Published on by April Cole
We spoke not too long ago about the impact that using a large number of reusable grocery bags has on the environment around them, with a particular focus on the impact that these bags have on the environment after they have been used.
Even though plastic shopping bags are destined to end up in landfills and oceans, we can still reuse and recycle them so that they have a longer life, even beyond the point when there is no turning back. This will allow them to have a longer life even after the point where there is no turning back. This is something that was discussed between the two of us back then. Because we place a high value on consistency, today we are going to have a discussion about the myriad of ideas and approaches that may be used to recycle grocery bags in ways that are not only fun but also one-of-a-kind.
Why Shouldn’t You Use Plastic Bags?
The globe seems to be drowning beneath unending mountains of plastic bags, and we need to take action as quickly as possible to avert more harm to the environment as well as to ourselves.
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that consumers in the United States use more than 380 billion plastic bags and wraps every single year. Around 12 million barrels of oil are required by the industry each year in order to generate the number of plastic bags that are needed (to which they add water, electricity, and so on).
Unfortunately, fewer than five percent of plastic is recycled on a global scale, which is a drop of water in an ocean of approximately one trillion plastic bags that are used yearly throughout the globe.
When seen within this context, it is not surprising that we are here to discuss the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (which is believed to be twice as large as Hawaii) and devastated ecosystems. The issue that has to be answered is whether or not a plastic bag is more environmentally friendly than a reusable bag.
Reusable Bags vs. Plastic Bags
The widespread use of plastic bags poses an imminent risk to our planet. They float in the air and smother life wherever they are, whether they are accumulating in rivers, lakes, parks, or other natural settings. They litter the streets and cause drainage systems to get clogged.
They eventually wind up in landfills, and there is no indication that they will biodegrade in the foreseeable future. Countries all over the globe are beginning to enact prohibitions on the use of plastic bags, and the United States is following suit, with the states of California, Oregon, and now New York leading the charge.
In this context, we need to discuss fabric bags, paper bags, and certain reusable plastic bags that look eco-friendlier than most of their plastic counterparts. We may also talk about some plastic bags made from recycled materials. Consider the following, among other things:
- To begin, you need to have a firm handle on the idea that each and every kind of bag has some kind of effect on the surrounding environment. Bags that can be reused are manufactured with the expectation that their owners would do so a sufficient number of times before considering disposing of them in a manner that is environmentally responsible.
- When we talk about the effect that a bag has on the environment, we shouldn't only focus on its end-of-life characteristics (whether it is biodegradable, compostable, recyclable, etc.), but rather we should think about its full lifetime, beginning with its manufacture, transportation, and so on.
- One other problem is that not all bags are recyclable, even if they are made of materials that are favorable to the environment. Because some of them are made up of a variety of different materials, recycling them may be an expensive, labor-intensive, and technically challenging endeavor.
- When evaluating the potential for recycling an item, it is necessary to take into account the object's deconstruction since part of the item's components may still wind up in a landfill.
Cotton / Canvas Reusable Grocery Bags
In recent years, there has been a significant shift toward emphasizing the use of canvas shopping bags as an environmentally preferable alternative to the use of plastic bags. Research that was conducted a few years ago revealed that we need to use a canvas shopping bag more than one hundred times in a row for it to become safe for the environment. This led to a discussion on whether or not canvas shopping bags are ecologically friendly.
If we really reuse our reusable shopping bags on a regular basis, then their effect on the environment is significantly reduced. If we purchase a tote bag made of cotton or canvas for shopping after we use it we can put it away in the cupboard and it will be practically the same as if we had used a plastic bag.
In order to be considered ecologically friendly, a shopping bag made of cotton or canvas must meet certain criteria. Let us examine what it is that we recommend you do:
- When you go grocery shopping, it will be less tempting for you to buy plastic shopping bags if you have a few reusable shopping bags, such as those made of cotton or canvas, in a variety of sizes, shapes, and types. If you keep these bags nearby, such as in the trunk of your car, for example, you will feel less compelled to buy plastic shopping bags.
- The more canvas shopping bags you have, the better you will be able to handle all different kinds of food, which will make it easier for you to give up using plastic bags entirely.
- You may reuse a plastic shopping bag a few times and even use it as a rubbish bag, but ultimately, plastic shopping bags suffer from wear and tear; this is one of the key problems with the sustainability of a shopping bag.
- Canvas and cotton shopping bags, on the other hand, are more resistant to wear and tear, they can be washed, and you can repurpose them once their lifecycle has reached its end. If you need to use a cotton shopping bag one hundred times before it is considered environmentally friendly, you won't have any trouble doing so.
