Ask Lemmy

We don't have to get rid of plastics.
Get rid of cars (which emit the most micro-plastics), fishing nets (which cause the most plastic pollution in the ocean), plastics in clothing and packaging where it isn't needed.
Then use bio-degradable plastics for whatever's left. And single use plastics only for the tiny reminder of use cases where it's needed, like medicine.

We don't need to ban every single bit of plastic. It's fine to keep it where it's absolutely necessary. Some of the examples you provided definitely aren't necessary though, like individually wrapped cutlery (wtf) or beverages (can use glass).

Canada is in the process of "banning single-use plastics". Although you still see them everywhere, there are many places that have switched some stuff like plastic grocery bags, plastic straws and plastic utensils to cloth grocery bags, paper straws and wooden utensils.

Well for one: most of the things listed already have a solution:

Food? Glassware and Metal containers. Or Even reusable single type plastic containers, like a tupperware.

Sterile medical supplies already are packed in a paper bag. The ones that are in plastic actually aren't.

Medicine can also be packed into glass and metal containers.

Beverages can be put in cans or Reusable Glass bottles or you simply drink tap water. (I know in some countries that's not safe but it should be)

And honestly your cafeteria is the most ridiculous example. Get a dishwasher and use real cutlery. Or bring your own cutlery from home. (Is it actually a cafeteria or just a glorified break room?)

Start with the easy wins and replace the others as options come available. We don't have to fix everything at once.

One way is to keep the plastic but make it out of something renewable instead of out of petroleum products. It can have the same short term properties but eventually disintigrate instead of turning into microplastics or releasing harmful particles when burned.

Ban them and let the market figure it out. They always do.

Bioplastic - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioplastic

Single use consumer plastics should be banned.

I don't think individual shrink wrapping of utensils is a necessary use, every time I pull that thin plastic off something I think we are all going to hell.

But as others have noted, we don't need to eliminate all use, we need to radically reduce use and find a technology to deal with the remaining amount.

It'd be better to come up with ways to efficiently break them down chemically so they can be remade into new plastic.

How can we get away from plastic as a safety layer?

We don't need to get away totally.

It will be good enough if we avoid most of it.

I’m probably going to hell for saying this, but… I’m not that worried about plastic pollution? Doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to minimize single use items and plastic ending up places it shouldn’t, but if it’s the best option for food / medical safety or cheaply producing something with a lower carbon footprint… we should probably just use it without too much guilt? The world is almost certainly better because of plastic in my opinion.