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Made in nl
Inquisitorial Keeper of the Xenobanks






your mind

Plastic miniatures make sense if one wants to keep them as they are for a while.
I expect that it shrinks,
but the plastic itself will last in the environment for a longer time unless recycled and...

the box, itself, with the plastic tray.
clearly not sustainable.

We don't need electricity to play the game,
during the day...
but a good lamp is useful when using an airbrush.

Not to mention the chemicals in that new contrast paint!
In plastic pots that have zero reuse value... or do they?


Anyone else wonder what we are going to tell someone's grand children
about why we destroyed the planet with plastic miniatures, plastic dice, plastic packaging?


Why not wooden boxes and metal models?
Or for that matter wooden models, wooden dice,
plant based pigments in reusable glass bottles?

   
Made in us
Member of the Ethereal Council






1, who said those bottle are not reusable, i use them all the time
2: This seems a bit rabmly
3: Our small niche hobby is not what is contributing massively to the enviroment, infact, individual responsibility for climate change is a myth, its massi ve corporations that are destroying our enviroment.

5000pts 6000pts 3000pts
 
   
Made in ca
Junior Officer with Laspistol





London, Ontario

I can't help but feel like I'm playing "Chump", but here goes.

Plastic will either have a way to recycle it in a meaningful way, that is economical, or it will slowly disintegrate into ever smaller pieces. Just like glass. Glass doesn't just suddenly turn into topsoil after a hundred years. It just breaks down into ever smaller pieces.

I'm not following the "electricity" part. That's veering off into nonsense.

Absolutely, and literally, *EVERYTHING* is made from chemicals. Some are harmful, some are not. Some are required for our continued existence. Without a regular supply of dihydrogen monoxide, you'd die. I reuse the platic pots for all manner of things, but mostly to contain custom colours of paint.

When I imagine the future, say, 15 years from now when my kids are starting to have kids, and another 10 before they have meaningful thoughts about the environment, (25 years) I figure the next generation will have sorted it out, or we'll all be huddling in the ruins of society Fallout-style. In either case, neither scenario involves me being concerned about the environmental impact of my hobby.
   
Made in us
Powerful Phoenix Lord





This is one of those issues where (no offense to the OP), there is little to no "scope" being applied.

There are a lot of environmental challenges facing the world, no doubt. Your microscopic amount of toy soldiers made from plastic...is not even worth considering. You probably throw out more plastic water bottles and food packaging than your entire army - each week. The battery in your car you replace every 3-4 years? More components/plastic/damaging crap than everything you've ever bought for your hobby.

Genuine global harm? That's gigantic unregulated facilities in developing countries pumping out thousands of tons of bad news into the atmosphere, etc. (750,000 people in China die each year to lung cancer, and they're not smokers...) Your little toy soldiers are not even worth raising an eyebrow over. If you're genuinely concerned about the environment, you need to look elsewhere.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2019/11/18 08:38:58


 
   
Made in gb
Ridin' on a Snotling Pump Wagon






GW have also installed solar panels on their HQ, which helps to offset things somewhat.

And as most stuff is made in the UK, there's no need to ship from China then distribute from the UK.

So overall, they're not a massive offender.

Fed up of Scalpers? But still want your Exclusives? Why not join us?

Hey look! It’s my 2025 Hobby Log/Blog/Project/Whatevs 
   
Made in nl
Inquisitorial Keeper of the Xenobanks






your mind

This is meant as a bit tongue in cheek,
but ...
Would I pay more for plastics that were derived from plants, rather than oil?
Probably not right away. I liked metal for most things.

Do you worry about the recycling of old models and sprues, or just toss them in the bin?
I worry.I wonder if the stuff is even recyclable

As for sustainability, I figure that this should be one of the most sustainable uses of resources for leisure and entertainment in the coming decades. It inspires critical thinking, community and fair play, hobby and craft, artistry, patience and discipline and the models may be plastic but they are not exactly meant to be disposable. I don't see that sort of prosocial value in many other uses of plastic.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2019/11/18 19:50:31


   
Made in ca
Junior Officer with Laspistol





London, Ontario

Jeff, you’re an odd duck.
   
