A recent study looked at what truly motivates people to make a change for the health of the environment. The results? Anger.
Interesting, right? Since anger is a motivating force for change. Here is something is is sure to get you riled up. Yesterday we talked about the birth of chasing arrows, but here’s the part I didn’t tell you:
The contest to create the symbol was created by the Container Corporation of America and originally the symbol was intended for cardboard. But in 1988 The Society of Plastics Institute co-opted the symbol as part of their resin identification codes (RIF). That’s when the numbers started popping up inside of the arrows (each plastic has an identification code from 1-7).
So, even thought the plastics industry knew that all of their plastics actually couldn’t be recycled, or were rarely if ever were recycled, they put the symbols on there anyway to imply they were recyclable.
Here is a quote from a previous SPI president,
“I
f the public thinks that recycling is working, then they are not going to be as concerned about the environment.”
If that doesn’t piss you off, I don’t know what will. Oh, okay…How about this?
The reason the symbol continues to be on all plastics, even when the plastic cannot or is not recycled in the area? Purposeful lobbying from the plastics industry.
Properly pissed? Great! Get out there and make some change.
Let’s build that bridge,
Rebecca