Paper or Plastic ?

Answer 1

I'll take neither thank you very much. I prefer my handy-dandy "My Answer to a Better Planet" tote from Yahoo! Answers. All the other shoppers are jealous -- I love that! I take along another pair of canvas totes as well for bigger trips.

Here are some additional grocery store related tips to help become a greener consumer:
*combine all your trips into one if you are driving yourself
*buy products without excessive packaging and lean towards products that come in recyclable containers.
*when buying produce, meat, poultry, etc. try to favor those that are locally grown or raised (shorter time to market means less energy used and less pollution)
*Buy recycled products (paper goods, aluminum, plastic wrap, etc.)

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Paper

Answer 3

Paper.

Answer 4

Hi there!

I choose option #3, reusable burlap bags. You re-use them so there is no waste and when they are worn out they can be discarded and will decompose naturally.

My next choice would be PLASTIC. *GASP* and my reasoning for this is because it takes considerably less energy to produce, refine, and transport a plastic bag than it does a paper bag. Now, the contingency to plastic being my next choice is that you have to return it to the supermarket for recycling. If you don't think you can/will do this, then go with paper which will decompose in a very short period of time in a landfill or compost heap.

Good question!

Answer 5

Great points JL!
Reusable bags are definitely the best choice.
I have been getting paper a lot as I do most of my shopping at Trader Joe's and Wild Oats.
I keep some paper bags in the car to reuse on my next trip, but I often forget.

Answer 6

Paper.

Answer 7

Paper is a renewable resource. Plastic is not biodegradable. I use paper when possible, but I also bring my own bags more often than not.

Answer 8

Paper if available.I carry my Yahoo Answers bag in my vehicle all the time.No more plastic bags for me...Thanks Yahoo....

Answer 9

Permaculture Answer:

The Short Answer YES use re-useable tote or any other bags. If you already have any old bags, no matter what they are made of, that will carry shopping, using what you have is by far the greenest option. Use them to their death, it is even greener. It is not a fashion issue it is a green issue. Check your cupboards and use what you have first.


The Reasons Why?: Or The Long Answer

The scale of the use of plastic is a major environmental problem. Plastic production is highly unsustainable, presuming that we are talking about the oil based plastics and not the new bio-starch products. Plastic carrier bags are ephemeral so they are quickly disposed of. The chances are that the bag will end up in landfill after one use.

Plastic Bags: There are a lot of reasons given why people 'like' plastic bags. However, they still never decompose no matter how many times you use them. This is compounded when people tie their rubbish into plastic bags and thousands of other such filled plastic bags are piled on top of each other iin landfill sites. So if you must use plastic, re-use as many times as possible then take them supermarket to be recycled.

Biodegradeable Bags/Bioplastics: Polylactic acid (PLA) a biodegradable polymer derived from lactic acid. These vegetable based bioplastics biodegrades quickly under composting conditions and does not leave toxic residue. However, bioplastic have own environmental impacts caused by manufacturing and disposal of end product. Charges will be levied for plastics and bioplastics as the Government are having to pay landfill penalties. You will be charged for these impacts and taxed but on the plus side biodegradable bags (from potato and corn starches) are a new thriving industry

Paper Bags. Great if singly composted. In land fill can take years for layers to decompose. Still an organic material. But there is cost of production, costs to environment of pulp trees (monocultures, loss of habitat, etc) costs of recycling/disposal. Again you will have to pay for these production costs and disposal costs and taxed.

Recycle the cardboard boxes at the store to carry your groceries home or just pack into the boot of your car without bags and then carry in from the boot.

France is banning plastic bags 2007 others are moving towards it. The most effective is taxing plastic bag use. If we do not take action we will be taxed as the Irish are for using plastic bags. Effective as a decrease of 90% plastic bag use in Ireland.


http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2006-12/2006-12-10-voa10.cfm?CFID=169987849&CFTOKEN=31108901

Whilst cotton bag production is also unsustainable it is generally used many many more times, generally for a number of years. And are not non-biodegradable. People do not tend to tie their other rubbish into a cloth bag to send it to landfill. Cotton bags will compost in any home composter. Therefore a reused bag made of cloth clearly does not have the same detrimental effect on the environment as a reused bag made of plastic (or many). The environmental impact of plastic bag disposal is magnified because of the number of the bags that are used.

Willow is highly sustainable, from willow coppice and returns to the ground without trace. A wicker basket would be the obvious thing, to cut down on this massive use on single-use plastic carrier bags. Willow can be grown on sewage outfall which as we know is an environmental pollutant. There are no ENVIRONMENTAL costs of processing/production of a willow basket. It is a local economy that does not use heat, beat or treat. It could be grown in the supermarket car park dealing with the waste from the toilet block. In Permaculture we call this zoning and edge. It also demonstrates redundancy of function when used in sewage treatment. Willow is highly sustainable, from willow coppice and returns to the ground without trace.

Perhaps the best solution is to LIMIT YOUR CONSUMPTION OF EVERYTHING.

Think about what you are buying first and how the packaging will be disposed of:
Use your local butcher who will wrap in paper.
Buy fruit and vegetables from local growers it supports your local economy. There are usually lots of recycled cardboard boxes at Farmer's markets.
Buy from the local baker wraps in paper.
Buy milk in glass bottles or recyclable plastic.
Avoid pre packed foods and processed foods. The packaging is excessive.

Ensure you recycle metals, plastics, glass and cardboard.
Compost green waste.

There will be hardly anything left to go to landfill.

Answer 10

Paper. Plastic is not biodegradable.