• JillyB@beehaw.org
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    4 days ago

    The single largest producer of micro plastics is car tires. The second largest is lint from synthetic clothing. I agree that it’s probably green washing but it’s still probably better than using leather.

    Even if leather is a byproduct of meat production, it’s not given away. It’s sold. At best, leather is subsidizing the meat industry. Leather helps make animal suffering more profitable. Therefore it happens more.

    • Ek-Hou-Van-Braai@piefed.social
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      3 days ago

      Unfortunately the meat industry isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, so what do we do with the hides?

      It makes sense to me to use it to make Boots etc. that lasts decades, instead of throwing it in the trash and using petroleum based alternatives.

    • Sunshine (she/her)@lemmy.caOP
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      4 days ago

      The single largest producer of micro plastics is car tires.

      This will become worse with evs unfortunately since they’re heavier due to the batteries, they will become lighter over time though.

      • wewbull@feddit.uk
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        3 days ago

        Driven an EV for 8 years. It’s on its second set of tyres. My diesels cars before this one would get through a set every 18 months. I keep an eye on the tread depth too.

        I don’t know why, but even with all the torque, they last. I wonder if the style of power transmission is easier on the tyre compound. Electric motors being a continuous force Vs an engine being lots of explosions, maybe.

        • JillyB@beehaw.org
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          3 days ago

          I doubt it’s torque delivery. Rubber compound and alignment make a big difference in tire life. Since EVs are much more limited by inefficiencies, I would bet it came with harder tires and a straighter alignment.

            • JillyB@beehaw.org
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              2 days ago

              Much of the battery’s energy is recovered through regenerative braking. This means the main thing limiting range is drag. That’s why EVs typically have much more emphasis on being aerodynamic and are more efficient in cities. An ICE car has all of the energy dumped into heat in the brakes. But that’s ok because it’s easy to just make the tank bigger. That’s why ICE cars are more efficient on the highway where they never brake.

      • Ek-Hou-Van-Braai@piefed.social
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        3 days ago

        Fighting for walkable cities and good public transport like Trams etc. would make such a big environmental and quality of life difference.