Paper Versus Plastic? Neither!
 In the great debate between paper versus plastic, it is difficult to find a clear winner. The best choice is neither. Reusable cloth bags are by far the best choice.
It seems simple, right? Plastic bags are made from oil (a non-renewable resource), #4 plastic is difficult to recycle, and they can take up to 1,000 years to decompose. Therefore, paper must be a better choice, right? On the other hand, paper sacks generate 70% more air and 50 times more water pollutants than plastic bags, and it takes 91% less energy to recycle a pound of plastic than it takes to recycle a pound of paper. It takes more than four times as much energy to manufacture a paper bag as it does to manufacture a plastic bag. This debate has a winner, it is neither paper nor plastic, but rather reusable cloth bags or no bag at all.
DID YOUR KNOW?
- About 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are used worldwide every year, and now account for four out of every five bags handed out at grocery stores.
- Plastic bags can take up to 1,000 years to decompose, and as they do they can release poisonous materials into the water and soil.
- Paper sacks generate 70% more air and 50 times more water pollutants than plastic bags.
- Countries that have banned or taken action to discourage the use of plastic bags include Australia, Bangladesh, Ireland, Italy, South Africa and Taiwan. Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India, also has banned the bags.
- Plastic bags in the ocean can choke and strangle wildlife; endangered sea turtles eat the bags and often choke on them.
- A sturdy, reusable bag needs only be used 11 times to have a lower environmental impact than using 11 disposable plastic bags.
- In New York City alone, one less grocery bag per person per year would reduce waste by five million pounds and save $250,000 in disposal costs.
- When one ton of paper bags is reused or recycled, three cubic meters of landfill space is saved and 13-17 trees are spared.
- When one ton of plastic bags is reused or recycled, the energy equivalent of 11 barrels of oil are saved.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
- Bring reusable cloth bags to the store with you.
- If you are only buying one or two items, don’t use a bag at all, but rather carry it in your purse, backpack, briefcase, or pocket.
- Encourage your market manager to institute a refund for customers who bring their own bags or, if your favorite market already has one, to advertise it more and increase it to further encourage customers to reuse bags.
- Keep a stash of reusable bags in your trunk so you aren’t caught without one.
- Pack more groceries in each bag and don’t double bag or use freezer or bottle bags.
- Turn old jeans and durable clothing into reusable bags.
RESOURCES
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