Made in us
Powerful Phoenix Lord





Easier solution: buy old metals on eBay and strip and recover them. There, boom. Guilt is done. I've built 6,000 points worth of Eldar and almost all of the infantry are metals from eBay. Shazam, problem solved.
   
Made in ca
Junior Officer with Laspistol





London, Ontario

What do you use to strip them?
   
Made in us
Powerful Phoenix Lord





Purple Power or Super Clean, and an ultrasonic cleaner.

Oh, and $2 bills.
   
Made in ca
Junior Officer with Laspistol





London, Ontario

Solid.
   
Made in us
Androgynous Daemon Prince of Slaanesh





Norwalk, Connecticut

This thread feels like what happens when somebody replaces the lemonade powder mix with cocaine on April Fools Day. I’m not sure what I read, but I’m positive even Doom Rider would tell you to put the coke down, son.

Reality is a nice place to visit, but I'd hate to live there.

Manchu wrote:I'm a Catholic. We eat our God.


Due to work, I can usually only ship any sales or trades out on Saturday morning. Please trade/purchase with this in mind.  
   
Made in nl
Inquisitorial Keeper of the Xenobanks






your mind

Removed


Automatically Appended Next Post:
 greatbigtree wrote:
Jeff, you’re an odd duck.

Thank you!

Trees are some of my favorite things.

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 2019/11/19 19:36:17


   
Made in ca
Junior Officer with Laspistol





London, Ontario

Aw, maaaan…

You had a quirky, strange post and then you sent it right over into an attack on a fine young woman, that's taking on an issue with the world.

A real issue with the world. At her age, addressing the UN. Whether or not you agree with her *politics*, her courage and contribution to the world is impressive. The world we could be, if more people were like her.

You turned right, when straight or left would have kept this going on easy terms.
   
Made in nl
Inquisitorial Keeper of the Xenobanks






your mind

now i didn't attack anyone.
just reminding us old santas who we have to answer to, that is all...
how you feel about her in particular is your business.
this is about answering to the generations.
i am serious about it - i understand my place, and how to answer for my plastic addiction, misuse of chemical paint materials purely for selfish pleasure and so on...

and moreover i am serious about this being a sustainable hobby, even given the plastic, paint and packaging.
i do wish that i knew if the sprues were recyclable, and I have to say that I wish that they were... if they aren't.

and why not more eco conscious supplies?
plant based pigments and so on.
maybe this is a real advance, and worth supporting as an initiative...

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2019/11/19 19:07:57


   
Made in no
Terrifying Doombull





Hefnaheim

As mentioned earlier, get metal minis or cast your own if you are so worried about the enviorment, or drop the hobby all togetter and take up tree planting.
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut







 jeff white wrote:

i do wish that i knew if the sprues were recyclable, and I have to say that I wish that they were... if they aren't.


Plastic softens and/or melts at temperatures that can be achieved using heat guns. That means that you can recycle sprue plastic into crafting projects. It's around the temperature paper burns, so you need to be careful, but you can work with it. If nothing else, you can poor out flat sheets of plastic, which are useful for all sorts of projects.

If you really want to be serious about reusing the waste plastic sprues.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2019/11/20 23:47:31


 
   
Made in ca
Painlord Titan Princeps of Slaanesh





Hamilton, ON

100 corporations are responsible for 71% of GHG emissions, but for sure I personally am killing the planet by painting stupid little Daemons and drinking Coke with a plastic straw.

Wind yer neck in.

If you want to take a positive step and recycle, eat the rich.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2019/11/20 23:54:03


The Fall of Kronstaat IV
Война Народная | Voyna Narodnaya | The People's War - 2,765pts painted (updated 06/05/20)
Волшебная Сказка | Volshebnaya Skazka | A Fairy Tale (updated 29/12/19, ep10 - And All That Could Have Been)
Kabal of The Violet Heart (updated 02/02/2020)

All 'crimes' should be treasured if they bring you pleasure somehow. 
   
