1. Key points: reuse disposable products ≠ reuse mode
What the? I heard that there has been news recently that the reuse mode is not good!
As early as 2022, there was a news report that the hotel was fined for "reusing" disposable slippers!
The Xiushan County Health Commission issued an administrative penalty notice for the hotel.
* |Xiushan County Health Commission.
Beijing Association for Science and Technology also issued an article reminding that there are huge safety risks in the use of mineral water and beverage bottles to divide kitchen seasonings!
Serve the spices in plastic bottles.
* |Beijing Association for Science and Technology.
At the same time, the CDC is also reminding the public not to use disposable medical masks repeatedly, and spraying disinfectants such as medical alcohol to disinfect disposable masks will reduce their protective efficiency!
Wear a disposable medical mask when going out during flu season.
Image source | getty images
In the face of these news, the swing received such a fan message:
Obviously, there are news reports that say that "reuse" is not good, why do you keep recommending it? Does the "reuse" model mean turning single-use plastics into "multi-use plastics"?
Fog!!! It's not right to think of a single-use item as a form of reuse mode over and over again!
Single-use items are often designed to be single-use, and their materials and construction may not stand up to multiple uses. Mistakenly seeing it as part of a reuse pattern can mislead people's understanding of reuse and sustainable lifestyles. Therefore, it is reasonable to adopt a strategy of reducing the amount of disposable items and disposing of them appropriately, rather than mistaking them for being able to be used again and again without changing their use. Today, let's take you to carefully analyze the difference between disposable and reusable modes!
2. There are many differences between reusable items and disposable items!
In the encyclopedia,A single-use item is defined as an item that is used only once.
Single-use item definition.
*Encyclopedia.
From it we can know,The best number of times disposable products can be used is once. And the reuse mode advocated by the pendulum refers to:Items can be reused for the same purpose without changing the original performance and state, and a certain number of use patterns can be achieved.
Reusable items are very different from disposable consumer goods, from the selection of materials to the design!
First, the materials are different
Single-use items are usually not considered for second use, while reuse patterns tend to use materials that are reasonably designed and easy to use multiple times, and the main differences between the two are shown in the table below
Second, the functional design is different:
It is also obvious that products in the reuse model differ in functional design from single-use products. Disposable consumer goods are often designed to:Discard after use, asserting convenience and ease of handlingAnd the packaging design in reuse mode is even moreFocus on durability and maintainability. This design philosophy is not onlyThis extends the service life of the product and also reduces the need for virgin material resources. For example, single-use plastic bags tend to break easily when used and quickly become garbage, while reusable cloth bags can be used by consumers for multiple purchases due to their sturdy design.
Third, the economic benefits are different:
Disposable items usually have:Lower initial cost,Because of their designThere is no need to consider material wear resistance and structural complexity. However,While reusable items may have a higher initial cost, they can be more economical in long-term use. For example, washable reusable food containers, although more expensive to manufacture, can be used multiple times, and the overall cost is lower in the long term than the frequent purchase of single-use plastic cutlery.
Fourth, the user experience is different:
Single-use items are designed to be:Meet the needs of consumers for ease of use and immediacy. And reusable items are hereIt takes some time for the user to get used to the versatility of the product and learn how to care for and clean the product. In addition, some businesses offer reusable containers to encourage consumers to participate in the reusable model, and consumers will need to return them after use, including:At-home return and fixed-point return.
Fifth, the environmental benefits are different:
There are also significant differences in the environmental benefits of single-use and reusable items. The manufacture of single-use items is often accompanied by large-scale consumption of resources, including energy, water, and raw materials, while generating large amounts of waste that are difficult to degrade, posing a huge burden on the environment. In contrast, reusable items may consume more resources in the initial manufacturing phase, but are designed to be used multiple timesIn the long term, its overall resource requirements are relatively low. Greenpeace's "Milk Tea is Cool for a Time, Discarded in Landfill: The Secret Behind Disposable Plastic Cups" proposed:A reusable PP plastic cup will bring less environmental cost to the environment if it is used more than twice.
At the same time,The usability of disposable items also decreases significantly as the number of repeated uses increasesThese single-use items are still more likely and quicker to become waste than reusable items, which can cause serious environmental pollution after entering landfills, incineration plants, or leaking into the natural environment.
