Articoli di riviste sul tema "Chlorure de polyvinyle – Recyclage"

Meat fermentation is an important processing method with enormous nutritional and health benefits. A study was conducted to examine the sensory properties of fermented cattle and camel beef Kilishi. The effects of meat type, age and packaging on this meat quality attribute were evaluated. The experimental meat samples were fermented before utilized in Kilishi processing. The chunks of meat were sliced and then inoculated with lactic meat starter culture at three concentrations (2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 g /100 ml w/v). Kilishi samples for the sensory assessment were taken from each product lot. The experiment for the second trial was laid in a 2 x 3 x 4 factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design. The factors are two animal species (cattle and camel) aged 3, 5 and 8 years and above and four packaging arrangements: brown paper (B), polyvinyl chloride (P), aluminium foil and polyvinyl chloride (AP), brown paper and polyvinyl chloride (BP). Data generated were analysed by analysis of variance using SPSS Version 20.0 and GraphPad Instat while significantly different means were separated with Tukey HSD test. The result of sensory evaluation of the experimental Kilishi indicated that colour was ranked high and the product prepared from animals aged 5 years (middle age) and packaged in polyvinyl chloride material was the one preferred. It was concluded that fermentation and packaging improved the sensory quality of the product. Fermentation of cattle and camel beef of animals aged 5 years using 2.5% meat starter culture and the use of PVC-based package were recommended in semi-arid environment of Nigeria. La fermentation de la viande est une méthode de traitement importante avec d'énormes avantages nutritionnels et de santé. Cette étude a été menée pour examiner les propriétés sensorielles des bovins fermentés et du Kilishi de bovins à base de chameaux. Les effets du type de viande, de l'âge et de l'emballage sur cet attribut de qualité de la viande ont été évalués. Les échantillons de viande expérimentaux étaient fermentés avant l'utilisation de la transformation du Kilishi. Les morceaux de viande ont été tranchés puis inoculés avec une culture de démarreur de la viande lactique à trois concentrations (2,5, 5,0 et 7,5 g / 100 ml w/v). Les échantillons de Kilishi pour l'évaluation sensorielle ont été prélevés sur chaque lot de produit. L'expérience du deuxième essai a été déposée dans un arrangement factoriel de 2 x 3 x 4 dans une conception complètement randomisée. Les facteurs sont deux espèces animales (bovins et chameaux) âgés de 3, 5 et 8 ans et plus et quatre arrangementsd'emballage: papier brun (P), chlorure de polyvinyle (C), feuille d'aluminium et chlorure de polyvinyle (FC), papier brun et polyvinyle chlorure (PC). Les données générées ont été analysées par analyse de la variance à l'aide de SPSS version 20.0 et du graphique PadinStat, tandis que des moyens nettement différents ont été séparés avec un test de Tukey DFS. Le résultat de l'évaluation sensorielle des Kilishi expérimentaux a indiqué que la couleur était élevée et le produit préparé à partir d'animaux âgés de 5 ans (âge moyen) et emballé dans des matériaux de chlorure de polyvinyle était celui préféré. Il a été conclu que la fermentation et l'emballage ont amélioré la qualité sensorielle du produit. Fermentation du bétail et du bœuf à base de chameaux d'animaux âgés de 5 ans en utilisant une culture de démarrage de 2,5% de la viande et l'utilisation de colis à base de PVC ont été recommandées dans un environnement semi-aride du Nigéria.

In terms of the contemporary plastic industry, world production of polyvinyl chloride is second only to polyolefins. Recyclable by almost all known methods, polyvinyl chloride offers high strength, good insulating properties, as well as resistance to acids, oxidising agents and solvents. At the same time, the ability to process polyvinyl chloride into products is limited by its lack of stability at high melt viscosity temperatures, since hydrogen chloride released during its heating catalyses further process of polymer decomposition. Thus, due to the softening temperature of polyvinyl chloride being higher than its decomposition temperature, it cannot be processed in its pure form. Consequently, functional polyvinyl chloride-based materials tend to be composites. By varying the composition of mixtures, plastic masses characterised by either very soft (plastic compounds) or hard (vinyl plastics) structures can be obtained. The properties of polyvinyl chloride-based polymer products are largely determined by the structure and morphology of the polymer. In the present work, the properties of industrial suspension polyvinyl chloride (Sayanskkhimplast JSC, Irkutsk Oblast) were studied in detail for the first time. The molecular weight of the polymer determined by the viscometric method was 1.0 · 106. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that polyvinyl chloride mass loss started to occur at 160 °C. Following the complete IR band assignment of the polymer, the polyvinyl chloride under study was established to contain no foreign substances (impurities of stabilisers, emulsifiers and additives). The diffraction curve of the polymer was established to be qualitatively similar to equivalent partially crystalline polymers. Two amorphous halos were detected at 2θ of 24° 30′ and 39° 30′ below a group of crystalline peaks. The crystallinity degree of polyvinyl chloride was determined and mechanisms for the formation of its regular and irregular structure were proposed.

Thermal degradation of polyene synthesized from recycle polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and hardness of polyene coated with modified oil has been studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and microhardness test. The synthesized polyene from reaction of recycle PVC were varied from 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours and 4 hours and their thermal stability has been analyzed. From differential thermal gravimetric, DTG curve, polyene from two hours reaction showed the highest degradation temperature up to 445°C due to degradation of polyene sequences. Microhardness test performed by Shimadzu DUH 211/DUH-211S dynamic ultra microhardness tester according to ASTM E384 showed that polyene derived from 2 hours PVC with modifed oil resin resulted in the highest microhardness ~ 107.99 MPa.

India generates nearly 26,000 a lot of plastics on a daily basis. These plastics pollute the water and soil. The solid plastic wastes incinerated by the municipal agency pollute the air. Consistent with Central Pollution panel 94% of the plastics are thermoplastics or recyclable materials like PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)The purpose of bioplastic production is an alternate for synthetic plastic. The starch may is a natural biopolymer. Cassava is employed to provide the bioplastic by using glycerol plasticizer. Perform Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy ( FTIR) for functional groups present within the bioplastic And analysis of degradation potential of developed bioplastic.

A novel solid-acid catalyst (PVC-EDA-SO4H) based on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were prepared after amination of Ethylenediamine (EDA) and anchorage of sulfuric acid. The as-prepared catalyst was characterized by FT-IR, Element analysis, Chemical titration and Thermal analysis, the results indicated that the sulfuric acid was successfully anchored on PVC. The PVC-EDA-SO4H showed excellent catalytic performance for the synthesis of bisphenol F, and achieved almost high yield and selectivity (94%) of BPF under the mind reaction conditions. Meanwhile, exhibited excellent reusability without the significant loss after six cycles via simple filtration.

