A closer look at paper and plastic bags, and why we should opt for reusable bags as often as possible.
Having a stash of disposable bags tucked away can be handy, but when a small collection gradually turns into a superabundance brimming from the under-sink cabinet, it’s time to rethink how we carry.
Upon plain sight, it is easy to draw our own green conclusions about disposable and reusable bags. And though we may want to choose reusable, it’s not always the most readily available option. So, is there a clear frontrunner when it comes to paper or plastic? And what are some easy ways to incorporate reusable bags into a busy lifestyle?
Looking more closely at the lifecycle and environmental challenges caused by paper and plastic bags offers a lot of motivation to aim for reusable bags when we can. Here are some takeaways I have picked up, followed by some useful tips for shifting toward reusable.
The backstory on plastic bags
A quick history tells us that the first polyethylene bag was patented by a company in Sweden in 1965. The convenient new alternative to paper and cloth bags grew in popularity across Europe and arrived on the scene in the United States in 1979, first implemented by grocery chains Safeway and Kroger. (UN Environment Programme).
*This is an interesting anecdote to me considering that something so omnipresent today has actually only existed in the U.S. as long as Generation X.
The U.S. consumes about 100 billion single-use plastic bags each year, requiring around 2 billion pounds of fossil fuels and nearly 4 billion gallons of freshwater to produce. According to a 2019 study, more than 3% of global emissions came from plastics, and around 90% of those emissions happened during production and conversion from fossil fuels. (Our World Data)
*Plastic bags have consequential impacts throughout each phase of their lifecycle. From the extraction and refinement of the raw materials used in the manufacturing process to transportation and distribution, they require a lot of energy and natural resources on their way to consumers.
By the time a plastic bag ends up in our hands, its final fate depends on us. Data from the EPA shows that out of the approximately 4.2 million tons of plastic bags, sacks and wraps the U.S. generates each year, about 10% is recycled, 72% is landfilled and 17% is combusted for energy consumption. What happens to the rest? They end up clogging waterways, polluting oceans and threatening wildlife.
*Unfortunately, the accumulation of plastic bags we battle is a systematic problem due to how widely available they are offered. But slow efforts are being made to acknowledge a need for change. Some major grocery chains and companies are considering their roles and working on ways to phase out plastic bags, and communities around the country have enacted legislation to ban single-use plastics. Currently, twelve states and a number of cities and municipalities around the U.S. have adopted some form of plastic bag ban as a way of addressing the problem. Though single-use plastic bans face hurdles, when designed effectively, they have shown success.
In Ohio, Cuyahoga County, Athens County and the city of Bexley have plastic bag bans. Cincinnati has indefinitely delayed its plastic bag ordinance as a result of Ohio House Bill 242, and the city of Athens was sued by the Ohio attorney general in December 2023 to stop its ban on single-use plastic bags.
So, are paper alternatives actually a more environmentally-friendly option?
It depends on how you look at it.
Unlike plastic bags, paper bags are made from a renewable resource—trees. However, trees need time and the right conditions to grow. It is estimated that 14 million trees in the U.S. alone are cut down annually for paper production. The pulp and paper industry accounts for about 13-15% of total wood consumption globally, and the U.S. is the second-largest producer and consumer. (World Wildlife Fund)
*While there are a number of drivers and factors that contribute to the removal of forests globally, the production of agricultural commodities like pulp and paper is responsible for a hefty share of deforestation. The impacts of large-scale destruction to forests around the world are far-reaching, from the loss of biodiversity to heightened global warming.
While paper bags may offer more favorable end-of-life options because they are made from biodegradable materials and can be more easily recycled than plastic bags, the front-end of paper bag production involves a heavy use of chemicals, producing 70% more air pollution and 50 times more water pollutants than plastic bags.
*Recycling is great, but it isn’t the only answer to all of our disposable bag problems. The fact is, both plastic and paper bags have negative impacts on the environment. The best bag we can choose is one that can be used over and over.
Reach for reusable—even when it's easier not to.
When it comes to reusable bags, one of the biggest challenges I have faced is having to move away from online grocery pickup orders. For many of us, this method for grocery shopping has become a game changer in how we manage our weekly routines and the stressors that can come with them, and when a plastic bag ban isn’t in effect where we shop— we are forced to carry our groceries home in disposable options. It’s hard to prioritize the value of shifting to methods that require more time and effort when the results aren’t always as immediately visible.
But ironically, it was through all of my online grocery pickup orders that I realized the surplus of disposable bags we were accumulating in our house. As I’ve gotten back in the habit of shopping in-store, incorporating reusable bags into my current lifestyle really has been doable.
Here are some tips to keep in mind:
Think Longevity. Look for options that are durably made, easy to wash and made from recycled or environmentally-friendly material.
Convenience is Key. Store reusable bags in easy-to-grab locations that fit into your lifestyle. This could be the basket behind your car seat, a hook near the door or a foldable option to tuck into your purse.
Pack Smartly and Consider Size. Whether you bag them yourself or have help where you shop, designate certain bags for certain products and send items through the scanner in the order you would like them packed.
Save Money. Some stores charge extra fees for using disposable bags. This can sometimes be location-based depending on single-use bag policies. Research policies where you shop.
And remember, even when you end up with a disposable bag, you can still send it away responsibly.
Paper bags can be reused in a variety of ways or recycled directly in your weekly pickup or at a free drop-off recycling location. (Check your specific area for sites.)
Plastic bags cannot be recycled in curbside pickup, but they can be taken to a store drop-off program. Target, Kroger, Walmart and Meijer are among some with plastic bag recycling-specific bins located inside the store.
Whether you shift entirely to reusable or start gradually—it’s a step in the right direction. Living more sustainably can be challenging. It’s hard to focus on meaningful steps when there are so many other things calling our attention more directly. But when armed with a few useful tips, we can work on making progressive changes that fit into our current lifestyles. And if you have learned any other helpful tips, please send them my way!
--Jill Span Hofbauer
Sources:
"Reducing Disposable Bag Pollution." 2021. Citizens Campaign for the Environment.
"Plastic Bag Bans Work." 2024. Environment America Research & Policy Center. Frontier Group. U.S. PIRG Education Fund.
"Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: 2018 Tables and Figures” Environmental Protection Agency.
Brand, David. "Plastic Bags: Where they come from and where they end up." 2018. Global Citizen.
McGrath, Jane. "Which is More Environmentally Friendly: Paper or Plastic?” 2023. HowStuffWorks.
Ritchie, Hannah. "How much of global greenhouse gas emissions come from plastics?” Our World in Data.
Paper Waste Facts. The World Counts.
"From birth to ban: A history of the plastic shopping bag." UN Environment Programme.
"Responsible Forestry: Pulp and Paper." World Wildlife Fund.
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