A look at plastic bag alternatives
Cotton Bags
In an attempt to replace plastic bags to alleviate the environmental issues caused by them, many brands are endorsing the supposedly superior cotton tote bags. Over 77 countries have passed a partial or full ban on plastic bags.
However, cotton alternatives actually have a higher global-warming potential due to its production and distribution-intensive nature. Cotton requires a large amount of land, water, fertiliser and pesticides to be produced. They weigh heavier and as such, require more fuel to transport them from production centres to businesses that use these products.
A study by the UK Environment Agency found that a cotton tote needs to be used 131 times to have the same environmental impact as a single-use plastic bag. With cotton totes now a collectible staple, they are quickly becoming the bigger eco-menace.
From fast fashion to luxury brands like Christian Dior, cotton tote bags have become a quick accessory to complete our look.
A tote for everything: whether we’re out shopping, preparing welfare packs, or embarking on a nature trail, cotton tote bags have become ubiquitous in our way of life
With the frequency at which we accumulate cotton tote bags, most of them never see the light of day, let alone are used more than 131 times.
Paper Bags
Like cotton, paper is production-intensive, requiring four times the energy to produce compared to a plastic bag. However, many brands across various industries have also switched to using paper packaging as part of the global effort to tackle and reduce plastic waste.
Deforestation is a huge problem when it comes to an over reliance on paper bags – 14 million trees are cut down annually to make paper bags. Deforestation creates 70 per cent more air pollution than plastic production as the forests that are cleared can no longer produce oxygen. Instead, the process of deforestation releases large quantities of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.
From high end shopping to swag bags, paper bags showcasing brand names have become a signifier of wealth and status.
Whether you’re a consumer, grocers or a pet dog, God forbid you’re seen using plastic when there are paper substitutes available.
Conclusion
It is clear that cotton tote bags and paper bags carry their own set of problems for the environment. In some ways they may even end up being more harmful than plastic bags. One of the biggest barriers we face in our efforts to being eco-friendly is the mixed messages and false information circulating on the Internet. Faced with contradictory facts and figures and information overload, we are easily led to decision paralysis.
So, what do we do now?
