Reasons You Need To Remember Your Reusable Shopping Bags
Every plastic grocery bag you’ve used is still on earth today. Every single one hasn’t even begun to degrade and may have even killed marine life. Start using reusable bags today and start doing better for the environment.
One plastic bag will take 400 to 1000 years to break down and while it is breaking down it releases harmful chemicals into the environment. Sea turtles and other marine life see these single use items as food which is why the Ocean Conservancy has marked them most deadly to the environment. A perfect fix for this catastrophe is using a bag already in your home every time a plastic bag could be given out. If buying new is necessary always remember the more times a new bag is used the more environmentally friendly it becomes. If possible try finding a bag from a secondhand store or buy a bag made from recycled materials.
Plastic bags are made from crude oil, when extracted is bad for the surrounding ecosystems. Any plastic made with oil do not react chemically with other substances so it does not decay, it only breaks down into smaller plastic pieces. 6% of oil extracted from the earth is for plastic production and 35-40% of that is for plastic bags. After stretching and rolling plastic pellets a new plastic bag is formed. The brand or appreciation is printed on the outside of the new bag with dyes that are toxic to the environment. On the positive side the process in which plastic bags are made can be done to make bioplastic bags as well but a better solution is just to use your own every time.
While plastic bags can be recycled and reused to create any type of plastic materials it is hard finding a place that will take them. Normal curbside recycling will sort out and toss plastic bags, making it better to just throw away on your own. If this type of film plastic is missed during the sorting process it could get caught in the belts that would cause damage to the machinery. This leaves many people option-less and causing only 1% of these bags to be recycled every year. Some retail stores will take back your used bags which could be a good option but in the long run just using the same reusable bag would be more energy efficient.
Like anything you buy new, reusable grocery bags have to be used in order for them to environmentally be better than plastic or paper bags. This can be done easily if you already have a bag you can use, if you find a bag at a secondhand store or if you make a reusable bag out of leftover fabrics in your home. Buying a sturdy, well made bag will increase its use. I’ve never bought a reusable bag as my friends and family have gifted them to me. I’ve been using these bags for over five years so it can be done. Make sure to treat the things you own like you want own them forever and they will last forever.
Even if you forget your bags just put all your items back into the cart and wheel it out to your car where you have extra bags waiting. This minor lapse of memory doesn’t have to be 400 years of a piece of plastic on earth. Sure it’s less convenient but next time you’ll definitely remember those reusable bags.
We made an app, Boycott That! Available for iOS and Android devices!
Boycott That is the app to start becoming a healthier consumer. For the wannabe zero waster, Boycott That has achievable sustainable switches for everyday items. The app is also perfect for helping to avoid companies that partake in animal cruelty and violate basic human rights.
