A new study in Science of the Total Environment just flipped the script on everything we thought we knew:
🔹 Plastic packaging creates 70% LESS greenhouse gas than paper, glass, or aluminum.
🔹 Uses FEWER fossil resources in 14 out of 19 cases.
🔹 Consumes LESS water than most “eco-friendly” alternatives.
The real problem isn’t plastic—it’s our broken waste management system.
Reducing plastic is important, but blindly switching to alternatives without considering their full life cycle is just as harmful. We need a smarter approach to sustainability:
– Fix recycling systems so plastic actually gets reused.
– Develop better materials that balance durability & eco-impact.
– Create policies based on data, not just social media outrage.
We need science-backed solutions, not feel-good decisions that make us believe we’re “saving the planet” while actually making things worse.
And for the love of sustainability, stop pretending your paper straw is the hero.
It’s just making your straw soggy. 🎯
Thoughts?