Chemical industry conversations

Re: We're going cold turkey...

Anonymous — Thu, 01 May 2008 10:10:47 GMT

How about we all give up gasoline for a week. We're allowed to let other people use it on our behalf (like delivery people) but we can't drive cars...

Re: We're going cold turkey...

AJB — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 09:05:39 GMT

After the snowy weekend we've experienced here in the UK - and all the time it took me to get all the ice off my car this morning - I challenge anyone to go without antifreeze and deicer (mono ethylene glyco) right now!!!

Re: We're going cold turkey...

Lara McNamee — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 08:33:26 GMT

I agree with you GreenChick about the unsanitary nature of not using plastic bags to line things - i am still trying to think of an alternative there.

The other problem I have is if i buy meat produce then I always use a separate bag as I fear of it leaking and contaminating everything else. I know I am really bad for using separate bags for everything (like a proverbial bag lady). I am fine with using a cloth bag (when I find one I like) for certain things but there is a lot I would rather put in a plastic bag. Plus as I don’t drive and walk everywhere when I do my shopping I need to make sure the bags aren’t going to break (from overloading) on the way home. I always think it’s a catch 22 situation as my family/friends drive to the shops and use these big boxes for their shopping but then they have driven there and polluted the atmosphere with their car fumes mmm.

Re: We're going cold turkey...

GreenChick — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:30:43 GMT

I really tried cutting back on plastic bags and brought my cloth bag for my groceries for the past 5 shopping trips. Unfortunately, my supply of used plastic bags is running low and I don't know what to line my small trash cans in the bathroom and bedroom as well as where to place my recyclable plastic bottles and soda cans...It is also unsanitary (to me personally) to reuse those plastic bags for small trash purposes. I might have to wave a white flag on this one.

Re: We're going cold turkey...

GreenChick — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:52:20 GMT

Carlos:
This could be tough. How about giving up watching/listening to DVDs and CDs for a week? These are made out of polycarbonate

Very easy to give these up as you can just download them to your computer and store movies and songs to your handheld devices...Or play them directly on your computer.

Re: We're going cold turkey...

chemsyndicate — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:37:35 GMT

Most shop assistants still need to give up the 'do you want a bag to go with your bag' approach at the till. Most of them must be on quotas they way they try to push the polythene.

Re: We're going cold turkey...

AJB — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:11:17 GMT

What about superabsorbent polymer (SAP)??? Stop using nappies for a week!!!

Re: We're going cold turkey...

FAB PHENOLICS — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:03:08 GMT

Acetone - chipped nail varnish for a week - can you live with it? Polyester? Naked and chipped nails - nice...

Re: We're going cold turkey...

Carlos — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:00:47 GMT

This could be tough. How about giving up watching/listening to DVDs and CDs for a week? These are made out of polycarbonate

Re: We're going cold turkey...

AJB — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:26:53 GMT

Cosmetics, plastic bags, paints - all good suggestions...but I fancy giving up some type of plastic - particularly the type that's used in my computer...I'd happily spend a week not typing anything or checking emails!!!

Re: We're going cold turkey...

Lara McNamee — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:52:59 GMT

This made me chuckle Friday, I was in Marks and Spencer and the guy in front of me bought 8 loose lemons, after he paid he then stuffed the lemons in every pocket he had (not sure where else he put them) but by the time he finished he was only holding 2 lemons and muttering something about how there was no way on earth he was going to pay for a plastic bag (even though they are actually still free in M&S until 6 May) and how it is all a big conspiracy for making money out of the consumer.

Re: We're going cold turkey...

blue — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:28:56 GMT

you're right, it would be difficult to give up the plastic bags for rubbish. unless you went down the wormery route ...

Re: We're going cold turkey...

djob — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:20:25 GMT

I reckon it would have to be anything with a humectant in it - just because I like the word so much. They're used in tobacco to keep it moist apparently. I wonder what else? Baby wipes, perhaps, or that moistened toilet tissue. That would probably be pretty easy to go without, though...

Re: We're going cold turkey...

skipper — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:27:02 GMT

Plastic bags seems the obvious choice to give up with most supermarkets now going to charge for them. And I am now the proud owner of some very nice hessian bags for my shopping. BUT, will find it difficult to dispose of my rubbish as that has to go in plastic sacs in the dustbin - any alternatives?

Re: We're going cold turkey...

Lara McNamee — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 09:35:00 GMT

In addition to my comment about not being able to live without toiletries/cosmetics - have you ever seen that bit in the Batman film when the Joker claims to have put poisonous toxins into everyday items, such as cosmetics? They go to a scene with two newsreaders that haven’t used any make up/toiletries and so on since the scare and their hair is everywhere and they have spots, greasy skin, dirty teeth, big old dark circles under their eyes etc…. CHEMICALS are sooooo important – looking forward to hearing how you guys get on with your ‘cold turkey’ efforts.