The carrier bag debate
Hi,
No one can miss the attention that the plastic carrier bag has been given recently. Deemed as a menace to our waterways, countryside and roadsides the plastic bag has been given a bad press. But if offered a paper bag instead of a plastic would you be right in thinking it is a more sustainable option?
Interestingly, when comparing paper bags with plastic bags on the basis of sustainability, the arguments are equally weighted: Paper and plastic both use a significant amount of energy to produce but comparatively plastic uses less. Also transporting paper bags is on a 7:1 ratio to plastic, i.e. If you transported the same amount of plastic bags as paper you would need 6 less trucks for the plastic bags (Environmental Literacy Group 2002). When it comes to recycling It takes 91% less energy to recycle 1 pound of plastic compared to paper (Source: 1989 Plastic Recycling Directory, Society of Plastics Industry). However paper can be composted and I know I am more likely to pop my paper bag in the recycling bin as I am my plastic bags (not that I use many).
The conclusion would be it is best to use neither paper or plastic; try and remember that cotton bag that we all have but never seen to have with us as we approach the checkout.
Bye for now, Claire
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