Which Reusable Grocery Bags Are Best?
One of the most important lessons you can learn from this advice on reusable shopping bags is to use bags of any kind with awareness. The more often something is used, regardless of the material it is made of, the more sustainable it becomes.
Always have one on you, and try to refrain from purchasing more ones. There are reusable bag options that are better for the environment than others, but every option has both positives and negatives associated with it. Pick the one that is most suitable to your requirements.
Jute bags are probably the greatest alternative available so far in terms of biodegradability and having a minimal effect on the environment. Cotton and canvas bags come in a close second and third. However, the latter has a negative impact on the environment.
It won't take long for polypropylene bags to become environmentally friendly, but in the meanwhile, you should avoid hoarding them and keep them out of landfills.
Gusset Cotton/Canvas Bag
Gusset bags are tote bags that have an increased and extended volume capacity thanks to their gussets. To put it another way, bags that include gussets are able to hold objects that are both bigger and heavier without rupturing. These additional plates of added material may take the shape of either a rectangle or a square, and they enable the use of either welding or bolts to provide additional support and stability to the bags.
Jute and polypropylene bags both include features called gussets, which provide both volume and durability to the bags. In the same spirit of making a bag last longer, there are now reusable shopping bags available with strengthened handles.
Burlap Reusable Produce Bags
People who are concerned about sustainability on all fronts should look for reusable produce bags that are made of jute or burlap. Pouches also work well. To begin, jute is a fabric that is environmentally benign in and of itself. Second, jute or burlap is an ideal material for transporting and storing food items such as fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts, coffee, and so on since it is robust, strong, and still breathable.
A shopping tote made of jute that will be used just for carrying fresh food items. Bring the burlap tote bags with you to the supermarket, load it up with all of your preferred fresh fruits and vegetables, and then make your way back home. It really is that simple!
Mesh Reusable Grocery Bags
Imagine that you are the sort of person that buys their family a significant quantity of fresh fruit and vegetables each week. In such a case, you may want to look into purchasing a lightweight mesh shopping tote that can serve as an alternative to using plastic bags and provides you with the space and lightweight materials you want for your shopping requirements. You may get a few of them at a discount from the wholesaler and then rotate them every week. These reusable grocery bags are more comprehensive than the typical produce bags that you can obtain at a grocery store, and they come with the added purpose of being able to be used as shopping bags as well as produce bags.
Reusable Bags for Laundry
One issue that arises with many different types of washing machines is the fact that they nearly completely consume little items of clothing, particularly socks. These little pieces are able to effortlessly conceal themselves inside the machine's many compartments or amid your other, bigger garments. In either scenario, you have a difficult time locating the components that match or an appropriate undergarment. In addition, bras especially have a higher risk of developing wear or having their underwiring come undone when being washed.
To avoid inconveniences of this kind, you may transform a reusable shopping bag into a cloth sack by simply drawing the mouth of the bag into a tighter seal. You may secure the handbag by tying it up with an extra rope or by simply using the hangers for the same purpose if you want to be absolutely certain that no shred of fabric will escape. This useful use of laundry bags will reveal its advantages when you do your laundry at a laundry facility, which is an environment in which your clothing might easily get mixed up with the clothes of other people.
Paper Shopping Bags
The production of paper bags, like the production of cotton bags, takes a substantial quantity of trees, water, and power. This is despite the fact that paper is biodegradable, which makes it a material that is beneficial to the environment. One possibility is to use recycled paper as the material for shopping bags; however, this is not a wise choice since the recyclable paper is rather fragile and cannot be relied upon to contain food.
When utilizing paper shopping bags, there are a few benefits to keep in mind, including the following:
Paper bags may be environmentally benign both throughout their lifespan and after they have been used if they are reused in the right way;
- You may either take paper bags to a facility that recycles paper or compost them, which is one of the most significant benefits of using paper bags, despite the fact that this may seem like an oxymoron to some people.
- When discussing the effect that reusable grocery bags have on the environment, it is essential to take into account a wider range of factors in addition to the expenses and needs associated with their creation. The production of plastic bags may be less expensive and less carbon-intensive, but the "afterlife" of these bags is something that we need to take into mind.
- Cotton tote bags that are used for shopping are reusable even after we have stopped using them since they may be used in other ways. When it comes to paper bags, we have the option of incinerating them, putting them in the compost or reusing them for a variety of activities around the house. Even if they wind up in a landfill, cotton bags and paper bags are environmentally friendly since they are biodegradable and break down into less harmful substances over time.
To put it another way, bags made of cotton and canvas, in addition to paper bags, are more environmentally friendly alternatives to plastic bags.