Abstract Multilayer packaging (MLP) is made from Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP), Ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and tie layer materials. MLPs are either burned or dumped in landfills after their use, which causes many hazards to humans and the environment. MLPs are recycled in recycling facilities and converted into pellets to reuse them. However, the MLPs are strongly contaminated by volatile organic compounds and odorous compounds, which prevents their use in high-end applications, i.e., cosmetics, packaging, etc. In the research work, a remediation strategy is proposed to reduce VOCs and odorous compounds from MLP recyclates using heated air oven treatments, which are also easily scalable to pilot and industrial scales. VOCs and odor are reduced significantly without compromising the product’s mechanical, thermal, and other properties.

Recycling of recycled polymer raw materials, in particular PVC waste, is undoubtedly one of the key components of the modern world. A significant place among PVC-based waste is occupied by linoleum, foam, laminated wallpaper, sanitary PVC pipes, artificial leather for haberdashery and technical purposes, agricultural and insulating films, PVC hoses, containers, used packaging. Currently, there are no effective ways to recycle them, so most of the waste is disposed or incinerated.This article shows the possibility of using dispersed powder materials obtained by high-temperature shear grinding of waste from the production of polyvinyl chloride materials. The design of a rotary dispersant for carrying out the process of high-temperature shear grinding of polymer products is considered.It has been established that in the process of waste PVC material recycling simultaneously with the process of high-temperature shear grinding, it is possible to modify the polymer material by introducing 1–3 wt. fr. of metal-containing heat stabilizers and 10–30 wt. fr. of plasticizers into the feedstock. This leads to an increase in the thermal stability margin by 15–50 min and an improvement in the flow rate of the melt processed together with ester plasticizers of the material by 20–35 %, as well as an improvement in the manufacturability of the dispersion process.The conducted research suggests an economically and environmentally beneficial possibility of recycling polyvinyl chloride materials, and opens up ways to create technological schemes closed in material and energy flows.

The U.S. healthcare system generates more than five billion pounds of waste each year. Waste disposal has become a serious environmental problem facing healthcare institutions. The operating room is the second largest source of hospital waste, and no current standards exist regarding perfusion waste reuse or recycling. A typical perfusion circuit produces approximately 15 pounds of plastic that ends up incinerated once used. Contaminated perfusion circuits consisting primarily of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polycarbonate are difficult to sterilize, reuse, or recycle. A literature review of Internet-based and peer-reviewed publications was conducted to identify all resources that describe sterilizing, dechlorinating, reusing, and recycling of medical-grade disposable products. There are several chemical methods available to re-harvest PVC after it has been properly decontaminated and melted down. Dichlorination by near-critical methanol shows promise in the recovery of additives such as plasticizers, stabilizers, and lubricants. The reinjection of PVC may have ecological and economic advantages. Dechlorinated PVC also creates a less toxic by-product when incinerated. Although this process is not recycling, it lessens the impact of poisonous chlorine gas release into the atmosphere. Sterilizing, dechlorinating, and recycling the perfusion circuit may be a promising avenue for reducing the ecological impact of perfusion waste. Although an economically sensitive mode of reusing, reducing, and recycling a circuit does not currently exist, this presentation will explore the perfusion waste dilemma and present potential solutions in hopes of promoting future reuse and recycling opportunities.

This study aims to demonstrate the feasibility of obtaining wood-polymer composites, which focus on materials that are difficult to recycle. For this purpose, local poplar and pavloniya wood samples, the density of which corresponds to this process, were impregnated with polyvinyl chloride and CaCO3, which form free radicals. Samples were taken using a hot press. Physico-mechanical parameters of the samples were analyzed. Due to the low permeability of the poplar wood showed only increasing values of stiffness parallel and perpendicular to the grain. Undebarked ponderosa pine chips were treated by hot water extraction to modify the chemical composition. In the treated pine (TP), the mass was reduced by approximately 20%, and the extract was composed mainly of degradation products of hemicelluloses. Wood flour produced from TP and unextracted chips (untreated pine, UP) was blended with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) and was extruded into wood plastic composites (WPCs).

Hexagonal honeycomb cores have found extensive applications particularly in the aerospace and naval industries. In view of the recent interest in novel strong and lightweight core architectures, square honeycomb cores were manufactured and tested under uniform lateral compression. A slotting technique has been used to manufacture the square honeycomb cores based on three different materials; glass fibre-reinforced plastic (GFRP), carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) and self-reinforced polypropylene (SRPP). As semi-rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) foam was placed in each of unit cells to further stiffen the core structure. The core then was bonded to two skins to form a sandwich structure. The compressive responses of the sandwich structures were measured as a function of relative density. In this paper, particular focus is placed on examining the compression strength and energy absorption characteristics of the square honeycombs with and without the additional foam core. Comparisons in terms of specific strength and specific energy absorption have shown that the CFRP core offers excellent properties. The presence of the foam core significantly increases the energy absorption capability of overall structure and the SRPP core could potentially be used as an alternative lightweight core material in recyclable sandwich structures.

This study intends to show the potential application of a non-recyclable plastic waste towards the development of electrically conductive nanocomposites. Herein, the conductive nanofiller and binding matrix are carbon nanotubes (CNT) and polystyrene (PS), respectively, and the waste material is a plastic foam consisting of mainly vulcanized nitrile butadiene rubber and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Two nanocomposite systems, i.e., PS/Waste/CNT and PS/CNT, with different compositions were melt-blended in a mixer and characterized for electrical properties. Higher electrical conduction and improved electromagnetic interference shielding performance in PS/Waste/CNT system indicated better conductive network of CNTs. For instance, at 1.0 wt.% CNT loading, the PS/Waste/CNT nanocomposites with the plastic waste content of 30 and 50 wt.% conducted electricity 3 and 4 orders of magnitude higher than the PS/CNT nanocomposite, respectively. More importantly, incorporation of the plastic waste (50 wt.%) reduced the electrical percolation threshold by 30% in comparison with the PS/CNT nanocomposite. The enhanced network of CNTs in PS/Waste/CNT samples was attributed to double percolation morphology, evidenced by optical images and rheological tests, caused by the excluded volume effect of the plastic waste. Indeed, due to its high content of vulcanized rubber, the plastic waste did not melt during the blending process. As a result, CNTs concentrated in the PS phase, forming a denser interconnected network in PS/Waste/CNT samples.

The development of methods to reuse large volumes of plastic waste is essential to curb the environmental impact of plastic pollution. Plastic-reinforced cementitious materials (PRCs), such as plastic-reinforced mortar (PRM), may be potential avenues to productively use large quantities of low-value plastic waste. However, poor bonding between the plastic and cement matrix reduces the strength of PRCs, limiting its viable applications. In this study, calcium carbonate biomineralization techniques were applied to coat plastic waste and improved the compressive strength of PRM. Two biomineralization treatments were examined: enzymatically induced calcium carbonate precipitation (EICP) and microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP). MICP treatment of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resulted in PRMs with compressive strengths similar to that of plastic-free mortar and higher than the compressive strengths of PRMs with untreated or EICP-treated PET. Based on the results of this study, MICP was used to treat hard-to-recycle types 3–7 plastic waste. No plastics investigated in this study inhibited the MICP process. PRM samples with 5% MICP-treated polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and mixed type 3–7 plastic had compressive strengths similar to plastic-free mortar. These results indicate that MICP treatment can improve PRM strength and that MICP-treated PRM shows promise as a method to reuse plastic waste.

