Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!yale!cs.yale.edu!fertig-scott From: fertig-scott@cs.yale.edu (Scott Fertig) Newsgroups: comp.org.ieee Subject: Re: Computer magazine Message-ID: <27939@cs.yale.edu> Date: 22 Dec 90 14:39:54 GMT References: <1990Dec21.191405.2446@pa.dec.com> Sender: news@cs.yale.edu Distribution: na Organization: Yale University Computer Science Dept., New Haven, CT 06520-2158 Lines: 53 Nntp-Posting-Host: winston.systemsy.cs.yale.edu Originator: fertig@winston.CS.Yale.Edu In article <1990Dec21.191405.2446@pa.dec.com> mok@fortsc.enet.dec.com (Charles P. Mok) writes: > >In article <1990Dec18.023921.2097@contact.uucp>, ben@contact.uucp (Ben Eng) writes... >> >>It's funny how Spectrum and Potentials always seem to arrive in the >>mailbox nicely giftwrapped, while Computer magazine always arrives >>unprotected. My issues of Computer end up completely mangled. It's >>really too bad, because it's one of those magazines that is worth >>keeping forever. >> >>I wish they would deliver Computer in some sort of protective >>wrapping! > >Only if it is recycled paper envelope or things like that. I am tired >of seeing unnecessary plastic bags for "protection" of the magazine. >I am not an environmentalist by all means, but I see waste when I see >it. Do you want protection for a magazine or for the planet? This is >the kind of choices we have to make. I agree with the recently expressed sentiment that this packaging discussion has continued for a tiresome period of time. But I also agree that the whole issue is very important. So I'm posting only to clear up a common misunderstanding about packaging options: that there is nothing but non-recyclable plastic or paper to choose from. There is a middle ground between those who want their magazines to arrive undamaged and those who want them to be packaged in a less environmentally damaging manner. Plant fiber cellulose is an ecological alternative to plastic. While sturdier than paper, cellulose is truly biodegradable and, like paper, made from a renewable resource. There is at least one stationery company, Earth Care Paper Inc., that packages its recycled-paper products using cellulose. It is true that energy is consumed to make this form of cellulose, although I believe that the material for its production is excess pulp left from the manufacture of other products (meaning that currently no additional trees are cut down). I suppose there is a good argument that most magazines do not need additional packaging to travel through the US mail undamaged most of the time. But clearly there are times a sturdy package is called for and publishers should be made aware of plant-fiber cellulose as an option. Please no flames about advertising on the net: I have no connection with Earth Care Inc. other than as a customer. -- #ARPA: Fertig-Scott@cs.yale.edu #UUCP: {decvax,linus,seismo}!yale!Fertig-Scott