentality of the developers in those two industries. While the beauty industry is embracing all beneficial ingredients, regardless of their nature, the manufacturing industry seems to stick to the same old patterns, even if this means to damage the environment furthermore, by using nonbiodegradable plastics.
Stigma Over the Greater Good
Stigma seems to weight more than the greater good, when discussing environmental matters. While many voice the need for change, when viable and affordable propositions are made, obtuse minds protest and choose to follow traditional, but nonetheless damaging products. Naturally, hemp used to be a crop harvested for its incredibly durable fibres, all around the world. So, why not come back to using it on a large scale, for environmental purposes?
Every year, the warning signs become starker and the calls from experts become louder; something has to change in how we work and how we store items. Old-school plastic, while incredibly useful, is so poor for the environment. It does not degrade properly and thus masses of planetary land is utterly wasted with landfill sites for a product that takes too long to break down.
Not only that, but it contains nothing good for the environment; even when degraded, it just causes problems. The ground does not need plastic to grow and thrive – the less, the better.
Hemp plastics, though, offer a rather sobering alternative to just accepting this problem. It’s a solution that is far more natural, far more likely to do the job needed and also much safer for the long-term future of our species.
Is Acceptance Likely in the Mid-term?
Sadly, not really. While many information sites point to the importance of changing to hemp plastics, stigma about what hemp ‘really is’ puts people off making that change. The stigma is enough, sadly, to see us ignore a much safer and easier to deal with in the long-term solution to normal plastics.
While this is a governmental issue, it’s also an issue that business and commerce have to better push for. Not only is it more sustainable but, in an environment that allowed its use fully, would be more cost-effective and affordable than normal plastics.
The challenge we face is a simple one; do we look to push this through at government level? Do we look to raise awareness of a safer, degradable and more natural kind of plastic? Or do we just sit back and see where we are in a decades’ time?
We’ve done this for too long, eschewing safer alternatives in a bid to maintain the status quo. If change is to be made on how we recycle and how we care for the world, it has to start with how we use plastic.