Made in us
Tough-as-Nails Ork Boy






You can laugh at me but I did gave the subject a though.
The fact that miniatures are produced in the UK is a big point for me, socially, ethically and environmentally. I don't care paying more for that.

I'm quite sure the sprues are not recyclable, so I try to at least give them a second use before tossing them away by cutting them and gluing parts I want so paint separately from the figure's body. Or use them in conversion, scenery.

For paint, I didn't find much idea except buy in large bottle (Valejo for intance) but I can rarely justify it and I mostly use citadel colours.

To me the worst offender is the greatly useful spray cans. I've tried applying basecoat with brush, but it's not funny, like at all... The airbrush is another solution, but I want to keep painting mostly with brush and I can justify the cost and hassle of a airbrush just for basecoating. The ideal would be some paint pistol, but I have not find anything that would suit for now.

If I could ask a couple things to GW, it would be :
- Propose bigger paint bottle along the current pots
- Stop wrapping boxes in a plastic film. I know it helps keeping them in good state, but honestly, would anyone care with slighly damaged boxes ? It's not food...

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2019/11/21 08:01:52


 
   
Made in us
Dakka Veteran




Honestly I strip the bits off sprues and keep my used sprues in a giant pile awaiting a couple stupid scratch builds I have planned. But it'd be awesome if GW considered doing a sprue reclamation system through their GW stores. Someone was mentioning the plastic is relatively easy to re-use if they keep it in house I'd be interested to know what level of bull would have to be pulled to make shipping it back to them for reuse to be practical. Not really knowing, perhaps the gear to just melt them into a postage sized brick would help. But with shipping costs and the waste involved perhaps it's a nonstarter.
   
Made in nl
Inquisitorial Keeper of the Xenobanks






your mind

So I popped into the local GeeDubs to pick up my new bases, love them btw - good deal, imho.
zone mortalis bases 35 of them...
nice looking boxes as normal,
but ... the worst sorts of plastic inserts possible.
I mean, yeah, the plastic insert tray hold the bases, but I am not convinced that a simple cardboard box wouldn't be better all around.
Something heavy, even reusable.. heavy card box.
loose bases inside... why all the extra?
and in a plastic ziploack too.
Could be wrapped in paper, just saying... (pic below).

Also got to talking with the local GeeDubya rep.
Apparently there is a team of GWians working on the sustainability angle because, wait for it... they have a lot of plastic waste that they apparently just dump. In the ground.

GW models are not recyclable... As I had posted before, fine. I don't intend to throw them away. They are not supposed to be disposable. Still, there is lots of waste in production and distribution.

Anyways, I see lots of room for improvement, sustainability-wise, and apparently GW is taking this angle seriously too which is imho a very good thing.







Automatically Appended Next Post:
 IronSlug wrote:
You can laugh at me but I did gave the subject a though.
The fact that miniatures are produced in the UK is a big point for me, socially, ethically and environmentally. I don't care paying more for that.

I'm quite sure the sprues are not recyclable, so I try to at least give them a second use before tossing them away by cutting them and gluing parts I want so paint separately from the figure's body. Or use them in conversion, scenery.

For paint, I didn't find much idea except buy in large bottle (Valejo for intance) but I can rarely justify it and I mostly use citadel colours.

To me the worst offender is the greatly useful spray cans. I've tried applying basecoat with brush, but it's not funny, like at all... The airbrush is another solution, but I want to keep painting mostly with brush and I can justify the cost and hassle of a airbrush just for basecoating. The ideal would be some paint pistol, but I have not find anything that would suit for now.

If I could ask a couple things to GW, it would be :
- Propose bigger paint bottle along the current pots
- Stop wrapping boxes in a plastic film. I know it helps keeping them in good state, but honestly, would anyone care with slighly damaged boxes ? It's not food...


man thanks for this.
yeah, i like Instar a lot, and Have a few of their (his) 100ml bottles... good stuff.
Spray cans I dumped a long while ago, lots of reasons but stink, poison, and waste are the big three.

