Paper Vs. Plastic?

Question

I know how bad Plastic Shopping Bags! But, are Paper Shopping Bags acctually any better?

Answer 1

Technically paper is better to use for the environment. Although it might not be as strong as your average plastic bag... it is now (in most places) already made from recycled materials. Also if you have a paper bag you are more likely to recycle it and it will decompose faster and better.

Even though you can recycle plastic bags, the plastic bag will not decompose even after decades.

In the long run... paper is better for the environment and about just as good as your plastic bag

Answer 2

I really think everyone should just carry a few reusable bags in their car. If you buy the ones at most grocery stores for 99 cents, they usually pay you 5 cents each time you use it, so in a few weeks or months you break even.

If you have to use a bag paper is marginally better, most are made from virgin paper, Whole foods has found a way to make a recycled paper bag. But ultimately it will return to nature.

Plastic bags are made from petroleum. The fact that they are light weight, means you have to use many of them and they fly away easily. We use billions of them every year, few are recycled and millions of them become litter. They are harmful to wildlife both on land and on the water. You can find plastic bags floating miles off the coast.

So, I have reusable bags for everything including produce. I have virtually eliminated plastic bags in my life.

Answer 3

As long as we keep cutting down trees to make paper bags  the ansew to your question is NO   evern though paper in the ground disintegrates  plastic can take years, trees are inportant  to give us clean air...what we need to do is GROW HEMP in the ground like we did years ago it can replace wood in paper making process...(not to be confused with marijuana ) Hemp has no "Psychoactive" properties it does'nt get you high for 99cents you can purchase a cloth bag and use it OVER&OVER&OVER

Answer 4

They're both poor environmental choices.  Reusable is the smart option.

Answer 5

Plastic bags can be used numerous times and then recycled.

Paper bags can be recycled too, but were banned decades ago to save trees. Funny thing is, it turns out that the more paper we use the more trees are planted.

So either type is environmentally safe as long as you try to recycle as much as possible. Most people prefer plastic bags because paper bags get wet and tear.  That's what they used in the 60's before plastic.  They also use paper bags in movies because hollywood is so out of touch with reality.

Answer 6

Cloth is the best way to go.  Both paper and plastic have cons to using them.  However, some stores, mostly health food stores are not using an environmentally friendly biodegradable plastic bag.  I still feel that using cloth is much better than these, because there would be less manufacture and transport involved, but if more stores switched it could make a huge impact.

Answer 7

Paper is better than plastic for the environment, because it does not stay in our land fills for years. and allot of the paper bags are made out of recyclable paper. However if you are really conscience about the environment you would not use either, you can get reusable shopping bags or cloth bags for next to nothing and they are much easier to carrier your groceries in, also you can use them for all sorts of other reasons. If you forget them you could also opt to not have your items baged at all, most store will let you with the receipt.

Answer 8

better for the enviroment??? Idk, that's kinda in question. Yes, plastic shopping bags are bad for the enviroment as well- but if ppl put they're plastic bags in the recycling bins like they should.....we would save paper. Save trees that otherwise would be cut down, abandoning even more animals, and forcing them to seek refuge in the cities and towns, and consequently being either killed or placed outside of they're orginal habitat.

So..in my opinion, a little recycling and reusing of either paper or plastic would make a huge difference.

Answer 9

No maybe good for the envir. but as for carrying them around they rip right through

Answer 10

Paer bags worse