This article was originally published on September 6th, 2012. It is reprinted with permission.
“Paper or plastic?” In the 80s and 90s, grocers asked shoppers this question, putting the weight of the decision on the shoulders of the consumer. Concerned shoppers questioned which choice was the best for the environment. Today I can answer that question with confidence. Neither! Bring your own reusable shopping bag!
The question of paper vs. plastic continues this month as Teton County schools make decisions about whether to get their milk delivered in cartons or plastic bottles. For years, single-serve milk cartons were the norm. Then, last year, the milk supplier switched to plastic bottles, and schools had to adapt to the change. This year, schools are given the choice. Some are sticking with plastic, while others are going back to the old carton. The two options are offered at the same price, so schools tend to choose the option that works best for their students with regards to ease of use and disposal. Considering that the school district goes through hundreds of milk containers each day, small decisions like this one can make a big difference in overall sustainability. If schools were to base their decision entirely on environmental impact, which one should they choose? The answer is more complicated that you might think.
Cartons are a paper product, made from a renewable resource. Of all standard packaging options (carton, plastic, glass and aluminum), they take the least energy to produce. However, cartons are not recyclable in Teton County or any of the surrounding areas.
Plastics come from a non-renewable resource, petroleum, and take more energy to produce than cartons. However, #1 and #2 plastic bottles are recyclable in Teton County, minimizing the impact of disposal.
Should we favor more efficient production, or reduced impact from disposal? According to one life-cycle analysis by Pasqualino, Menese and Castells, cartons come out on top. While recycling saves energy over creating new products, in the case of plastic vs. paper, it is not enough to outweigh the benefits of efficient production.
On the other hand, recycling plastic bottles is a very visible way for children to learn about recycling each and every day while they are at school. The value of forming good habits in the school cafeteria might outweigh the efficiency of cartons for some schools.
In the end, the two options are almost equal environmentally. Furthermore, both can teach our youth valuable lessons, either about renewable resources and energy efficiency, or about waste reduction and recycling. Perhaps by the end of the year our children will teach us that recycling is good, wise consumption is even better, and that we need to think outside of the container to find real solutions to eco-dilemmas.
Sources: Grist.org
