When it comes to 3D printing, the sky is the limit. As 3D printing technology continues to advance, applications can be as far reaching as airplane and automobile parts to medical devices and even anatomically correct, biocompatible models. Although 3D printing technology is developing at a rapid pace, the technology itself is not new. It emerged in the 1980s as a means of creating rapid prototypes. In recent years the applications for 3D printed models have evolved with the available hardware, software, and printable materials. Evolving technology, paired with the creative and innovative minds of scientists, engineers, and physicians, has been the launching pad for developments within 3D printing technology specific to healthcare. One way 3D printing technology is poised to create better patient outcomes is in creating an anatomically and patient-specific models to aid in surgery and medical procedures. With the capability to 3D ...
With a pending ban on polystyrene containers in California and a shareholder resolution to try an alternative material, McDonald’s Corp. is testing out paper coffee cups on the West Coast, reports Emily Bryson York in the Chicago Tribune.
Bob Langert, vice president of sustainability at McDonald’s, told York that the company started testing double-walled paper in January at 2,000 locations and will continue into the summer, so it’s too soon to comment on the results.
York writes:
Although Langert said legislation has been a factor, ‘it’s not the determining factor’ in making changes, he said. He added that McDonald’s has been looking at alternatives to polystyrene ‘for decades.’ […] McDonald’s phased out plastic foam clamshells for its food in 1990 and subsequently decreased its packaging use by 300 million pounds during the next decade. Nearly 30 percent of the company’s paper packaging is made from recycled material, including items like napkins, Happy Meal boxes, sandwich containers and carryout bags.
Although Rob Wallace, a spokesman for Keep America Beautiful, told the Chicago Tribune that efforts to use sustainable packaging are good, “no disposable product is environmentally benign.”
Both polystyrene and paper have their pros and cons. Polystyrene is considered a particular environmental nuisance because it is lightweight and easily blows into waterways, where it can pose risks to aquatic life. On the other hand, less fuel is used to ship the lighter-weight product.
Paper cups can weigh up to three times more than polystyrene, but the paper is a renewable resource, and polystyrene is made from fossil fuel. Because the paper cups are coated with plastic, they are not recyclable. Polystyrene is recyclable but is not widely available.
John Kalkowski, editorial director of Packaging Digest, noted to York that the costs for paper or polystyrene cups are about the same.
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