Thai Buddhist Monks Wearing Robes Made from Recycled Plastic Bottles

[Aloka]

Some news from the Buddhist Door website:




Thai Buddhist Monks Wearing Robes Made from Recycled Plastic Bottles


Disposable plastic bottles remain a major environmental threat to the planet, however the monks of Wat Chak Daeng, a Buddhist temple on the artificial island of Bang Kachao in Bangkok, Thailand, have been integrating their Dharma practice with environmental awareness by recycling plastic bottles to make monastic robes.

Continues at the link:

https://www.buddhistdoor.net/news/thai-buddhist-monks-wearing-robes-made-from-recycled-plastic-bottles





Any thoughts about the news article?

[justusryans]

I think it’s a great idea and one that could be followed by the general public. It would be nice to be recycling to that degree. The monks say they don’t feel much difference between the traditional robes and the new ones. I for one would be willing to give it a try. :up2:

[philg]

They haven't really thought that through, as the plastic they wear will shed small bits of plastic which will be breathed in and contaminate the environment. It's also using lots of energy as they ship the plastic to be recycled in a factory. Recycling is good, but you have to be smart about it.

[Olderon]

Hi, philg. The net energy advantage between products recycled to produce new product is the energy difference & the initial energy required to collect raw materials. This may also be considered advantageous by difference between raw material and product to be recycled.

However, the prime consideration purely from an environmental toxicity and/or global warming perspective is the production of global warming or toxic byproducts produced by collection, transport, processing, and distribution.