On the first day of 2019, Government of Denpasar City, Bali, published a new regulation, namely Mayor Regulation No. 36/2018 (Perwali No. 36 Tahun 2018) to minimize the usage of plastic, as single used shopping Bags in Denpasar City. The regulation has been active since January 1, 2019. Plastic has become part of modern days civilization. Various industries apply the usage of plastic, due to its durability, lightweight and easy to afford. However, beyond all the convenience it offers, turns out a terrible fact awaits; a hazardous plastic waste that impossible to decompose naturally. Plastic is classified into seven types according to its composition, they are Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Polypropylene (PP), Polystyrene (PS) and the ‘O.’ Plastic is recyclable, nevertheless, it mostly ended in the ocean, due to the finite availability of plastic recycler in Indonesia, as well as low social awareness in keeping the environment clean. Mayor Regulation No.36/2018 is an effort of Denpasar city to minimize single-use plastic bag. The Government through the local regulation suggests shopping centers and modern stores provide environmental-friendly alternative bags with biodegradable standard or permanent bags that can be used repeatedly, to reduce society’s dependence on using single-use plastic bags when shopping. The regulation is a clear example of Denpasar City in preserving the environment based on the philosophical foundation of the concept of Tri Hita Karana. It is a Balinese concept to maintain harmonious relationships between humans to God, among humankind, as well as human and their environment.

In modern Russia and the CIS countries, phosphogypsum waste is an urgent environmental problem. This product is obtained in the production of phosphoric acid and is a large tonnage of low-recyclable waste. According to open sources, it is processed 20 times less than it is produced. Attempts to use it in cement production, in construction, in agricultural purposes do not lead to a cardinal fracture and it is still accumulating. In this regard, the topic of processing and use of phosphogypsum is an urgent topic. In the modern world there is a demand for bright luminescent colors, paints, consumer goods. An analysis of the literature showed that phosphors can be made from various chemicals, including metal sulfides. The purpose of the work is to study the possibility of obtaining a phosphor from phosphogypsum and its use as a filler-pigment for polymer products. The phosphor was obtained from phosphogypsum by the reduction of phosphogypsum with an organic substance. This phosphor was studied in polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene and other polymer matrices. It is shown to be compatible with polyolefins, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, nitrocellulose matrices; not compatible with epoxy matrices. It is shown that at the melting temperature of polymers this phosphor does not decompose, does not lose its properties. As a result of the work, conclusions were drawn about the possibility of obtaining a cheap phosphor filler, which is compatible with many industrial polymers. This phosphor can be used in toys, in the manufacture of special luminescent paint and consumer goods..

In the present research, we investigated the conceivable outcomes of using ground tire rubber (GTR) particle polymeric blends. Special methods of restoring tires that are no longer in use include GTR retreading, GTR blending destined for recycling to attain raw substances utilized in other industrial application production processes, and the valorization of GTR for power/energy generation. The recycling of end-of-life tires enables the recovery of rubber, steel, and fibers, all of which are valid on the market as raw materials to be used for other processes. There are methods to recycle GTRs in a clean and environmentally friendly way. In the present research, several industrial applications of GTR polymer blends were developed and compared with standard values from the Spanish Association for Standardization (UNE) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). In order to analyze the viability in many of the industrial applications selected, certain compounds obtained from the GTR polymer blends were analyzed regarding their use in nine low requirement insulator applications. The research and analysis developed in this manuscript used standard values from the UNE and IEC, and these standard values were compared with the test values. The obtained results were used to provide an application list that could be helpful for industrial applications. In this research, the pre-owned polymers were as follows: polypropylene (PP), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polystyrene (PS), acrylonitrile butadiene-styrene (ABS), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyamide (PA). The filler used was GTR with particle sizes lower than 200 microns. The amounts of GTR particles in the compound materials were 0% (raw polymer), 5%, 10%, 20%, 40%, 50%, and 70% (the latter being found in polymeric blends). We discovered six plausible modern applications of GTR polymer blends as indicated by the UNE and IEC standards.

The work is devoted to the filling of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) compositions modified with ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene styrene) in a wide concentration range, intended for the production of profiles and moldings of various functional purposes, with short-fiber basalt fiber. Powdered samples were made by extrusion (in the form of flat profiles) and by thermoplasticizing on rolls (in the form of films). Introduction of 10-40 phr ABS in PVC formulation makes it easier to recycle the composition. Similar situation is observed when these compositions are filled with basalt fiber, which leads to insignificant decrease of MFR (melt flow index) and thermal stability, which in general does not reflect negatively on melt flow conditions, at the same time extrudate swelling index decreases by 10-15%, which indicates possibility to provide products with more precise geometric dimensions. The change in the supramolecular structure was evaluated by thermomechanical tests and by energy dispersive analysis using electron microscopy data. Thermomechanical analysis showed that the presence of large doses of ABS has a positive effect on the technological properties, leading to an earlier development of highly elastic deformations and a decrease in the yield point of the compositions. Basalt fiber contributes to an insignificant decrease in the value of high elastic deformations and an increase in the density index of meshing knots. Energy dispersion analysis has shown that introduction of basalt fiber leads to formation of homogeneous structure of PVC at lower concentrations of ABS in the composition, influencing on increase of melt flowability and thermal stability. Improved technological properties of PVC compositions filled with short-fiber basalt fiber, modified with different concentrations of ABS, allow to recommend them for production of a wide range of profile and molded products.

