Plastic Bag Man: A Retrospect

(Due to a rather frenetic schedule, Cryptic Moth blog posts are usually delayed by a week or so. In the melee, we failed to post a shoot that was by no means forgettable.)



On good advice, we headed to Oroville, CA to meet Robert, President of Roplast Industries.



They manufacture plastic bags of all kinds – mainly thicker, reusable ones – and are tinkering with bioplastic resins.




We wanted to speak about the responsibility that industry was taking in regards to pellet loss.



For the uninitiated, most plastic manufacturers receive their raw materials as small pellets shipped on trucks or trains. They are then vacuum-sucked into the factory to be melted and blown into bags or molded into shapes.



Unfortunately, many plants – when disconnecting the hoses – lose a considerable amount of pellets. During heavy rains, those pellets mimic food for some animals as they make it to open water.



Robert is determined to eliminate that.



He personally gave us a tour of the tracks where the materials arrive. Collection buckets were present...as were pellets.



But the yard was definitely cleaner than most. Case in point - the storm drain that runs off the property showed only a few pellets. Still, Robert knows that more can be done.



During the interview Robert voiced his frustration towards those in industry ignorant to change and how enforcement of “voluntary” initiatives is virtually non-existent. Robert also doubted the viabilty of bio resins replacing petroleum bags, citing recycling as a better solution.




Cryptic Moth thanks Robert for his candor and corporate responsibilities that go beyond the bottom line.

On a somber note, Celine Baekeland Roll Karraker recently passed. Cryptic Moth was lucky enough to spend an afternoon with Celine, the grand daughter of Bakelite's inventor (see blog post Plastics 101). We extend our heatfelt wishes to Hugh and his family.

Out.

G+I