Paper or Plastic? How About Neither!

Believe it or not, there is an earth friendly way to complete your trip to the grocery store that doesn't include a hybrid vehicle. Reusable grocery bags might not sound very Earth saving but they can be if more people started to use them. The statistics on plastic bags as well as paper bags, yes, paper bags too, are astounding to say the least. Much of the information is not well known to consumers either. Local grocery stores are trying to make it easy for people to do something simple to help save the environment and stop global warming by selling reusable grocery bags.

Plastic bags have many downfalls, some of which are probably totally unknown to most people. The production of plastic bags consumes millions of gallons of oil, which could be used for heating or fuel instead. 500 billion to one trillion plastic bags are used and discarded in the world every year. Plastic bags are not biodegradable. They go through a process called photodegredation, which is breaking down into smaller, toxic particles. These particles contaminate soil and water. Most marine mammals mistake plastic bags for food. Turtles think the bags are jellyfish and once swallowed, it will block their intestines and they die a horrible death.

Paper bags are not any better than plastic bags, like once believed. Many thought that using paper was more eco friendly but the facts prove that it is not. It takes four times more energy to produce paper bags. Paper bag production causes double trouble for global warming. Forests have to be cut down and then manufacturing the paper bags produces greenhouse gases. Paper mills use toxic chemicals which contribute to air and water pollution. Paper bags generate 70% more air and 50% more water pollutants than plastic bags. It takes about 90% less energy to recycle a pound of plastic than it does to recycle a pound of paper.