Abstract Fresh surface color of beef remains a focus for consumers at the time of purchasing in the retail sector. The objective of this study was to evaluate instrumental surface color, expert color evaluation, and lipid oxidation (TBARS) on beef longissimus lumborum steaks packaged using recycle-ready film (RRF) or polyvinyl chloride overwrap (PVC). Paired strip loins (IMPS # 180), fabricated from beef carcasses (n = 7) 10 d postmortem, cut into 2.54 cm-thick steaks, and assigned to one of two packaging treatments RRF (OTR = 0.8 cc/m2/24 h) or PVC (OTR = 14,000 cc/m2/24 h). Steaks were stored under simulated retail conditions (3 °C ± 1.5 °C) in a LED (2297 lux) lighted, three-tiered retail cabinet, rotated daily among shelves for 35 days. From d 0 to 35 objective surface color was captured every 5 days to record changes in lightness (L*), redness (a*), yellowness (b*), Chroma, Hue Angle, and calculated values of spectral wavelengths (Red to Brown, Oxymyoglobin, Deoxymyoglobin, & Metmyoglobin) using a HunterLab colorimeter. Steaks packaged in RRF became lighter (L*) as display period increased (P < 0.05), whereas steaks packaged in PVC became darker (P < 0.05). Redness (a*) values were greatest (P < 0.05) for PVC steaks until day 5, whereas RRF steaks had greater (P < 0.05) surface redness from day 10 to 35 of the display period. Calculated spectral values red to brown were greater (P < 0.05) for steaks in RRF than PVC. Expert color evaluators rated RRF steaks having less browning and less discoloration (P < 0.05) from day 5 to 35 of display. Lipid oxidation was greater (P < 0.05) for PVC steaks from day 10 through day 35 of the display. These results suggest that the use of RRF vacuum packaging for beef steaks is plausible and can maintain surface color characteristics during extended display periods.

The subject of the study is the energy efficiency of the polymer extrusion process in a single-screw extruder for the polymer materials processing. The purpose of the research is to improve the design of the feeding section of the single-screw extruder cylinder, which consists in placing thermal paste in the gap between the connecting cylindrical surfaces of the removable cylindrical sleeve and the channel of the feeding section cylinder, which reduces the thermal resistance of the section wall and improves heat transfer from the processed material to the cooling water, and therefore, it makes it possible to reduce its consumption. To check the energy efficiency of the proposed technical solution, thermal calculation of the basic and modernized structures of the feeding section cylinder was performed in the Steady Thermal model of the Ansys program. Polyvinyl chloride brand SorVyl G 2171/9005 11/01 was chosen as a recyclable polymer, alloy steel as the material of the feeding section elements, and thermal paste with a thermal conductivity of 4 W/(m·K) as a filler for the annular space between the cylinder and the sleeve. The analysis of the calculations showed that the use of thermal paste instead of air in the gap between the cylinder and the removable cylindrical sleeve reduces the thermal resistance of the cylinder wall by 9 %, while with the traditional method of assembling the extruder body, the temperature on the inner surface of the sleeve was 67.5 °C, and under the condition application of thermal paste – 61.5 °C. At the same time, the temperature field along the length of the feeding section of the cylinder is also equalized. In addition, it is worth noting that the type of thermal paste used has almost no effect on the thermal resistance of the section wall, so in the proposed design it is possible to use low-cost thermal paste (replacing the thermal paste with a thermal conductivity of 4 W/(m·K) with a more effective one with a thermal conductivity of 8.4 W/(m·K) reduced the temperature on the inner surface of the sleeve by only 1 K). The proposed improvement of the feeding section of the cylinder of a single-screw extruder can be applied not only in the polymer processing industry, but also in the food and processing industries in the construction of screw machines for various purposes. Reducing the thermal resistance of the cylinder section wall of the single-screw extruder ensures a reduction in the flow of cooling water circulating in the cylinder channel and equalizes the temperature field along the length of the feeding section of the cylinder, and therefore prevents premature melting of the polymer and ensures reliable generation of pressure in the working channel of the extruder.

Background: Personal protective equipment has important environmental impacts, assessing these impacts is therefore an important element of personal protective equipment design. We applied carbon footprinting methodology to Bubble-PAPR™, a novel, part-reusable and part-recyclable powered air-purifying respirator, designed at our institution. Current guidance states that disposable respirator masks can be worn for 1-h in the United Kingdom, whilst the Bubble-PAPR™ allows prolonged use. Methods: Following a detailed use-case analysis, the carbon footprint of each component was estimated using a bottom-up (attributional) cradle-to-grave process-based analysis. Modelling considered the use of virgin or closed loop recycled polyvinyl chloride for the disposable hood element, and disposal via infectious or recycling waste streams to estimate a per-use carbon footprint. Results: The per-use carbon footprint with manufacture from virgin polyvinyl chloride and disposal via incineration is 0.805 kgCO2e. With nine cycles of closed loop recycling and manufacture of the polyvinyl chloride hood (10 uses), the carbon footprint falls to an average of 0.570 kgCO2e per use. Conclusion: Carbon footprinting may contribute to the value proposition of this novel technology. We estimate that a single Bubble-PAPR™ use has a higher carbon footprint than disposable respirator mask-based PPE. However, this is mitigated in circumstances when multiple disposable mask changes are required (e.g. prolonged use) and use may be justifiable when user comfort, visualisation and communication with patients and colleagues are essential.

AbstractIn this paper, we investigate the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on European and Chinese unsustainable and non-recyclable plastic markets, specifically those used for the production of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). We explore exogenous economic and commodity price impacts on polypropylene, acrylonitrile and polyvinyl-chloride, via VECM and Granger causality analysis, with the results remaining robust under testing. We find that price shocks from rubber and EUROSTOXX are significantly correlated with PPE materials, to a greater extent than crude oil, unexpectedly relating price declines in PPE materials to factors beyond medical demand. This will aid a policymakers and industry understand the factors that affect the price of unsustainable and non-recyclable PPE materials, respond to the need for pandemic PPE provision and reduce the potential environmental impact of future pandemics.