I got a 40USD airbrush kit shipped ... srsly 40bux.
Works AWESOMELY for basing, clear-coating, zenithing and shadowing stuff...
I prob could do more but I bought it only for this.
I did get some GW air paints to try out some real detailing type stuff,
so that my amateur paint mixtures wouldn't be the problem,
but haven't gotten around to it yet...

I have saved the money, in unbought spray cans, 10x over I am sure
and I can do it inside!
In the winter.
Highly recommended.
Send me a PM and I will link the exact model that I bought.
Splendid deal imho.




Automatically Appended Next Post:
YeOldSaltPotato wrote:
Honestly I strip the bits off sprues and keep my used sprues in a giant pile awaiting a couple stupid scratch builds I have planned. But it'd be awesome if GW considered doing a sprue reclamation system through their GW stores. Someone was mentioning the plastic is relatively easy to re-use if they keep it in house I'd be interested to know what level of bull would have to be pulled to make shipping it back to them for reuse to be practical. Not really knowing, perhaps the gear to just melt them into a postage sized brick would help. But with shipping costs and the waste involved perhaps it's a nonstarter.


or is there some way to make the sprues so that they also hold detail, and might be used in scratch built scenery and or yada?

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 2019/11/21 19:38:58


   
Made in gb
The Daemon Possessing Fulgrim's Body





Devon, UK

HIPS is recyclable. GW models are made out of HIPS. Ergo GW models are recyclable.

So, if they're not, there's something else at play, this is just another example of a GW manager being full of gak or GW are massively behind the curve on their sustainability with no real valid excuse.

We find comfort among those who agree with us - growth among those who don't. - Frank Howard Clark

The wise man doubts often, and changes his mind; the fool is obstinate, and doubts not; he knows all things but his own ignorance.

The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and even made fun of, particularly if it is demonstrably nonsense!” Professor Brian Cox

Ask me about
Barnstaple Slayers Club 
   
Made in nl
Inquisitorial Keeper of the Xenobanks






your mind

 Trondheim wrote:
As mentioned earlier, get metal minis or cast your own if you are so worried about the enviorment, or drop the hobby all togetter and take up tree planting.


trees. I like trees.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
 Azreal13 wrote:
HIPS is recyclable. GW models are made out of HIPS. Ergo GW models are recyclable.

So, if they're not, there's something else at play, this is just another example of a GW manager being full of gak or GW are massively behind the curve on their sustainability with no real valid excuse.

OK, wow.
I did not know this.
I got the impression that this was not recyclable, as in I asked, and was told... no.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2019/11/21 19:27:19


   
Made in gb
The Daemon Possessing Fulgrim's Body





Devon, UK

Albeit based on a very superficial search, I cannot find a "but" when it comes to recycling HIPS plastic in the UK, outside of the fact that there are a limited number of sites capable of doing so.

Now, that may impact on a single consumer's ability to recycle their sprues and leftover bits, but GW themselves have no such excuse, they could even potentially justify on site processing.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2019/11/21 19:35:23


We find comfort among those who agree with us - growth among those who don't. - Frank Howard Clark

The wise man doubts often, and changes his mind; the fool is obstinate, and doubts not; he knows all things but his own ignorance.

The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and even made fun of, particularly if it is demonstrably nonsense!” Professor Brian Cox

Ask me about
Barnstaple Slayers Club 
   
Made in nl
Inquisitorial Keeper of the Xenobanks






your mind

 Azreal13 wrote:
Albeit based on a very superficial search, I cannot find a "but" when it comes to recycling HIPS plastic in the UK, outside of the fact that there are a limited number of sites capable of doing so.

Now, that may impact on a single consumer's ability to recycle their sprues and leftover bits, but GW themselves have no such excuse, they could even potentially justify on site processing.


very good information that.
i will be asking about this next time that I have the chance... well, Saturday morning actually.
Thanks!

