[Macsporan]

One of the little luxuries we're all going to miss are the innumerable plastic widgets that surround us.

How will we cope without plastics?

Can they be recycled?

If not what are the prospects of developing such technology?

Will our grandchildren be posting to the Internet forums of the future on hand-carved wooden computers?

I invite all PO luminaries to turn their collective wisdom in this direction.

[JoeSchmo]

We've got threads on this. And Peak Plastic will be at the same time as Peak Oil in theory since plastic is made primarily from oil. And since all your children and grand children for all we know will live in huts and take up the practice of cannibalism, I don't think you have to worry about computers. Besides, my computer case is made of metal.

[Macsporan]

Could some kindly citizen direct me to these plastic threads?

As for cannibalism, no not for me. It leaves such a bad taste in the mouth.

[Jack]

You could use the search function; but I did a quick (and rather naive) simple search, and the answers weren't immediately apparent.

The volume of material for plastics isn't nearly what it is for fuel. Think about the plastic you have around the house; if it were all melted down, it probably wouldn't fill a dozen barrels. But someone with a Hummer 2 will burn that much in a few months. You'll probably keep many of your plastic items for years...

Some plastic can be replaced with paper; MacDonald's did so awhile back. And there have been ongoing efforts to use cornstalks and other such bio-materials to produce plastics.

So on the one hand, plastic will probably become more expensive, I don't think it's quite as big an issue as the fuel problem.

[Macsporan]

Thank you Jack. You are a great comfort.

That is one less thing to wake up in the middle of the night screaming about.

If you ever want me to write your ecomium, just let me know.

[FairMaiden]

Plastic doesn't biodegrade so you'd think it would last alot longer and therefore shouldn't need to be "replaced". On the other hand, all the throw away plastic items like grocery bags, etc can easily be replaced with reusable bags. I don't think our ingeniuty will disappear - we'll be making more use of what we have. Think about 3rd world countries where NOTHING gets wasted. Or things we are already doing like using recycled car tires for house roofing...it can be done...its just been said thats it doesn't make business sense. The higher oil prices go, the more sense the alternatives will make.

[AmericanEmpire]

One good thing about peak plastic would be less credit cards made.

[Gil-Galad]

I assume people in the future will have to 'mine' our rubbish tips and then recycle the plastic stored within them

[Doly]

If we stop using oil for fuel, there will be plenty for our plastic needs in future centuries.

[mommy22]

When I was at the grocery store the other day, there were signs all along the milk aisle saying something to the tune of "We can't get enough plastic at the moment to make milk jugs like you are used to...sorry for any inconvenience." That was the first time I've seen that!
Question...will "they" be able to make youghurt containers, etc...out of corn,etc..? I know that in Europe, they sell youghurt in little glass jars with aluminum lids, and also, I saw them made out of ceramic (a couple of companies, not all). Just curious!

[bobcousins]

Plastic prices have been going up.

Hurricane damage squeezes supply of plastic for milk jugs, pipes

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A') hurricane-related shortage of high-density polyethylene has prompted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to temporarily relax its standards to allow the use of a wider range of plastics for packaging milk, bottled water juice and other food products, an FDA consumer-safety officer said Monday.

Some milk processors are using more paper cartons, industry sources say.

[AdamB]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', ' ')
Colossal funding in manufacturing plants by fossil fuel companies will increase plastic production by 40%, risking permanent pollution of the earth One million plastic bottles are bought around the world every minute, with most ending up in landfill or in the sea. Photograph: Zakir Chowdhury/Barcroft Images The global plastic binge which is already causing widespread damage to oceans, habitats and food chains, is set to increase dramatically over the next 10 years after multibillion dollar investments in a new generation of plastics plants in the US. Fossil fuel companies are among those who have ploughed more than $180bn since 2010 into new “cracking” facilities that will produce the raw material for everyday plastics from packaging to bottles, trays and cartons. The new facilities – being built by corporations like Exxon Mobile Chemical

[lpetrich]

Is there any law of nature that states that plastics can only be made from petroleum-derived chemical feedstocks?

Yes, a law of nature, because several participants in this thread seem to believe that no oil -> no plastic.

I suggest checking out bioplastics and synthetic fuels. Some synfuels may be used as feedstocks for plastics, if desired.