Tupperware was a pioneer of ‘multi-level marketing’ and enjoyed decades of success. Its demise offers important lessons for marketers in an age of new ‘side hustles’.
Plastic on its own is not evil. The problem is single-use plastic. Tupperware lasts decades - I’ve got a few containers that mum bought 40+ years ago. Hard to imagine that she was younger than I am when she bought these containers, and they outlasted her.
No argument that we have a plastic problem as a society; but I don’t really see Tupperware itself as a part of that problem.
Got any hot tips on high quality affordable glass containers without plastic components? Standard gaskets, or ones which can be cut from silicone and replaced as needed are ok.
Ideally should survive small drops and boiling water.
There are expensive junk ones at my IGA but something like old Pyrex would be good.
Here’s an interesting study showing that silicone does break down into nanoparticles under mechanical wear, although the particles are chemically stable and non-toxic, and notably compared to plastic, are not released by heating alone.
Regrettably all the IKEA stuff is made in China. Pyrex still makes glass containers with plastic lids, as does Anchor Hocking. Corningware/Corelle is also still a thing.
I’ll have a look. Most IKEA is complete junk but sometimes their products are ok. I hate MDF so much I basically never look at them, awful carcinogenic material with all of the disadvantages of wood and none of the benefits.
the 365 stuff is glass food storage containers, so no MDF. I pretty much use them for the parts, which is the biggest hassle when going eco. Drives me insane how many people sell “eco” glass food storage AND NO REPLACEMENT FUCKING LIDS
I know why it doesn’t happen but I’d like to see gov legislate standard jar mouth dimensions. So everything is interoperable using ground glass surfaces like scientific glassware.
Make whatever shape jar you like or whatever but if it’s a “cold food low volume” or whatever it should just have a standard lid/thread/mating surface.
There’s not really any good reasons to allow companies to make things that don’t work together.
I’m a cheapskate with this, ended up just cleaning out pickle jars when they are used up and reusing them until the lid seal degrades. Apparently with new replacement jar lids they can be used for longer term canning, I only use them for leftover meals.
Yup. That’s what I’m getting at. The problem isn’t how discarded glass directly impacts the environment. It’s far less hazardous than most refuse. The concern is discarded glass won’t be recycled, requiring more new production.
Australia sucks at recycling. When I lived in Germany the residential streets had separate bins for green, brown and clear glass. So it can be recycled while maintaining quality. Separating waste is a matter of social conscience.
Doesn’t most of it go to landfill anyway due to contamination? Every share house I’ve lived in didn’t separate their waste. I used to empty it on the drive way and sort it on bin nights but eventually gave up. Australians are lazy as fuck. Apartment blocks are the worst. Found a microwave in the recycle bin. We’re fucked.
Time to move to glass instead of plastic pollution
Plastic on its own is not evil. The problem is single-use plastic. Tupperware lasts decades - I’ve got a few containers that mum bought 40+ years ago. Hard to imagine that she was younger than I am when she bought these containers, and they outlasted her.
No argument that we have a plastic problem as a society; but I don’t really see Tupperware itself as a part of that problem.
Storing and heating food in plastic is a very large source of nanoplastic and microplastic consumption
Dont microwave them, that’s for sure
Got any hot tips on high quality affordable glass containers without plastic components? Standard gaskets, or ones which can be cut from silicone and replaced as needed are ok.
Ideally should survive small drops and boiling water.
There are expensive junk ones at my IGA but something like old Pyrex would be good.
I have been using beeswax wraps on borosilicate glass containers
Part of me wonders if silicones act like microplastics too
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10499202/
Here’s an interesting study showing that silicone does break down into nanoparticles under mechanical wear, although the particles are chemically stable and non-toxic, and notably compared to plastic, are not released by heating alone.
I wonder if they bioaccumulate in us? Or if we can excrete/break down
Those with silicone breasts are gonna have some trouble then…
No, but Its been studied alot more for a lot longer for being inside the body, so should be much safer.
The material sure but not micro pieces that are nondegradable
I prefer to not abuse animals but have been meaning to make a plant wax based cloth thing for a while. I should step it up.
Ikea 365 has a bunch of shapes with differing lids incl. silicon and bamboo. Lids can be bought separately for replacement
Regrettably all the IKEA stuff is made in China. Pyrex still makes glass containers with plastic lids, as does Anchor Hocking. Corningware/Corelle is also still a thing.
I’ll have a look. Most IKEA is complete junk but sometimes their products are ok. I hate MDF so much I basically never look at them, awful carcinogenic material with all of the disadvantages of wood and none of the benefits.
the 365 stuff is glass food storage containers, so no MDF. I pretty much use them for the parts, which is the biggest hassle when going eco. Drives me insane how many people sell “eco” glass food storage AND NO REPLACEMENT FUCKING LIDS
Yeah I just mean their furniture.
I know why it doesn’t happen but I’d like to see gov legislate standard jar mouth dimensions. So everything is interoperable using ground glass surfaces like scientific glassware.
Make whatever shape jar you like or whatever but if it’s a “cold food low volume” or whatever it should just have a standard lid/thread/mating surface.
There’s not really any good reasons to allow companies to make things that don’t work together.
I’m a cheapskate with this, ended up just cleaning out pickle jars when they are used up and reusing them until the lid seal degrades. Apparently with new replacement jar lids they can be used for longer term canning, I only use them for leftover meals.
It’s not the pollution of glass that’s as much a concern as the lack of materials. The world is running out of sand.
https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/problem-our-dwindling-sand-reserves
No wonder considering all the concrete being poured into large construction projects.
Glass recycles back into glass. Just gotta quit putting it in the landfill.
Yup. That’s what I’m getting at. The problem isn’t how discarded glass directly impacts the environment. It’s far less hazardous than most refuse. The concern is discarded glass won’t be recycled, requiring more new production.
Australia sucks at recycling. When I lived in Germany the residential streets had separate bins for green, brown and clear glass. So it can be recycled while maintaining quality. Separating waste is a matter of social conscience.
@goodthanks @disguy_ovahea wait till you hear what happens to it after it’s collected to be sent to China.
People still talk about the time it all went to landfill anyway after this kind of political fuck-up
https://12ft.io/https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/please-keep-recycling-perth-urged-to-trust-the-system-after-landfill-crisis-20200226-p544oa.html
Doesn’t most of it go to landfill anyway due to contamination? Every share house I’ve lived in didn’t separate their waste. I used to empty it on the drive way and sort it on bin nights but eventually gave up. Australians are lazy as fuck. Apartment blocks are the worst. Found a microwave in the recycle bin. We’re fucked.
Glass uses sand unsuitable for construction
Concrete needs sharp sand, glass can use round sand
There’s not much sharp sand