In Defence of the Plastic Bag

Cardew

With all this talk of exhaust fumes being able to kill you(or not!), it did occur to me that a plastic bag firmly tied over one's head would achieve that objective in a far more evironmentally friendly fashion.

A 'Green' suicide!

Yet another reason for their retention?

moonrakerz

I'm not going to say "I told you so" - but I did !

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7405861.stm

geordie_joe

moonrakerz wrote: »

I'm not going to say "I told you so" - but I did !

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7405861.stm

I heard it on the BBC news this morning and smiled because I knew it would get a mention in here.

moonrakerz

geordie_joe wrote: »

I heard it on the BBC news this morning and smiled because I knew it would get a mention in here.

Bet it doesn't get a mention in The Daily Mail !

PrinceGaz

You just have to weigh a plastic bag to realise their environmental impact is negligible compared with other food packaging.

I've just done so with two I had readily available (to re-use on my next shopping trip)- Somerfield disposable carrier bag: 6-7 grams. Simply Drinks disposable carrier: also 6-7 grams. Even if only used once, the unnecessary packaging weight of typical groceries carried in them will be several times that amount, and some of it is likely to be plastic (especially with "premium" products which tend to come with much more packaging).

Given that a typical disposable carrier bag is therefore about 7 grams and tends to be reusable at least four or five times (often ten or more times if not overloaded) and that many people would probably do so if given some incentive to, they are probably just as good for the environment as the heavier "bags-for-life" given how little impact each disposable carrier has. Disposable carriers are very easy to shove into a trouser or coat pocket because they are so lightweight and thin but still surprisingly strong, making them easier to re-use than the bags intended to be re-used. I doubt the "bags-for-life" really last forever, and they might not even last as long as the equivalent number of disposable ones would, weight-for-weight.

geordie_joe

PrinceGaz wrote: »

I doubt the "bags-for-life" really last forever,

They don't, but the term "bags-for-life" refers to the fact that when it wears out they shop will replace it with a new one free of charge.

Ben84

geordie_joe wrote: »

They don't, but the term "bags-for-life" refers to the fact that when it wears out they shop will replace it with a new one free of charge.

I've had some of the large thick plastic Lidl bags for about seven years now, which have been used at least once a week since buying them. They're still in very good condition, so I see no reason why I won't be using them for some time longer.

Considering they cost 75p each at the time, they have done very well. Much nicer for shopping too, the handles don't break, they don't split and they stay upright when you put them down. No more run away cans at the bus stop! Good shopping bags make shopping easier, so they're worth the small cost. Reusable bags also give you a good reason to pack your own shopping, which is welcome as often in shops they pack my bags badly. All the heavy things in one bag that is ready to give up before you get out the door, or everything upside down. I don't know why people like disposable bags so much, I really wouldn't go back to using them.