Plastic shopping bag
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Plastic shopping bags/Carrier bags are a common type of shopping bag in several countries. They are made of polyethylene (low-density or more "crinkly" high-density) and are cheaper and lighter in weight than their paper counterparts, but lack stiffness. Items shifting within the bag can cause the bag to fall over and spill its contents; this can be prevented by placing rigid items in the sides of the bag to provide support. The handles of these bags also have a tendency to lose elasticity and break under the weight of their contents. Plastic bags hold up better than paper bags when wet, such as in rain. Plastic bags are commonly reused as either garbage bags, or can be recycled along with other plastic containers.
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[edit] Litter and the environment
Plastic bags are notorious for becoming litter. They are known in several countries by names such as "Witches' knickers" because of their unpleasant tendency to blow about and cling to things in the wind. Most do not biodegrade although increasing numbers are made from degradable material.
UV-degradable bags are easy to design and manufacture and manufacturers have also made biodegradable versions, many using a TDPA additive to speed up the breakdown of plastic into small enough parts which can be used as food by microbes or simply become an inert fraction in humus. However, the environmental benefits of biodegradable plastic bags must be balanced against the fact that they ultimately release CO2 and/or methane (both greenhouse gases) into the atmosphere.
Because of their light weight, steady winds can blow them for long distances, and they can become life-threatening for birds and marine life. It is now generally regarded that re-using bags is the most environmental approach. In 2002, Ireland introduced a 'plastic bag tax' which reduced their use by 90%. [1]
[edit] Issues by country
[edit] Australia
In Australia shoppers are now encouraged to buy bags called "green bags" which cost a few dollars, but can be reused many times. The bags are coloured green, black and blue. Some "green bags" are insulated for the carrying of hot or cold items.
[edit] France
Growing awareness of the ecological impact of plastic bags have lead main mass retailers to force customers to buy reusable plastic or nonwooven bags. This has been adopted by supermarkets (like Carrefour) - they manage out of that scheme to improve their image and save million on the purchase of the former plastic bags. Nonfood related retailers (like Cloth) tend to prefer to switch to paper bags that allows them to match the ecological demand & updgrade their image on two aspects: ecology & quality.[2]
[edit] Ireland
A few countries have introduced laws to combat this sort of litter, for example: on March 4, 2002 the Republic of Ireland introduced a 15 cent levy on every plastic shopping bag. This led to people cutting down on plastic bags by 95% and using reusable bags. The money gathered by the levy was used to raise money for environmental initiatives.
[edit] Japan
Almost any store you visit in Japan, from convenience stores to street vendors, will also net you a free plastic bag for your purchase. Although there are some supermarkets (like Kyoto Co-op) which charge for plastic bags, this is by no means the norm. Many supermarkets (like Izumiya) will give you extra points on your point-card if you bring your own bag.
[edit] New Zealand
In recent years cloth bags have been promoted and sold by some supermarkets as an alternative to plastic bags. In August 2006 the Collingwood community in Golden Bay declared itself shopping bag free by a group of local residents who promoted the idea.
[edit] South Africa
Mohammed Valli Moosa, the Environment and Tourism Minister of South Africa, jokingly named them the "national flower" of that country, and worked to introduce a minimum legal thickness of 30 micrometres to increase their cost, reusability, and recyclability.
[edit] United Kingdom
Growing awareness in the UK of the problems caused by indiscriminate use of plastic bags is encouraging some large retailers to reward customers who bring their own bags or who reuse or recycle existing bags. This has been adopted by Tesco, who call it the 'Green Bag Scheme'. [3]
[edit] United States
Plastic bags largely displaced paper bags as the most common type of shopping bag during the late 1980s and early 1990s. There has been no broad government action against the litter problem, although some local governments have enacted ordinances, and many stores allow customers to return the bags for recycling. Empty bags carried on the wind are popularly known as "urban tumbleweed."
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- 45% reduction in Plastic bags from retailers in Australia, May 23, 2006.
- Solution: switch to paper bag, November 14, 2006
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