Thursday, 26 June 2008
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POST 01284E: CLIMATE CHANGE/PLASTIC AND PACKAGING FOLLOW-UP ON POST 01283E 26 JUNE 2008 ******************************************* Rosamund Lewis, Member of the HPV Global Community of Practice Steering Committee, shares with us the web address of a site that suggests practical ways in which we can address climate change. In this context she also brings up the issue of how we can reduce the impact of immunization services delivery on the environment. Readers please do share experiences and innovations. Thanks to Rowan Wagner for sharing with us an interesting piece on bio-degradable plastics. ----------- Dear moderator, You have presented a terrific resource with your summary on climate change and health. Those interested in doing something about climate change, whether personally, organizationally or politically, are encouraged to have a look at this website: http://www.celsias.com Perhaps we could start a series of initiatives to reduce the impact of immunization services delivery on climate change, such as reducing the volume of packaging for vaccines and injection supplies. Those familiar with the programme to accelerate the switch-over to CFC-free vaccine fridges could also tell their stories. Rosamund ([[email protected]][email protected][/email]) ----------- Making packaging greener – biodegradable plastics Biodegradable plastics made with plant-based materials have been available for many years. Their high cost, however, has meant they have never replaced traditional non-degradable plastics in the mass market. A new Australian venture is producing affordable biodegradable plastics that might change all that. Indeed, biodegradable plastic products currently on the market are from 2 to 10 times more expensive than traditional plastics. But environmentalists argue that the cheaper price of traditional plastics does not reflect their true cost when their full impact is considered. For example, when we buy a plastic bag we don’t pay for its collection and waste disposal after we use it. Environmental packaging waste regulations (Pharmaceutical Technology: 1 October 2006) Recent EU legislation has imposed restrictions on the amount of waste produced as a result of packaging and labelling. This has had a knock-on effect in the packaging departments of pharmaceutical companies, which are now required to find and use solutions that do not produce excessive amounts of waste. Recycling Of Packaging Yields Environmental Gains The sorting of packaging waste at source and recycling can lead to increased transport. But in terms of the environment, advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The recycling of packaging is good for the environment and saves resources, not least energy. This is the conclusion of a report from the Swedish EPA to the Swedish government, evaluating producer responsibility for packaging. Post generated using Mail2Forum (http://www.mail2forum.com)
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