🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1990Dec21.191405.2446@pa.dec.com> mok@fortsc.enet.dec.com (Charles P. Mok) writes:
>
>In article <1990Dec18.023921.2097@contact.uucp>, ben@contact.uucp (Ben Eng) writes...
>> 
>>It's funny how Spectrum and Potentials always seem to arrive in the
>>mailbox nicely giftwrapped, while Computer magazine always arrives
>>unprotected.  My issues of Computer end up completely mangled.  It's
>>really too bad, because it's one of those magazines that is worth
>>keeping forever.
>> 
>>I wish they would deliver Computer in some sort of protective
>>wrapping!
>
>Only if it is recycled paper envelope or things like that.  I am tired
>of seeing unnecessary plastic bags for "protection" of the magazine.
>I am not an environmentalist by all means, but I see waste when I see 
>it.  Do you want protection for a magazine or for the planet?  This is
>the kind of choices we have to make. 



I agree with the recently expressed sentiment that this packaging
discussion has continued for a tiresome period of time.  But I also
agree that the whole issue is very important.  So I'm posting only to
clear up a common misunderstanding about packaging options: that there
is nothing but non-recyclable plastic or paper to choose from.  There
is a middle ground between those who want their magazines to arrive
undamaged and those who want them to be packaged in a less
environmentally damaging manner.

Plant fiber cellulose is an ecological alternative to plastic.  While
sturdier than paper, cellulose is truly biodegradable and, like paper,
made from a renewable resource.  There is at least one stationery
company, Earth Care Paper Inc., that packages its recycled-paper
products using cellulose.  It is true that energy is consumed to make
this form of cellulose, although I believe that the material for its
production is excess pulp left from the manufacture of other
products (meaning that currently no additional trees are cut down).

I suppose there is a good argument that most magazines do not need
additional packaging to travel through the US mail undamaged most of
the time.  But clearly there are times a sturdy package is called for
and publishers should be made aware of plant-fiber cellulose as an
option.

Please no flames about advertising on the net:  I have no connection
with Earth Care Inc. other than as a customer.

-- 


#ARPA:    Fertig-Scott@cs.yale.edu
#UUCP:    {decvax,linus,seismo}!yale!Fertig-Scott