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Written by Greeniac24   
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Tuesday, 01 July 2008

Bring Your Own Shopping Bag

Paper or Plastic?

In the choice between paper and plastic, there is no right answer. Most people think paper is the no-brainer answer. Implementing a ban on the malevolent plastic totes, the city of San Francisco seems to agree with the choice. In reality though, the answer is not as easy as it seems to be. Paper bags are no innocent bystanders. They too carry out their fair share of environmental harm. The dispute over which is the lesser of two evils is still undecided so why not just avoid the whole debate and bring your own reusable bag?

BENEFITS for the Environment:

In the span of one year, a single US supermarket can go through 60,500,000 paper bags, which is equivalent to about 86,430 trees. The production of paper bags takes more energy and generates more waste than the production of plastic bags.

So, plastic bags must be the environmentally safe option, right? Think again. Despite the fact that plastic bags are recyclable, it is estimated that less than 3% of bags are recycled. Most plastic bags end up in landfills or are carried off by the wind to a nearby stream, tree, or fence where they can take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade. Bringing your own bags when you shop lets you avoid making the lose-lose decision between paper and plastic.

BENEFITS for Your Wallet:

 



Bringing your own bag may earn you some money. Many major grocery chains reimburse you 3-5 cents per bag if you bring your own. Safeway, Raley's and Bel-Air markets, Whole Foods, and Ralph's all have compensation systems in effect. Trader Joe's does not subtract anything off your bill, but some locations enter your name in a monthly drawing to win a free bag of groceries.

BENEFITS for the Community:

A decrease in the number of bags distributed reduces the chances for them to go airborne and litter the city. The cleaner the city, the less tax dollars need to be used to clean it up!

Cost: Low

You can find reusable bags for less than $5. Some places offer bags at a discounted rate when you buy larger quantities, which will lead you to keep different bags for different items (i.e. food, clothing, etc.).

Time and Effort: Low

Depending on how good your memory is, once you have acquired your bag, you just need to remember to take it with you to the store. (This may be where having multiple bags can come in handy!)


What kind of material should you choose?

Hemp: The cultivation of hemp is known for its sustainability. It grows well with little water and without herbicides or pesticides. If you are in need of a sturdy and durable bag, hemp may prove to be your material of choice. Hemp fiber is eight times stronger than cotton fiber, so it stretches less and is more durable. It is also hypoallergenic, mold-resistant, and UV ray resistant.

Organic Cotton: Conventional cotton farming ranks second in pesticide use among all crops and uses 25% of the world's insecticides. The farming of organic cotton eliminates the use of these harmful chemicals, but the cultivation of cotton is still very water intensive.

That said, cotton bags are quite versatile. From string bags to canvas bags, you have your variety of choices depending on what you are looking for. While hemp is probably your best bet for durability, organic cotton is your best option for a lightweight bag.

Recycled PET:This fabric is made from post consumer plastic bottles and containers, helping redirect waste away from landfills. It is a good alternative to nylon and is a bit sturdier, making a more durable bag.

Recycled Cotton:The cotton comes from the scraps acquired during the processes of spinning, weaving, and cutting cotton. As much as 40% of cultivated cotton goes to waste between the harvesting of the crop and the manufacturing of apparel. Instead of ending up in landfills, these scraps are being recycled and put to use. These bags are both lightweight and sturdy.

While there are bags made from other materials, these are the most eco-friendly materials. When opting for bags made from recycled materials, be sure to check the percentage of recycled material used. Also remember to look for fair trade and fair labor goods.

Where to buy your bag?

Many of the stores where you already shop sell reusable bags. There are also many web retailers as well. www.ecobags.com and www.reusablebags.com are good sites to use to begin your search. Remember that your bag use need not be limited to grocery shopping. Take and use them anywhere your purchases are bagged at the checkout.

If you are not quite ready to make the transition to a reusable bag, you can still try to reuse the paper and plastic bags you have lying around the house.

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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 30 November 2011 )

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