In our efforts to become more environmentally friendly, it's important we get all the facts straight. There can be a lot of uncertainty about a few things we use every day that can easily be replaced with reusable, green substitutes. One of these things is plastic bags.
Plastic grocery bags are still the type of bag most stores offer. Unfortunately, that means a lot of these bags are going to end up in the trash, which will eventually lead to a landfill or an ocean. What this can mean for our environment can be largely downplayed by big plastic corporations looking to make a profit. So let's set the record straight. Here are a few myths about plastic and reusable bags, and why they aren't true.
Myth: It's cheaper to just throw out plastic bags than recycle them
Fact: Recycling actually creates more economic opportunities for our country. For every one job at a landfill, there could be ten at recycling facilities. Recycling plastic bags could also save millions of dollars a year from the costs to make them new.
Myth: Plastic is biodegradable and leaves no trace
Fact: Unlike reusable shopping bags, plastic could take up to an actual millennium to break down. And when they do, they photo-degrade, which releases toxins into our oceans and becomes hazardous to our environment.
Myth:Plastic bags are made from renewable resources
Fact: While plastic can be recycled, the initial process of making new plastic materials requires oil. Oil is a fossil fuel and is a finite resource, meaning one day we will run out of it worldwide.
Myth: Reusable bags aren't as strong as plastic
Fact: When compared to plastic grocery bags, the average lifespan for a cloth or canvas bag is much longer. For every 1 reusable bag, we use 700 plastic bags.
When it comes down to it, plastic bags just have way too many problems. They cost a lot of money to make, they break down into harmful toxins in our landfills, they use up a lot of oil which we will eventually not have, and they're just not that sturdy. So why do we still use them?
Well, luckily, you don't have to anymore. It's incredibly easy for you to your own reusable grocery bags. Most shops sell them for a very cheap price. Start helping the environment by ditching the plastic and picking up cloth.
For more information, please contact Holden Bags