Background: N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) administered by the IV route is the current treatment of choice for acetaminophen overdose. However, the protocol approved by health authorities in most countries has a complex dosing regimen, which leads to dosage errors in one-third of cases. Therefore, the Canadian Antidote Guide in Acute Care Toxicology and individual poison centres have begun to recommend a simplified regimen using continuous IV infusion. Unfortunately, no study has demonstrated the stability of IV solutions of NAC at concentrations above 30 mg/mL or in solutions other than 5% dextrose. Objective: To evaluate the stability of solutions of NAC 60 mg/mL in 0.9% sodium chloride, 0.45% sodium chloride, or 5% dextrose, stored for up to 72 hours in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) bags at 25°C. Methods: Solutions of the desired concentration were prepared from a commercial solution of NAC 200 mg/mL, with dilution in 0.9% sodium chloride, 0.45% sodium chloride, or 5% dextrose, and were then stored at room temperature in PVC bags for up to 72 hours. At predetermined time points (0, 16, 24, 40, 48 and 72 h), samples were collected and analyzed using a stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatography method. A solution was considered stable if it maintained at least 90.0% of its initial concentration. Particulate matter count was also evaluated to confirm chemical stability. Finally, organoleptic properties, such as odour and colour, were evaluated to assess the stability of the solutions. Results: All solutions maintained at least 98.7% of their initial concentration. No obvious changes in odour or colour were observed. Moreover, particle counts remained acceptable throughout the study, according to the criteria specified in United States Pharmacopeia (USP) General Chapter <788>. Conclusions: NAC 60 mg/mL, diluted in 0.9% sodium chloride, 0.45% sodium chloride, or 5% dextrose and stored in PVC bags at 25°C, was chemically and physically stable for a period of at least 72 hours. RÉSUMÉ Contexte : La N-acétylcystéine (NAC) administrée par IV est actuellement le traitement de choix en cas de surdose d’acétaminophène. Cependant, le protocole approuvé par les autorités sanitaires de la plupart des pays s’accompagne d’un schéma posologique complexe qui entraîne des erreurs de dosage dans un tiers des cas. C’est pourquoi, le Guide canadien des antidotes en toxicologie d’urgence et les centres antipoison ont commencé à recommander un schéma simplifié utilisant des perfusions IV. Malheureusement, aucune étude n’a permis de démontrer la stabilité des solutions IV de NAC à des concentrations supérieures à 30 mg/mL ou dans des solutions autres que 5 % de dextrose. Objectif : Évaluer la stabilité des solutions de 60 mg/mL de NAC dans 0,9 % de chlorure de sodium, 0,45 % de chlorure de sodium ou 5 % de dextrose, stockées jusqu’à 72 heures dans des pochettes de chlorure de polyvinyle (PVC) à 25 °C. Méthodes : Les solutions ont été préparées à partir d’une solution commerciale de 200 mg/mL de NAC, avec une dilution dans 0,9 % de chlorure de sodium, dans 0,45 % de chlorure de sodium ou dans 5 % de dextrose. Elles ont ensuite été stockées à température ambiante dans des pochettes en PVC pendant une période allant jusqu’à 72 h. À des instants prédéterminés (0, 16, 24, 40, 48 et 72 h), des échantillons étaient recueillis et analysés à l’aide d’une méthode de chromatographie en phase liquide à haute performance indiquant la stabilité. Si la solution préservait au moins 90 % de sa concentration initiale, elle était jugée stable. Un comptage de particules a aussi permis de confirmer la stabilité chimique. Finalement, les propriétés organoleptiques, comme l’odeur et la couleur, ont été examinées pour évaluer la stabilité des solutions de NAC. Résultats : Toutes les solutions préservaient au moins 98,7 % de leur concentration initiale. Aucun changement manifeste d’odeur ou de couleur n’a été observé. De plus, le nombre de particules est resté acceptable pendant toute la durée de l’étude selon les critères indiqués dans le chapitre général de la Pharmacopée américaine (USP) <788>. Conclusions : La solution de 60 mg/mL de NAC, diluée dans 0,9 % de chlorure de sodium, dans 0,45 % de chlorure de sodium ou dans 5 % de dextrose et stockée dans des pochettes en PVC à 25 °C était chimiquement et physiquement stable pendant au moins 72 h.

Plastics have been used in many areas of our daily lives for years generating large amount of post-consumption wastes. It is important to recycle and reuse of these materials since they remain without degrading for many years causing harm to the environment. Thermoplastic foams are widely used as thermal insulation, automotive seating, packaging, furniture and energy absorbing materials due to their low density, high strength/weight ratio, high energy absorption performance and superior insulation properties. In this study, potential usage of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), one of the most used plastics, in the manufacture of PVC foams were aimed. For this purpose, the effect of chemical foaming agent amount on the some physical, mechanical and morphology properties of PVC foams were investigated. According to the obtained results, the use of foaming agent provided up to 40% reduction in the density of PVC foams. With chemical foaming agent amount were increased specific impact strength values of PVC foams. Cell structure of foams was also investigated and an increase in cell coalescence with the increase of chemical foaming agents was observed.

AbstractWith the development of new energy vehicles, there is a growing demand for automotive interior materials that meet higher standards. In this case, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), being a completely recyclable environment‐friendly polymer material, possesses advantages such as plasticizers and solvents free, excellent mechanical properties, less volatile organic compounds (VOC) release and low processing cost compared with polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane (PU), and thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) skins, become a desirable choice for automotive injection molding automotive skin. Hence, this work investigates the influence of hydrogenated styrene‐butadiene‐styrene block copolymer (SEBS) molecular weight, chemical structure, and polypropylene (PP) doping amount on thermodynamic, crystallinity, rheological, and mechanical properties of TPE, which provides a scientific basis for guiding the material selection of TPE injection molding skin.

We perform the conversion of a commodity plastic of common use in pipes, window frames, medical devices, flexible hoses, etc. like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to single‐chain nanoparticles (SCNPs). SCNPs are versatile, protein‐mimetic soft nano‐objects of growing interest for catalysis, sensing, and nanomedicine, among other uses. We demonstrate that the metamorphosis process ‐as induced through metal‐free click chemistry‐ leads to well‐defined, uniform SCNPs that are stable during storage in the solid state for months. All the conversion process (from PVC isolation to PVC‐SCNPs synthesis) can be run in a green, dipolar aprotic solvent and involving, when required, a simple mixture of ethanol and water (1/1 vol.) as non‐solvent. The resulting PVC‐SCNPs are investigated as recyclable, metalloenzyme‐mimetic catalysts for several representative Cu(II)‐catalyzed organic reactions. The method could be valid for the metamorphosis and valorization of other commodity plastics in which it is feasible to install azide functional groups in their linear polymer chains.

We perform the conversion of a commodity plastic of common use in pipes, window frames, medical devices, flexible hoses, etc. like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to single‐chain nanoparticles (SCNPs). SCNPs are versatile, protein‐mimetic soft nano‐objects of growing interest for catalysis, sensing, and nanomedicine, among other uses. We demonstrate that the metamorphosis process ‐as induced through metal‐free click chemistry‐ leads to well‐defined, uniform SCNPs that are stable during storage in the solid state for months. All the conversion process (from PVC isolation to PVC‐SCNPs synthesis) can be run in a green, dipolar aprotic solvent and involving, when required, a simple mixture of ethanol and water (1/1 vol.) as non‐solvent. The resulting PVC‐SCNPs are investigated as recyclable, metalloenzyme‐mimetic catalysts for several representative Cu(II)‐catalyzed organic reactions. The method could be valid for the metamorphosis and valorization of other commodity plastics in which it is feasible to install azide functional groups in their linear polymer chains.

The recycling of plastic waste is important both in the conservation of resources and the environment. A plastic waste (polyethylene(PE)/polypropylene(PP)/polystyrene(PS)/polyvinyl chloride(PVC)) was pyrolyzed over a series of post-use fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts using a fluidizing reaction system similar to the FCC process operating isothermally at ambient pressure. Experiments carried out with these catalysts gave good yields of valuable hydrocarbons with differing selectivity in the final products dependent on reaction conditions. A model based on kinetic considerations associated with chemical reactions and catalyst deactivation in the catalytic degradation of plastics has been developed. Greater product selectivity was observed with a hybrid catalyst (SAHA/CAT-R1) of amorphous silica-aluminas (SAHA) and a recycle FCC catalyst with regeneration (CAT-R1) with more than 68.6 wt. % olefins products. It is demonstrated that the catalytic degradation of postconsumer plastics over these recycled catalysts using fluidizing cracking reactions was shown to be a useful method for the production of potentially valuable hydrocarbons.

