People vilify plastic. they should use it better instead

人们诋毁塑料,他们本应更好地利用它。

The Intelligence from The Economist

新闻

2025-05-05

22 分钟
PDF

单集简介 ...

Many people view plastic as an environmental disaster that blights landscapes and chokes marine life. Our correspondent argues that instead we need to better understand this miracle material. To make prison work, governments need to have better strategies for managing inmates' release (10:04). And could saying sorry harm your career (16:16)?  Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+
更多

单集文稿 ...

  • The Economist.

  • Hello and welcome to The Intelligence from The Economist.

  • I'm Rosie Bloor.

  • And I'm Jason Palmer.

  • Every weekday we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

  • There have been many conversations over the years about how to make prisons work.

  • But what about when prisoners are finally released?

  • And here in Britain, people are famously quick to say sorry.

  • Our data journalist looks at apologies in the workplace and whether being apologetic gets you further ahead or leaves you in a sorry or position.

  • First up, though.

  • The printful application of Bakelite Resinoid is in the manufacture of molding materials.

  • After the Resinoid has been ground to a fine powder,

  • fillers such as woodmeal or fabric, as well as dyes and pigments are added.

  • The first plastic, as we now think of it, completely synthetic,

  • hardened, endlessly shapeable, was called Bakelite, and it was revolutionary.

  • Containers and bottle caps are now molded from Bakelite materials.

  • Each day produces a new idea for its use.

  • Each day for weeks and months and years and decades.

  • You and Nickel, you're within reaching distance of something plastic right now.

  • So many things in daily use, both in the office or home, are made of Bakelite.