In addition, this report from Greenpeace also points out:Reusing PP plastic cups will have a lower carbon footprint than using disposable cold cups in just one to two weeks, and carbon emissions will be lower than using disposable hot cups in just three to four weeks. As a result, the use of reusable items can help lower the carbon footprint, reduce reliance on non-renewable energy sources, and promote more sustainable production and consumption patterns.
Reusable beverage packaging.
Image source | cocacola
3. Why is it not recommended to reuse disposable items?
You may think that reusing some disposable items in your daily life, such as repeatedly using disposable face towels, cleaning and using disposable tableware or takeaway containers multiple times, can help us reduce the number of purchases and save money, which is really a win-win situation for both money and worry!
However,Because single-use items and reusable items are very different, in most cases, "disposable" items are not designed for reuse and are not recommended for reuse. Here are some reasons that explain this point well:
Deterioration in product performance.
Single-use items are not always manufactured to meet the requirements for reusable itemsTheir materials and construction may not be able to withstand the wear and tear of multiple uses and environmental changes, and repeated use of these single-use items may result in a decrease in product performance. For example, disposable lunch boxes are easily damaged and deformed if they are used repeatedly, affecting their containment function, while masks may lose their filtering efficiency when used repeatedly, increasing the risk of pathogen invasion.
Hygiene and health issues
Repeated use of single-use items may result in the product'sSome processing residues or plastic additives are released into food or the environment, posing a potential risk to human health. For example, if some single-use plastic bottles or disposable plastic cutlery are used repeatedly, these disposable products may seep out at high temperatures or some other usage situations such as greasy, acidic, microwave, etcBisphenol A (BPA).orDiphthalate (DEHP).and other carcinogenic and endocrine disrupting chemicals. When these substances enter the human body with food, they can be harmful to the human body. In addition, the wear marks formed by some single-use items during repeated use are conducive to the storage of bacteria and other contaminants, which also increases the health risk and poses a threat to human health.
Environmental issues
Disposable items are usually in the form of:Non-renewable resourcesProduced. For example, many single-use plastic items often use petroleum as the main raw material, and some paper single-use items use wood pulp as the main raw material. The repeated use of disposable items will still make consumers develop the habit of using disposable products, and disposable items are easy to be damaged in repeated use, so the demand for disposable items is still highThis will lead to the associated depletion of resources and the exacerbation of the exploitation of natural resources.
Violation of laws and regulations:
Some regions and countries now have regulations in place for the use and disposal of single-use items. As early as 2017, China's Food and Drug Administration announced itMeasures for the Supervision and Administration of Online Catering Services (Draft for Solicitation of Comments).(hereinafter referred to as the "Measures"). The "Measures" put forward that it is forbidden to reuse disposable tableware. If an online catering service provider fails to perform the corresponding packaging obligations, or reuses disposable tableware, the local food and drug supervision and administration department at or above the county level shall order corrections and give a warning; where corrections are refused, a fine of between 5,000 and 30,000 RMB is to be imposed. As a result, the reuse of some of the prescribed single-use products violates the relevant regulations and is punished accordingly.
Various types of single-use plastic bottles.
Image source | getty images
Fourth, these disposable items, it is best not to use them more than once!
In view of the hazards of the above-mentioned multi-use disposable items, it is sincerely recommended that the following disposable items should be avoided multiple uses:
No information products
Some disposable products don'tThere is no identification and detailed product informationOut of an abundance of caution, repeated use of these products is not recommended. At the same time,It is recommended to avoid using products that lack complete identification as much as possible in ordinary lifeBecause it is difficult to effectively dispose of disposable products without proper labeling.
Disposable tableware
Most of the disposable tableware is actually designed and producedThere is no consideration for cleaning and repeated use scenariosIts strength may not withstand multiple washes and uses. Therefore, it is not recommended to use it repeatedly, even if it does not consider whether the material can be heated or in long-term contact with food.
Medical disposables
Medical disposables are often used for single-use purposes to prevent cross-infection and spread of disease. Repeated use if the cleaning is not thorough, willResidual pathogens, increasing the risk of cross-infection. At the same time, the medical industry has a strong appetite for disposablesStrict hygiene standardsRepeated use can prevent these supplies from being provided to the required level of hygiene and hygiene, posing a threat to the normal functioning of the medical process.
Disposable paper cups
Disposable paper cups are usually made using paper materials such as wood pulp,It is not water resistant and abrasion resistant. The process of washing and repeated use will lead to deformation and damage of the paper cup, which in turn will affect its original performance and appearance.