Waste in millions of tons is produced in the world each year and most of it is not recyclable. Furthermore, recycling waste consumes energy and produces pollution. In addition, the accumulation of waste in suburbs and disposal of waste is dangerous for the environment. Using waste material in concrete production is an appropriate method for achieving two goals i.e. eliminating waste and adding positive properties in concrete. Since the green concrete industry is expanding, it is necessary to evaluate concrete that contains waste from all aspects to determine its capability. This research consists of analyzing the use of waste as a partial substitute for sand. Leading waste material that has been used as substitutes is highlighted and the characteristic of the resulting concrete is evaluated in this research. Among other findings, rubber was found to have improved fire resistance and ductility in concrete, and agricultural and Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) wastes were successfully used in non-structural concrete, while glass helped to improve thermal stability. In this research aggregate and sand is replaced by waste materials of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and Glass to check their effect on the mechanical properties. Lab tests were performed to analyze the flexural behavior of concrete samples having waste material. The results show how partial replacement of sand affects the behavior of concrete and based on that specify the conditions where it can be used. The results show that Young’s modulus, maximum bending stress, and bending deflection varies with the percentage composition of PVC and glass. Bedding stress and bending deflection decrease with PVC and glass composition up to 35%. Although Young’s modulus is fluctuating bending deflection will decrease.

AbstractIntroductionLead shields are often used to attenuate ionising radiations. However, to make lighter, recyclable and more efficient shields compared to lead, combinations of new metallic compounds together with polymer, for example, flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) have been developed recently. In this study, the capabilities of non‐lead radiation shields made of one or two metallic compounds and polymer were evaluated.MethodsMonte Carlo (MC)‐based BEAMnrc code was used to build a functional model based on a Philips X‐ray machine in the range of radiographic energies. The MC model was then verified by IPEM Report 78 as a standardised global reference. The MC model was then used to evaluate the efficiency of non‐lead‐based garments made of metallic compound and polymer (MCP) including BaSO4‐PVC, Bi2O3‐PVC, Sn‐PVC and W‐PVC, as well as dual‐metallic compounds and polymer (DMCP) including Bi2O3‐BaSO4‐PVC, Bi2O3‐Sn‐PVC, W‐Sn‐PVC and W‐BaSO4‐PVC. The absorbed doses were determined at the surface of a water phantom and compared directly with the doses obtained for 0.5 mm pure lead (Pb).ResultsBi2O3‐BaSO4‐PVC and W‐BaSO4‐PVC were found to be efficient shields for most of the energies. In addition to the above radiation shields, Bi2O3‐Sn‐PVC was also found to be effective for the spectrum of 60 keV. Bi2O3‐BaSO4‐PVC as a non‐lead dual metals‐PVC shield was shown to be more efficient than pure lead in diagnostic X‐ray range.ConclusionCombination of two metals‐PVC, a low atomic number (Z) metal together with a high atomic number metal, and also single‐metal‐PVC shields were shown to be efficient enough to apply as radiation protection shields instead of lead‐based garments.

The pressing need to mitigate climate change and drastically reduce environmental pollution and loss of biodiversity has precipitated a so-called energy transition aimed at the decarbonization of energy and defossilization of the chemical industry. The goal is a carbon-neutral (net-zero) society driven by sustainable energy and a circular bio-based economy relying on renewable biomass as the raw material. It will involve the use of green carbon, defined as carbon derived from terrestrial or aquatic biomass or organic waste, including carbon dioxide and methane emissions. It will also necessitate the accompanying use of green hydrogen that is generated by electrolysis of water using a sustainable source of energy, e.g. solar, wind or nuclear. Ninety per cent of the industrial chemicals produced in oil refineries are industrial monomers that constitute the precursors of a large variety of polymers, many of which are plastics. Primary examples of the latter are polyolefins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride and polystyrene. Polyolefins are extremely difficult to recycle back to the olefin monomers and discarded polyolefin plastics generally end up as the plastic waste that is responsible for the degradation of our natural habitat. By contrast, waste biomass, such as the lignocellulose contained in forestry residues and agricultural waste, constitutes a renewable feedstock for the sustainable production of industrial monomers and the corresponding polymers. The latter could be the same polyolefins that are currently produced in oil refineries but a more attractive long-term alternative is to produce polyesters and polyamides that can be recycled back to the original monomers: a paradigm shift to a truly bio-based circular economy on the road to a net-zero chemical industry. This article is part of the discussion meeting issue ‘Green carbon for the chemical industry of the future’.

