Of course it’s only the throwaway parts of modern life that need to be shorter-lasting. (Everything else can simply be reused). Packaging, office supplies, newspapers – either we need to rethink our need for them, or stop making them so durable. There’s a difference between organic (in the sense of something that was once alive) and fully biodegradable, yet the two are often assumed to be interchangeable. But under exactly the wrong circumstances – such as the anaerobic depths of a landfill – seemingly short-lived substances like food and paper won’t break down at the speed we need them to, let alone metal and plastic. (For a primer, check out William L. Rathje’s Rubbish! The Archaeology of Garbage – 2001).
So let’s celebrate some creative uses of alternative materials. Firstly, the most recent Glastonbury rock festival in England encouraged a shift to biodegradable tent pegs made from starch, to prevent the annual nuisance of metal tent-pegs littering the fields for months afterwards. It’ll be fun seeing where this technology goes – why not biodegradable nails for temporary structures?
And what about the notorious Styrofoam cup, environmental scourge of the last century? Would you believe that someone’s made a biodegradable equivalent? There are now products, such as Earthshell, that can withstand heating – even microwaving – without melting, yet will quickly break into their constituent chemicals when the time is right.
Let’s hope short-term technology has a long life.
Image: michel clair