Mon, 25 May 2026 13:16:55 +0100 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15842&Focus=269937#Comment_269937 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15842&Focus=269937#Comment_269937 Mon, 20 Aug 2018 12:49:16 +0100 Carol hunter Looking for UK resources online and books. Have read many and lately the 2minute solution.

Can anyone recommend good resources beyond the single use coffee cups/straws/toothbrushes level?

Organic veg box/dairy/meat and Sumawholefoods bulk/group buying still v heavy on the plasticpolythene wrapping....]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15842&Focus=269938#Comment_269938 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15842&Focus=269938#Comment_269938 Mon, 20 Aug 2018 13:03:44 +0100 tony https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15842&Focus=269939#Comment_269939 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15842&Focus=269939#Comment_269939 Mon, 20 Aug 2018 16:17:26 +0100 Nick Parsons https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15842&Focus=269944#Comment_269944 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15842&Focus=269944#Comment_269944 Tue, 21 Aug 2018 15:01:29 +0100 Peter_in_Hungary Posted By: Nick ParsonsClay drains, incl the much-discussed French drain. What to do for soil pipes? Good fall-pipes in galv steel. Could that be used for soil (@ correct diameter, of course)?
I did not think that Carol was considering the plumbing in the context of 'unplastic my life'. But having mentioned pipes IMO there is a good reason to use plastic pipes that will have a quoted life span between 50 and 100 years and potentially longer and in some cases longer than the non-plastic alternative. And AFAIK a plastic pipe has lower environmental impact for transport than any of its alternatives.

Carol - if you google 'non plastic containers' you get a whole raft of (commercial) options most of whom have blurb about why their products are better than plastic.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15842&Focus=270036#Comment_270036 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15842&Focus=270036#Comment_270036 Mon, 27 Aug 2018 15:32:33 +0100 vord
I have a 60 year old car that used almost no plastic in it's construction - just a tiny bit of Bakelite. They didn't use much plastic in my 400 year old house either. I've found most of the traditional materials in the house have lasted for quite a long time. Generally it is plastic paint or cement that killed the bits that needed to be replaced.

Plastic is a modern invention, only the last 50 years or so. If you want to avoid it just research the materials they used 50 years ago. 50 years ago wasn't the dark ages. Lifestyle was similar, just with fewer electrical gadgets.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15842&Focus=270043#Comment_270043 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15842&Focus=270043#Comment_270043 Wed, 29 Aug 2018 08:28:22 +0100 selly https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15842&Focus=270044#Comment_270044 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15842&Focus=270044#Comment_270044 Wed, 29 Aug 2018 09:14:19 +0100 fostertom
Even that doesn't matter, if only circular-economy recycling were the norm. Mining of all virgin materials should and could largely stop, if we recaptured nearly all of the raw materials currently in circulation, for re-use. Then it wouldn't matter if each use was short-life.

Re-use recycling can't just mean what it does today - each re-use is as a progressively lower-grade raw material - e.g. unholy mixtures of different plastics which are only good for for making mud-coloured wood-substitute fence planks. Circular-economy recycling must mean re-purification of salvaged materials, into high quality feedstock which at present demands 'virgin' product direct from the ground via oil refinery/chemical works.

That re-purification necessitates large energy input, to break exothermic chemical bonds. And that energy must come from renewable source itself of low or negative impact, which only future-promised kinds of solar can deliver on a large scale. Such energy source is effectively limitless and costless, limited only by attainable efficiency of conversion, solar intake to electic output - but obviously isn't here yet.

So in the meantime all we can do is consciousness-raising gestures like agitating to ban single-use plastics (totally useful in its own right), and to boycot all plastics maybe (as a political gesture).]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15842&Focus=270051#Comment_270051 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15842&Focus=270051#Comment_270051 Thu, 30 Aug 2018 07:19:11 +0100 cjard https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15842&Focus=270057#Comment_270057 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15842&Focus=270057#Comment_270057 Thu, 30 Aug 2018 15:55:41 +0100 gyrogear Posted By: cjardWhat to do

straws are the final ... straw !

What's wrong with spoons ?

New-born infants are tested for their ability to suck off of a spoon...
It is called "extrusion reflex"

Unfortunately, our industrial societies have too much of an extrusion reflex...



gg]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15842&Focus=270058#Comment_270058 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15842&Focus=270058#Comment_270058 Thu, 30 Aug 2018 16:46:28 +0100 barney
You've never spent a grizzly Friday night in one then ?

Barney]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15842&Focus=270059#Comment_270059 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15842&Focus=270059#Comment_270059 Thu, 30 Aug 2018 18:41:47 +0100 gyrogear
gg]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15842&Focus=270060#Comment_270060 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15842&Focus=270060#Comment_270060 Thu, 30 Aug 2018 18:57:30 +0100 barney
As in "I'll meet you in 'spoons for a jar or 3 at 5.00 pm" - favourite haunt of the city centre pigeon shouters and students on a Friday evening

Regards

Barney]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15842&Focus=270062#Comment_270062 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15842&Focus=270062#Comment_270062 Thu, 30 Aug 2018 21:04:30 +0100 gyrogear Posted By: barneyLocal patois for that fine drinking establishment, Weatherspoons


wow, would never have got that !
Barney, I can only aspire to your level of culture LOL


p.s. would never set foot in one...

gg]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15842&Focus=270063#Comment_270063 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15842&Focus=270063#Comment_270063 Fri, 31 Aug 2018 09:52:43 +0100 barney
The words "culture" and "weatherspoons" are rarely heard in the same sentence, TBH - unless it's someone swabbing the carpets for pathogens

Regards

Barney]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15842&Focus=270064#Comment_270064 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15842&Focus=270064#Comment_270064 Fri, 31 Aug 2018 10:40:56 +0100 DamonHD
Rgds

Damon]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15842&Focus=270065#Comment_270065 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=15842&Focus=270065#Comment_270065 Fri, 31 Aug 2018 12:02:21 +0100 dereke They came with a little pipe cleaner type thing - easy to clean.

https://www.sas.org.uk/shop/accessories/reusable-steel-straws/]]>