Benefits of Reusable Bags

By Kate Hudson

Many stores, including grocery stores and book stores, are selling reusable bags at the check out as an alternative to plastic bags. There are even "green" websites and stores that sell reusable, environmentally friendly shopping bags. Some stores charge a small fee for their plastic bags to try and encourage their customers to reuse the bags or provide their own.

Reusable bags are a growing trend, and rightly so. It is estimated that over 500 billion plastic bags are used by consumers worldwide each year. These plastic bags end up littering our streets, in landfills and in oceans, where they can take hundreds, even thousands, of years to decompose. We've all seen plastic bags blowing in the wind and becoming trapped in trees where they are unsightly and can be dangerous to wildlife and birds. That is just the tip of the iceberg.

As the plastic decomposes in landfills, it releases toxic particles which are absorbed into the ground and carried into streams and rivers, poisoning fish and plants. The toxins also soak into agricultural land where they enter our food chain. Even biodegradable plastic bag can give off toxins as they decompose.

The plastic bags that are dumped into the ocean are causing even more problems. In the North Pacific an entire island of plastic has accumulated which is estimated to be twice the size of Texas. This toxic mass is causing untold damage to marine life, and at the rate we're adding to it, the problem is only getting worse.

The problem with plastic bags doesn't begin when they become waste. Damage is also caused during their production. The bags are made from petroleum derivatives, which come from oil, a non-renewable fossil fuel. Their production causes air pollution from oil refineries and factories, along with all the other problems associated with the use of oil.

Reusable bags, particularly those made from more environmentally friendly resources such as cotton or other natural fibers, can help reduce the impact of plastic on our environment. Choose reusable bags and know that you are doing your bit to prevent further damage to our surroundings.

05/05/08  By Kate Hudson