   
Made in ca
Painlord Titan Princeps of Slaanesh





Hamilton, ON

Ignoring facts in order to lecture people about inconsequential actions is so 2018. It is tremendously sad to see that you are buying so hard into the corporate propaganda.

Again, if you want to recycle and perform a useful action at the same time, eat the rich.

You're literally pissing into the wind.

The Fall of Kronstaat IV
Война Народная | Voyna Narodnaya | The People's War - 2,765pts painted (updated 06/05/20)
Волшебная Сказка | Volshebnaya Skazka | A Fairy Tale (updated 29/12/19, ep10 - And All That Could Have Been)
Kabal of The Violet Heart (updated 02/02/2020)

All 'crimes' should be treasured if they bring you pleasure somehow. 
   
Made in se
Resentful Grot With a Plan






There’s some strange but interesting ideas in this thread. It feels like the discussion is rather confused though, what exactly is it that we want to achieve with a more sustainable hobby? The most immediate world problem is CO2 emissions, and I honestly think (no source on this) that GW’s miniatures has to be the least impacting thing you can consume. They’re super expensive! Just think of all the negative impact you could have if you put your money on something else.

   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut







 jeff white wrote:

but ... the worst sorts of plastic inserts possible.
I mean, yeah, the plastic insert tray hold the bases, but I am not convinced that a simple cardboard box wouldn't be better all around.
Something heavy, even reusable.. heavy card box.
loose bases inside... why all the extra?
and in a plastic ziploack too.
Could be wrapped in paper, just saying... (pic below).


Again, point of order. Please stop acting like it's impossible to use scrap plastic in crafting projects.

That inexpensive clear plastic that gets used for trays like that has a relatively low melting point.

And the various plastic bags that you get in boxes like that can be used as plastic bags. If you think it's too big, you can section it off into smaller pockets with a combination of heating and/or clamping.

   
Made in nl
Inquisitorial Keeper of the Xenobanks






your mind

 solkan wrote:
 jeff white wrote:

but ... the worst sorts of plastic inserts possible.
I mean, yeah, the plastic insert tray hold the bases, but I am not convinced that a simple cardboard box wouldn't be better all around.
Something heavy, even reusable.. heavy card box.
loose bases inside... why all the extra?
and in a plastic ziploack too.
Could be wrapped in paper, just saying... (pic below).


Again, point of order. Please stop acting like it's impossible to use scrap plastic in crafting projects.

That inexpensive clear plastic that gets used for trays like that has a relatively low melting point.

And the various plastic bags that you get in boxes like that can be used as plastic bags. If you think it's too big, you can section it off into smaller pockets with a combination of heating and/or clamping.



reuse is better than recycling, as the latter costs as much energy as making from scratch from what i understand
but that is the thing, the plastic insert tray is so flimsy... it is reusable i suppose for a while but will inevitably crack and require disposal.
A hard card box that opens on a hinge sort of like a cigarette box, that could be more useful and more enviro friendly.
If it had cool graphics, it could be used for terrain... look like a a wall or a doorway

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2019/11/22 09:38:58


   
Made in gb
Longtime Dakkanaut




 Excommunicatus wrote:
Ignoring facts in order to lecture people about inconsequential actions is so 2018. It is tremendously sad to see that you are buying so hard into the corporate propaganda.

Again, if you want to recycle and perform a useful action at the same time, eat the rich.

You're literally pissing into the wind.


It's certainly true that GW represent a miniscule part of the overall climate change problem but that also doesn't mean you can't try to get them to improve their approach to sustainability and there are areas GW could improve upon for sure. I'd be genuinely surprised, however, if it's true that GW doesn't recycle the plastic they use since that material gets recycled into the raw material that GW themselves will use to make their models.

But, yeah, overall even if GW managed to become completely carbon neutral the impact on a global level would be essentially zero. Still, you've got to start somewhere.
   
 
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