Ethical Consumption, Talk about the good work of consumers who make choices based on the sustainability of supply chains, along with the companies that respond to these ethical demands.

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Plastic or Paper Bags? What Do You Use?

Justmeans Staff | Wednesday 14th October 2009

We can't deny the fact that plastic bags are contaminating soil, littering landscapes and polluting sources of water all over the world. Thousands of marine mammals mistake floating plastic bags for food and choke to death. The fact that plastic bags buried in landfills take almost 1000 years to break down, it has become essential to promote the use of reusable bags when shopping. Even if plastic bags break down after thousand years, the separated toxic particles further pollute water and soil.

The present need is to overcome the concept of 'use and toss' and support recycling and reuse of items. As consumers it is our responsibility to ensure that disposable items are consumed in a conscious manner. Plastic bottles or bags cannot be considered the only factors causing hazard to the environment. More than the negative effects it is our out of control consumption of plastic items and disposables that has caused destruction to the environment.

Paper bags have been considered a better alternative to plastic bags by consumers across the world. But if experts are to be believed, various environmental problems are also associated with this alternative. If the bags are not made from recycled paper, it will result in cutting of more trees thereby contributing to climate change. So, what are consumers to do? The answer is reusable bags that are made from materials that don't cause any damage to the environment. There is no need to dispose these bags after every use. One can keep using these bags every time they go shopping to grocery stores or even malls. But the problem lies in remembering to take these bags and bringing them back every time you go out shopping. In order to solve this issue, companies like Bagnesia have come up with a reusable bag kit that will remind the user to take the bag from the house, carry it to the store and bring it back again. The kit consists of a reusable bag, a door hanger, wrist lanyard keychain, carabineer clip and a steering wheel strap. Its time consumers start supporting ethical consumption and opt for reusable bags that will cause less damage to the environment.

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Recent Comment

Nadira Lamrad | Posted: 27 October 2009

in Hong Kong, the government has instituted a plastic bag levy of 50 cents per bag. Since then, there has been some anecdotal evidence that plastic bag use is down significantly. I don't know if it's true but even before the levy, I used canvas bags.

Terry Long | Posted: 27 October 2009

I think both paper and plastic bag concepts need to go or at least charge a lot for them. I think we can agree on negatives of plastic but what about the energy used make paper bags not to mention the trees. We need to push fore more reusable concepts. No more laziness for mankind. We need to take responsibility.

Terry Long | Posted: 27 October 2009

I support stores who charge extra for bags. It is my hope (and theirs) that the consumers will then change their habits and begin to carry reusable bags.