Malcolm, As far as I know plastics, including polyester (and too many other products), are petroleum derivatives. Rayon (and acetate and such) is made from wood pulp that has been chemically treated and is then extruded through pores to create a fiber. Other than the feel of rayon that it's not made from petroleum is another reason why many people prefer it. What I don't know and would love to hear is if someone has done an environmental impact analysis of the relative trade-offs of using products that come from petroleum and don't break down readily in the environment etc. versus something like rayon (or even cotton for that matter) that comes from a renewable resource but is then chemically treated etc. Come to think of it, I have no idea how rayon breaks down. Anyone?
Elaine On 10/25/07, Malcolm McCallum <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Isn't just about every piece of plastic, man made fiber (rayon, > polyester), etc. created from petroleum? > > It seems like I read that somewhere, but I don't want to quote it as fact > because I cannot now find the info. > > > > On Thu, October 25, 2007 12:12 am, Zachary Wilson wrote: > > Aren't "overpopulation" and human contributions to climate change both > > related to peak oil? Peak oil is the end of cheap, easy-to-get oil (i.e. > the > > oil that gives us fuel and fertilizer to feed 7 billion) and declining > > production. Overpopulation and our contribution to climate change are > the > > result of cheap, easy-to-get oil. Doesn't that mean peak oil is the > > beginning of the end of overpopulation and human-induced climate change? > > Is that an oversimplification? > > > > - zac wilson > > > > > > ------------------------------ > >> > >> Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2007 12:32:18 -0600 > >> From: Randy Bangert <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >> Subject: Re: Denial * 2: Climate Change and Economic > >> > >> I would add the topics of overpopulation and 'end of oil' as being of > >> vital importance. I am perplexed as to why we do not engage the topic > >> of overpopulation as that is the fundamental cause of the problems > >> under discussion. People on this list have argued that we can > >> continue population increase. As Joe indicated, is overpopulation > >> also not trendy, is it too taboo, or are we all too steeped in > >> denial? Why do we continue to discuss the bandaids rather than the > >> root cause? > >> > >> randy > >> ======================================= > >> RK Bangert, PhD > >> P.O. Box 335 > >> Mancos, CO 81328 > >> > > Malcolm L. McCallum > Assistant Professor of Biology > Editor Herpetological Conservation and Biology > http://www.herpconbio.org > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > --
