At 01:37 PM 12/25/2008, you wrote, in part: >Take milk for example. Much of the rest of the world uses aseptic >packaging technology for packaging milk. As a result milk can sit >on the shelf in a tropical environment for up to six months without >refridgeration. It is also available in small enough packaging that >it can be consumed in a day or less, thus elimination the need for >home refridgeration after the package is opened.
Dear George and Friends--Yes, this is a good thing in a way in terms of many populations receiving a higher nutrient level, and especially a blessing in many underdeveloped countries. However, there is a serious problem with Tetra, the patent holder and manufacturer of the world's aseptic packaging, and recycling in some areas. Aseptic packages can be completely recycled into fiber (paper), aluminum (foil) and plastic (the coatings, caps), less the adhesives, but in many (most?) areas of the world these packages go to the landfill instead. This represents a tremendous quantity of resources and embodied energy going down the tubes. In some states, like Brazil, the governments threatened to ban Tetra products unless Tetra agreed to recycle their products. So they did. Maybe they are doing a lot more now globally, but I suspect that most still go to the landfill or, even worse, the incinerator. I haven't seen any lifecycle cost analysises, but I suspect that it is less expensive, less energy intensive and less GHG producing to supply refrigeration, with adequate product life as Joel pointed out, than is to supply the needed quantity of Teta packs on a global basis. Jus' my $.02. Tom P.S.: If almond milk, rice milk, dairy products, etc., came in reusable glass containers we would be waaayyy ahead in terms of energy, GHG emissions and resources, even with the cost of transporting and cleaning the glass containers. It's the "throw away" mentality that promotes wastage and abuse of resources, energy and the rapidly deteriorating environment. ****************************************** Tom Shelley 118 E. Court St. Ithaca, NY 14850 607 342-0864 [email protected] http://www.myspace.com/99319958 (Just updated 12-22-08.) http://www.facebook.com/129295929#/home.php (Last updated 12-16-08.) Compost Educator and Sustainability Scion Buy products in glass, not plastic! Recycle all of your glass bottles. The percentage of PET recycled is declining. PET Recycling Rages Graph Source: National Association for PET Container Resources, American Plastics Council Note: 39% of plastic recycled in 2003 was PET. _______________________________________________ For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: [email protected] http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins Questions about the list? ask [email protected] free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org