Disposable textiles
Some disposable textiles such as disposable**, disposable bed sheets, etc. are not recommended to be used multiple times. These products cannot withstand multiple washes, and repeated use of them can lead to performance degradation, allergies, and ** problems.
Some other disposable items that are difficult to judge from their appearance:
Biodegradable plastic products
Either wayBiodegradable plastic or oxodegradable plastic,It is not recommended to use it repeatedly as a food container. Biodegradable plastic products are often used as disposable tableware in daily life, and their performance is weak and fragile. The oxidative degradation of plastic production process is often requiredAdd photosensitizer or oxidation catalyst,Long-term repeated use willImprove the instability of non-degradable plasticsPrompts the release of microplastics or other chemicals.
Plastic: polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) was used as tableware and was commonly found in the pastDisposable tableware, takeaway boxes, plastic wrap, etc. It is not heat-resistant (60-80 °C), overheating is easy to release various toxic additives, and flexible polyvinyl chloride generally contains a large amountPlasticizers, and the plasticizer is easy to dissolve in fat and alcohol, and it is easy to enter the human body with food from the product. As a result, many environmental groups have called for a ban on the use of PVC.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
Image source | chemceed、citadelpackaging
Plastics: high-density polyethylene (HDPE).
Plastics: Low-density polyethylene (LDPE
High-density polyethylene is commonly found in:Daily chemical packaging, food and medicine packaging, as well as shopping plastic bags, trash cans, cleaning and bath products, etc. However, it melts toxic substances when heated at 110°C and there is a risk of stabilizer leaching if not cleaned thoroughly. Low-density polyethylene is often used because of its high transparencyAgricultural films, plastic wrap, etc. It is also not recommended to be used repeatedly, in addition to being equally difficult to clean thoroughly, the film itself is difficult to reuse because it is easy to break.
High-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE).
Image source | citadelpackaging、birchplastics
Plastic: Polystyrene (PS).
Although polystyrene (PS) is inexpensive and has good thermal insulation, it was often used to make foam insulation boxes, instant noodle boxes, transparent cake boxes, fast food box lids and other foamed tableware. But itsIt is easy to absorb grease and difficult to clean, and at the same time, toxic substances will be generated in case of strong acid, strong alkali and high temperature. Therefore, it is not recommended to use polystyrene lunch boxes for food in the microwave, nor as containers for alcohol and cooking oil, nor as food containers. Because of the risks it existsAt the end of 2020, China banned the production and sale of single-use foamed plastic tableware made from polystyrene, a No. 6 plastic.
Polystyrene (PS).
Image source | citadelpackaging、britannica
5. Reuse mode: the best choice for sustainable living
From this point of view,There is a clear difference between a reuse model and a repeated, multi-use single-use product, and the two must not be confused.
The reuse pattern has a pronounced effect compared to the one-time useEnvironmental and economic benefits. In terms of the environment, repeatable items are brought to the environment due to their special designLess polluting and harmfulAnd the long product life helps:Alleviate resource shortagesproblems. At the same time, the push of the repetitive pattern canReduce waste and waste generation. On the economic side, the reuse model presentsLong-term cost-effectiveness,You can tooCreate more jobsThese positions involve product maintenance, repair and remanufacturing, injecting new impetus into social and economic growth.
In conclusion, the reuse model not only has significant advantages in terms of environmental sustainability, but also brings long-term and positive impetus to the economic system.
References
1] Is used plastic bottles as spice bottles really a trick for life? **
2] Consumer Guide for Plastic Disposable Tableware. *
3] this is why you should never reuse single use bottles. *aliable at:
4] health and the reuse revolution: is disposable safer than reusable? let’s consult the science. *aliable at:
5] the dangers of reusing single-use bottles. *aliable at:
6] the dangers of reusing plastic bottles. *aliable at:
7] Ma Aiping. There is no carcinogenic risk in regular plastic wrap, but PVC plastic wrap should be used to avoid oil and wine. Science & Technology**,2020,7,20 *
8] Lan Minyi, Li Huiru, Hu Lixin, Yang Yuanyuan, Ying Guangguo. A review of environmental pollution of plastic food packaging materials[J].Journal of Ecotoxicology,2021,16(5):186-210
9] reusable or disposable products - what should you choose? *aliable at:
10] before you recycle, choose to reuse. *aliable at:
11] Greenpeace. Milk tea is cool for a while, discarded in landfills: the secret behind disposable plastic cups. *
end-Edit: Get rid of the plastic binding