Reusable Grocery Bags Are A Better Alternative Than Paper Bags
In a world that is definitely becoming more eco-sensitive by the moment, many people still think that paper bags are a better choice than plastic bags. They aren’t.
According to a 2006 report from the US Environmental Protection Agency, paper makes up more than 30 percent of our municipal solid waste. Over 10 billion paper bags are consumed each year in the United States alone. In other words, there are 14 million trees harvested for their production.
When compared to plastic grocery bags, paper bags produce 70 percent more atmospheric emissions, consume 40 percent more energy, generate 80 percent more solid waste, and release up to 94 percent more waterborne wastes (According to the Film and Bag Federation).
This tells us that the energy consumption and pollution that paper bag production and disposal/consumption generates prevents paper bags from ever being a viable alternative to plastic grocery bags. So what are the other, more preferable options?
The above information points us in the direction of reusable bags. Reusable grocery bags are really the one true alternative for reducing the negative impact of disposable bags on our environment. With a growing number of manufacturers of these bags there is an increasing variety of availability in terms of sizes and styles. Make a socially and environmentally conscious choice for bag use today.
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