Source: http://www.blogto.com/upload/2008/04/plastic_bags.jpg
Each year, millions of Americans consume, purchase, and use billions of plastic bags (grocery, pharmacies, food, takeout, clothing and other purchases).
Did you know that it takes 1,000 years for a plastic bag to degrade? The ubiquitous plastic bag is made out of polyethylene, which does not easily degrade.
So, what exactly happens to all those bags that get thrown in the trash?
Plastic Bag Consumption Facts
- Each year, an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide. That comes out to over one million per minute. Billions end up as litter each year.
- According to the EPA, over 380 billion plastic bags, sacks, and wraps are consumed in the U.S. each year.
- According to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. goes through 100 billion plastic shopping bags annually. (Estimated cost to retailers is $4 billion.)
- According to the industry publication Modern Plastics, Taiwan consumes 20 billion bags annually, or 900 bags per person annually.
- An estimated 0.7% or 49,600,000 end up as litter each year.
- Four out of every five bags handed out at grocery stores are plastic.
- Plastic bags are rarely recycled and do not degrade in the natural environment. (They also do not degrade in landfills.)
Source: Clipmarks http://clipmarks.com/clipmark/B688CC03-4809-4AF3-882F-CF0E90667BAE/ & Trellisearth.com
Solutions: Where do we start?
We’ve been hearing a lot lately about the biodegradable bags, e.g., the corn bag. So what’s out there? Is this really a solution?
Biobag, among others, has come up with a fully biodegradable and compostable plastic bag solution.
Their bags are made from a proprietary Mater-Bi, which contains GMO-free starch, biodegradable polymers, and other renewable resources. No polyethylene is used in the production process. Biobag uses a new plastic derived from corn and supposedly fully composts in 30-60 days (in commercial composting conditions).
Trellis Earth seems to offer another solution through their plastic bag line as well as alternatives to other plastic goods (all fully biodegradable).
What about paper bags?
According to Trellisearth, paper bags can be even worse than plastic bags.
“Paper sacks generate 70% more air pollution and 50 times more water pollutants than plastic bags. It takes 91% less energy to recycle a pound of plastic than it takes to recycle a pound of paper. And paper bags can’t even be used in composting programs and don’t decompose any faster than plastic bags once they end up in a landfill.”
Source: www.trellisearth.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=10
Like Biobag, Trellis Earth’s biodegradable bioplastic bags are also made from corn polymers, starches, and complimentary ingredients.
Challenges
These biopolymer bags are not readily available in many locations, though this is changing. Demand is still relatively low, and their cost is higher, so it’s not as easy as asking your local grocer if they can pack your groceries in a biobag. However, the more consumers ask, the more stores will have to respond.
It’s important to remember that convenience plays a huge role (not to mention cost). So if a plastic bag is all that is available on our errand on the way home from work, guess what? Most of us will take the plastic bag and go.
What you can do.
We need to make it easier to make the right choices for example by requesting businesses to make these choices available. Also, there are simple things that can be done – such as always leaving an extra bag in the car to pick up groceries, or buying a fold-up bag that can fit into any handbag or purse for those last minute shopping needs.
How do you do it?
