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Paper or Plastic? Cloth or Cardboard?

By: Joanne | March 25, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

paper grocery bags

The next time you’re at the grocery store stocking up on fruits and veggies, consider the question, paper or plastic? Shopping bags, especially the plastic ones are handed to us almost every time we buy something. We’re so used to it that we don’t even think about it any more, but we should.

A friend recently sent me a link to an eye-opening multimedia presentation on the topic of grocery bags. I’m not going to throw a mountain of data at you because when you take a moment to think about it, you already know that it takes a tremendous amount of resources to even produce that bag you take for granted at the store. We’re either cutting down trees or importing fossil fuels to make these things and that’s just the beginning. There’s a costly manufacturing and shipping process and the truth is, that most of them go from our hands directly into the landfill.

I’ve been making a gradual transition to using cloth bags. Every now and again I spend a couple of bucks on a reusable cotton bag. They’re easy to find – your grocery store probably sells them. If I’m not buying much, I ask for no bag at all (a request that has earned me many strange looks from cashiers!) or I keep my handy cotton bags in the car and bring them into the store. You also might want to use a cardboard box – they’re reusable, recyclable, and if your store doesn’t already offer the option, you probably only have to ask because they’ve got lots of them in the back of the store destined for the dumpster. So remember it’s really only a small change of habit to reduce, reuse or recycle that paper or plastic bag!

| Comments [11] | envelope Email This Entry | Tags: bag   box   cardboard   cloth   cotton   food   grocery   joanne   paper   plastic  

Comments:

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Most people don't seem to realize that plastic comes oil byproducts. If we can cut down on these bags, we can help our trade balance and maybe save a few soldiers lives.

Posted by Citizen Jmaximus on March 25, 2008 at 07:48 AM EDT #

Citizen Jmaximus, you're right. Decreasing our dependence on foreign oil is a good idea for so many reasons. I think giving up plastic shopping bags is a pretty easy way to start!

Posted by Joanne on March 25, 2008 at 09:10 AM EDT #

I always find it odd that cashiers give me strange looks when I ask for no bags. We have so much environmental information available to the general public about how reducing plastic bag use reduces waste and helps the environment, but so many people I meet don't seem to understand that every plastic bag reduced can make a difference.

Posted by charlene on March 25, 2008 at 10:19 AM EDT #

I know Charlene. Luckily I just don't care if the cashier thinks I'm some sort of no bag freak! Hopefully enough people will start declining bags and one day we won't be freaks any more : )

Posted by Joanne on March 25, 2008 at 10:45 AM EDT #

Wow Joanne - that link to MSNBC is such an eye opener! I like buying the reusable bags from the grocery stores; sometimes they even have signs before your walk in the door "Did you remember your bags?"

Thanks for keeping us green.

Posted by clutter_buster on March 25, 2008 at 10:53 AM EDT #

The calculator was interesting but I think it suffered from a slight glitch. Although the presentation had already asked what kind of bag I use most of the time (one I bring with me), the calculator did not allow for that response. In other words, it assumes (apparently) that practically no one uses such bags. All in all - a good subject that you presented well. As always.

Posted by WSnaider on March 27, 2008 at 09:32 AM EDT #

YEAH I MUST GET MY PERSOANAL RECOMMENDATION TO CHOOSE PLASTIC. FOR ONE THING WHEN IT RAINS IF THE PAPER BAG GETS WET YOUR FOOD FALLS OUT. AND WHEN STORE THE PAPER BAGS IF WATER GETS IN THE CABINETS THEY TEAR OR THEY JUST ARE PRONE TO TEARING. THUS WE MOVE TO PLASTIC DO TO GOOD OLE RELIABILITY OF THE PLASTIC BAG. IF WET IT'S DOESN'T TEAR AND IT CAN HOLD MORE BEFORE IT START TO BREAK THEN A PAPER BAG THAT'S WHY MOST HOUSEHOLDS UTILIZES LARGE PLASTIC BAGS. SO NATURAL WE WOULD USE SMALLER BAGS FOR GROCERIES JUST BECAUSE EXPERIENCE TEACHES US IT JUST MORE PRACTICAL....

Posted by AND THE AWARD GO TO THE PLASTIC on March 27, 2008 at 04:44 PM EDT #

I agree that plastic bags have some superior qualities when compared to paper. I find that I can reuse them in so many different ways too. Still, my bag of choice a sturdy cotton bag with handles. They're most durable, reusable and doesn't consume the manufacturing resources or landfill space as either paper or plastic.

Posted by Joanne on March 27, 2008 at 05:01 PM EDT #

I think it would be a great idea if all supermarkets just stopped giving out shopping bags, or charged alot of money per bag. Unfortunately people do not change their bad habits, they usually wait until they feel they have no other choice or are forced to do so. It doesn't make a huge different unless everyone is making changes.

Posted by kristina (http://www.broadbandwise.co.uk) on March 28, 2008 at 06:57 AM EDT #

Kristina, I agree. I've seen news stories about countries and cities banning the bags, or retailers starting to charge for plastic bags in order to encourage people to use re-usable bags. Every time I hear a story like that, I feel like we're taking a step forward and hopefully it will continue to catch on and make a difference.

Posted by Joanne on March 28, 2008 at 09:58 AM EDT #

A point to ponder: In my home town of Rumford in Western Maine logging and papermaking are the only jobs available that pay a livable wage. It is our culture and tradition. We have no other manufacturing resources and we are not favorably located to a production friendly infrastructure. If the papermill shuts down we cannot survive on incomes generated by the hospitality sector - flippin' burgers or making beds do not pay the mortgage. What usually happens is that people from the city come and buy our houses which intern forces us to the cities to look for other types of work. I guess we are unique because in this area of the country when a tree is harvested several more usually pop up to replace it or a new crop of trees is planted. We call it sustainable forestry or the "working forests". I always choose paper over plastic to support those who depend on logging jobs to feed their families and those who are factory workers in the paper industry.

Posted by Robbie on April 20, 2008 at 01:36 AM EDT #

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