In 2019, Mattel introduced a series of Barbie dolls in connection with National Geographic which included a Polar Marine Biologist, an Entomologist, a Wildlife Photojournalist, and a mostly "made from recycled ocean-bound plastic" Barbie ("Mattel Launches Barbie Loves the Ocean") followed in 2021. One year later, the company issued an "Eco-Leadership Team" composed of a Conservation Scientist, a Renewable Energy Engineer, Chief Sustainability Officer, and Environmental Advocate. This can be understood as an attempt to introduce children to the urgency of ecological issues and communicating to them the importance of research into climate change in an age-appropriate manner. Yet, despite the pedagogical opportunities the dolls might offer, I argue that their introduction and presentation primarily represents an instance of greenwashing, "the act or practice of making a product, policy, activity, etc. appear to be more environmentally friendly or less environmentally damaging than it really is" (Merriam-Webster). In order to support my thesis, I will analyse four issues: first, I will have a closer look at the way in which the four "Eco-Leadership" dolls express ecological concerns. I will then turn to the material Barbie is made of, plastic, and examine its environmental impact together with Mattel's "The Future of Pink Is Green" campaign. Next, I will discuss the conspicuous consumption Barbie models, focussing on the Malibu Dream House. I will address how this is entangled with settler colonialism in the fourth and final part. Eco-Leadership Barbie? The "Eco-Leadership" set, billed as "2022 Career of the Year" collection, consists of four dolls. They come in a cardboard box so that the toys are not immediately visible, and their accessories are stored in a paper bag inside. On the one hand, this makes the dolls less appealing, depriving the potential consumers of visual pleasure. On the other hand, this generates an element of suspense, much like a wrapped present. In keeping with Mattel's slogan "The Future of Pink Is Green", the colour pink is toned down, even though each doll sports at least one accessory in this colour. The toys are sold as a team, thus perhaps suggesting that "eco-leadership" is a collaborative project, which departs from the emphasis on individualism otherwise suggested by Barbie packaging. In their promotional material, Mattel mentions that all of the professional fields the dolls represent are male-dominated ("Barbie Eco-Leadership Team"). The combination of the careers featured makes a telling statement about Mattel's framing of ecological issues. First, there is a Conservation Scientist with binoculars and a notebook, implying that she is undertaking research on larger animals, presumably endangered species. Such a focus on mammals tends to downplay structural issues and the "slow violence" that affects ecological systems, as Arno Hölzer has argued (65). She is joined by a Renewable Energy Engineer with a solar panel, referencing the least controversial form of "green energy". Significantly, this is the classic blond Barbie. Together, these two dolls suggest that science and technology will find solutions to current ecological crises, global warming, et cetera (not that such issues are explicitly mentioned). The third doll is advertised as Chief Sustainability Officer. "She works with a company or organization to make sure their actions and products are economically, environmentally and socially sustainable", as Mattel puts it ("Barbie Eco-Leadership Team"). Here, businesses are portrayed not as the source of environmental pollution, but as part of the solution to the problem. While this is not entirely false, this particular approach to environmental issues is severely limited, firmly remaining within a neoliberal, capitalist ideology. It reflects what Dan Brockington and Rosaleen Duffy, following Sklair, term "mainstream conservation", which "proposes resolutions to environmental problems that hinge on heightened commodity production and consumption" (4). In this context, a company's promotion of "ethical consumption" "achieves its ethically positive results by not counting various aspects of the production and consumption of its commodities" (9). Finally, there's the Environmental Advocate – not activist (the term was probably too controversial). She is always mentioned last. Her poster reads: "Barbie loves the earth", possibly the most inane ecological slogan ever devised. It is made of plastic. Acquainting children with ecological issues in an age-appropriate manner is an important task. Playing environmental advocate, or scientist, might certainly be more educational in terms of ecological issues than many of the other career options the "I can be anything" series features. But the absence of a politician in the set, for instance, speaks volumes. The "recipe" for sustainability the dolls embody only requires a heavy dose of science and technology, whipped up by well-meaning entrepreneurship, with a little love for the planet sprinkled on top. One gets a prettier picture if one looks at the toys from different perspectives. The group is rather diverse, with a Black Conservation Scientist, an Environmental Advocate of Asian descent, and a Chief Sustainability Officer that might be Latinx, and "curvy". Again, though, there is a glaring omission. Indigenous people are not included, despite the fact that, due to environmental racism, they are among the communities most dramatically affected by environmental pollution. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., who coined the term "environmental racism," defined it as racial discrimination in environmental policy-making, enforcement of regulations and laws, the deliberate targeting of communities of color for toxic waste disposal and the siting of polluting industries … , [and] the history of excluding people of color from the mainstream environmental groups, decision-making boards, commissions, and regulatory bodies. (Chavis 3) The consequences for Native Americans were and are severe. By 1999, Winona LaDuke notes, 317 reservations … [were] threatened by environmental hazards … . Reservations have been targeted as sites for 16 proposed nuclear waste dumps [and] [o]ver 100 … toxic waste [sites] … . There have been 1,000 atomic explosions on Western Shoshone land in Nevada, making the Western Shoshone the most bombed nation on earth. (LaDuke 2-3) The absence of an Indigenous doll in the Barbie "Eco-Leadership Team" is also noteworthy considering the long history of Native American and First Nations resistance to habitat destruction and environmental degradation, from nineteenth-century Lakota Little Thunder and Anishnaabe leader Wabunoquod (LaDuke 3, 5) to the #NoDAPL movement (Gilio-Whitaker 1-13). Following Robin Wall Kimmerer, one could even argue that sustainability, or "beneficial relations between people and the environment", are integral to Native (here: Potawatomi) culture (Kimmerer 6). On a very different note, any ecological consideration of Barbie dolls must also address their material properties. According to Mattel, the four dolls "are made from recycled plastic … , wear clothing made from recycled fabric and are certified CarbonNeutral® products" ("Barbie Eco-Leadership Team"). This does not apply to the heads and the hair, however – arguably the most distinctive parts of the toys. This had already been the case with the "Barbie Loves the Ocean" series ("Mattel Launches Barbie Loves the Ocean") – apparently, this is not an issue that can easily be fixed. In other words, only some components of the dolls are manufactured from recycled plastic. Further, in 2022, over 175 different Barbie dolls circulated, of which at least 166 were not made from recycled plastic (Google). To speak of "eco-leadership" is thus rather misleading. To further examine this, I want to have a closer look at the materials the dolls consist of. Life in Plastic… For a while now, it has become common knowledge that "life in plastic" might not be so "fantastic" after all, Aqua's song notwithstanding. Plastic pollution of the oceans is a huge problem, killing birds, whales, and other seaborne animals; so are non-biodegradable plastic landfill, neo-colonial waste export, the detrimental health effects of phthalates in plastic, and so on (Moore, Freinkel). But what James Marriott and Mika Minio-Paluello call the uneven "distribution of violence" during the transformation of fossil fuel into plastic is less well known. Oil production and transport are frequently militarised, they show, with company interests taking precedence over human rights (173-74, 176). Heavily guarded pipelines cut through traditional grazing and farming areas, endangering people's livelihoods as well as local ecosystems (Marriott and Minio-Paluello 176, 178-79). To the consumers who buy the plastic produced from this oil, such violence is invisible, not least because production processes and their environmental consequences are actively screened from view by fossil fuel companies and local governments (173-74). "Although these social and environmental impacts are inherent within its constitution, the plastic product in its uniformity is seemingly wiped clean of all that violence and disruption", the authors conclude (181). Where these matters have rarely been discussed in academic research on Barbie, they garnered significant public interest around the time the movie was released in 2023. That the film itself received the Environmental Media Association (EMA) gold seal (Plastic Pollution Coalition) did not lay such concerns to rest. "After the movie frenzy fades, how do we avoid tonnes of Barbie dolls going to landfill?", Alan Pears asked in The Conversation. Waste Online highlighted the "Not-So-Pretty Side of Plastic Toys", Tatler headlined "How Barbie is making climate change worse", and in Medium, Eric Young even aimed to show "How To Save The World from the Toxicity of Barbie!" (with an exclamation rather than a question mark). Based on a 2022 study by Sarah Levesque, Madeline Robertson, and Christie Klimas, Pears noted that "every 182 gram doll caused about 660 grams of carbon emissions, including plastic production, manufacture and transport" (Pears 2). According to Duke Ines, CEO of Lonely Whale, a campaign devoted to protecting the oceans, "80% of all toys end up in a landfill, incinerators, or the ocean" (Mendez 3). Discarded toys make up around 6% of all plastic in landfills (Levesque et al. 777). There are estimates that, by 2030, in the US emissions from plastic production will supersede those from coal (Pears 2). Mattel seems to have recognised the problem. In 2021, the company announced its "The Future of Pink Is Green" campaign as part of its "goal to use 100% recycled, recyclable or bio-based plastic materials and packaging by 2030" ("Mattel Launches" 2). The efforts include educational vlogger episodes and Mattel PlayBack, a toy return program aimed at recycling materials in toy production. With Barbie, this is difficult, though. As Dorothea Ruffin and others have noted, the dolls are composed of different kinds of plastics. The heads consist of hard vinyl, with water-based spray paint used for the eyes; the torso is manufactured from ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene-styrene), the arms of EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate), and the legs of polypropylene and PVC (polyvinyl chloride) (Ruffin 2). This makes recycling difficult, perhaps even unfeasible. So in effect, I agree with environmental educator Kristy Drutman that Mattel's eco-friendly self-presentation currently qualifies as greenwashing (Mendez 2). With Lyon's and Maxwell's description of the practice as "selective disclosure of positive information about a company's environmental or social performance, without full disclosure of negative information on these dimensions, so as to create an overly positive corporate image" (9) as reference point, it becomes clear that Mattel's strategy perfectly fits this pattern. Their recycling efforts concern only a small number of the Barbie dolls they produce, and even those are only partly fashioned from salvaged material. Both the release of the "Eco-Leadership" set and the "The Future of Pink Is Green" campaign seem designed primarily to bolster the company's reputation. Conspicuous Consumption and the Malibu Dream House A central component of the problem is the scale of plastic toy consumption, as Levesque et al. observe. Mattel sells around 60 million Barbies annually (Ruffin 2). This amounts to over one billion dolls since 1959 (ETX Daily UP 2). What the scientists call "the overproduction and purchase of toys" (Levesque et al. 791) testifies to the continued centrality of "conspicuous consumption", the demonstrative, wasteful squandering of resources which, as Thorstein Veblen already noted in 1899, signifies and produces social distinction (Veblen 53; cf. 43-72). As he argued, "an unremitting demonstration of ability to pay" (Veblen 54) was and is central for upholding not only one's social standing, but also one's self-esteem. This is at the core of Mattel's business model: stimulating repeated purchases by issuing and marketing ever-new, "must-have" dolls, clothing, and other accessories. These tend to normalise an upper-class lifestyle, as Barbie's sports car, horse, and dream house attest. The Malibu Dream House, part of the Barbie universe since 1962, plays a specific role in this context. It symbolises fun, conspicuous leisure, and glamour. With its spectacular beaches, its exclusiveness, and its proximity to Hollywood celebrity culture, Malibu represents the apex of social aspiration for many people. Houses are also sexy, as Marjorie Garber observes in Sex and Real Estate. "Real estate today has become a form of yuppie pornography. … Buyers are entering the housing market with more celerity (and more salaciousness?) than they once entered the marriage market" (Garber 3, 4). The prominence of the house in the Barbie movie is thus not incidental. Malibu is among the most expensive locations in the US. The median property value is US$4.25m. Due to its beachfront location, its "iconic design" and "cultural value", local brokerage Ruby Home estimated that "the price of the doll's DreamHouse [could be] an eye-watering $10 million" (McPherson). With the understatement typical of the profession, the author of the article writes: "unsurprisingly, Barbie’s home would only be available to high-net-worth buyers". This does more than reinforce classism. The richest segment of the global population also has an inordinately large carbon footprint and overall negative impact on climate change. According to Oxfam, the richest 1% produced 16% of global consumption emissions in 2019. The propagation of Malibu Dream House living thus does not exactly rhyme with "eco- leadership". Barbie and Settler Colonialism The wasteful, environmentally detrimental lifestyle of the very wealthy is part and parcel of US settler colonialism. Unlike other forms of colonialism, settler colonialism attempts to replace the Indigenous population. The term does not only signify a devastating past but names an ongoing process, since Native people have not in fact "disappeared". Lorenzo Veracini puts it succinctly: "settler colonialism is not finished" (Veracini 68-94). As Patrick Wolfe famously wrote, "'settler-colonial state' is Australian [and US] society's primary structural characteristic rather than merely a statement about its origins… . Invasion is a structure not an event" (163). Malibu is traditional Chumash territory. The name derives from the Ventureño Chumash word Humaliwo, meaning "where the surf sounds loudly" (Sampson). The Chumash were forcibly deprived of their land by the Spanish Mission system in the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Deborah A. Miranda has movingly detailed the traumatic effects of this violence in her memoir Bad Indians. But the Chumash are not gone. In fact, the Wishtoyo Chumach Foundation, whose mission it is to "protect and preserve the culture, history, and lifeways of Chumash and Indigenous peoples, and the environment everyone depends on", runs Chumash Village, "with a goal of raising awareness of Chumash people's historical relationship and dependence upon the natural environment as a maritime people", right in Malibu (Wishtoyo Chumach Foundation). None of this is mentioned by Mattel or the Greta Gerwig movie, which does not only signal a missed opportunity to demonstrate "eco-leadership". Rather, such an omission is typical for settler colonial culture. In order to buttress their claim to the land, settlers try to write Indigenous people out of North American history through a strategy White Earth Ojibwe scholar Jean O'Brien has called "firsting", that is, claiming the European settlers were there first, they "discovered" something, etc. The opening of the movie is a classic example. To the voiceover of "since the beginning of time – since the first little girl ever existed", it shows not Native inhabitants, but European American children in vaguely historical, possibly nineteenth century settler clothing. At other points, Barbie's and Ken's cowboy outfits, their glaring whiteness, references to Davy Crockett and, as Stentor Danielson mentioned in their presentation on "Barbieland's Fantasy Ecology: Terra Nullius on the Pink Beach" at the conference "'You Can Be Anything': Imagining and Interrogating Barbie in Popular Culture", to the Black Hills aka Mount Rushmore, clearly mark them as settlers. J.M. Bacon has coined the term "colonial ecological violence" to reference the ways in which environmental degradation and settler colonialism are inextricably intertwined (59). Effectively combatting environmental pollution thus also requires addressing settler colonial economic, social, and cultural structures. As Dina Gilio-Whitaker has forcefully argued, the success of environmental justice movements in the US, especially vis-à-vis the fossil fuel industry, may depend on building coalitions with Indigenous activists. Some of the most promising examples actually come from California, where beaches have been protected from corporate development because sacred Native sites would have been negatively affected (148). "It may well be that organizing around Native land rights holds the key to successfully transitioning from a fossil-fuel energy infrastructure to one based on sustainable energy", Gilio-Whitaker concludes (149). "Effective partnerships with allies in the environmental movement will provide the best defence for the collective well-being of the environment and future generations of all Americans, Native and non-Native alike" (162). This is a far cry from any policy Mattel has so far advertised, not to mention implemented. Conclusion In different respects, the promise of "Eco-Leadership" Barbies rings hollow. Not only do they suggest an extremely limited understanding of environmental concerns and challenges, Mattel's breezy pronouncements are clearly at odds with its simultaneous boosting of conspicuous consumption, let alone the focus on financial profit generally characteristic for its managerial decisions. 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