Return of the paper bag?

Question

I thought grocery stores stopped using paper bags in an effort to become more environmentally friendly. I noticed a lot of places began selling reuseable bags and having bins for plastic bags to be recycled. However, today I saw that Ralphs brought back the paper bag. Why are they doing that?

Answer 1

While it (obviously) requires trees to make paper bags, trees are a renewable resource and, in fact, take CO2 out of the atmosphere as they grow. By contrast, plastic bags are made out of oil, which is not a renewable resource. There are pros and cons to the use of each type of bag, but the renewability of the different raw materials used to create the bags is what the issue really comes down to.

Answer 2

Neither is ideal (the best thing to do is bring your own canvas bag), but paper is certainly the better option.  Plastic bags are problematic for the following reasons:  

The plastic is made from non-renewable petroleum resources, which we should avoid for a ton of reasons.

Plastic is much more difficult to recycle than paper.  It takes more energy to do it, and there are many different types of plastics that all look the same, so it is harder to sort.

Plastic can not really be "recycled"...  it is actually "downcycled".  This means plastic can not be remade into its original product.  If it was a water bottle, it can not become another water bottle.  It gets made into a non-food item, which in turn degrades the next time it is downcycled.  Ralph's actually has a program where you trade a bunch of plastic bags for one of their thick reusable recycled plastic sacks.

The manufacture of plastic bags requires the use of toxic chemicals and creates toxic biproducts, which create air, land, and water pollution.

Paper bags are problematic as well, but not nearly as much as plastic.  Paper is truly recyclable, and comes from trees, which is a renewable resource.  Deforestation in the name of paper bag manufacturing is regrettable, but again, plastic is much worse from start to finish.

Ralph's has decided to go the more sustainable route in trying to eliminate plastic bags.  Again, the best thing to do is bring your own reusable bags.  It's easy and they are more sturdy anyway.

Answer 3

To cut back on plastic bags means to cut back on production of them using petrol products.

Answer 4

My biggest problem with the canvas bags is forgetting to take them in with me.  When we do get the plastic, we always recycle them at Wal Mart where the have the boxes for them.  I guess it is new where I live because I always get a look when I tell the cashier, "Oh I have my own bags." It is like they are out of their comfort zone having to do it a different way.

Answer 5

The environmental debate between which is worse for the environment may never be over. Where I live paper never left, or if it did it was not for long.

For years the hot topic was deforestation and sustainable logging, that made paper unpopular. Most paper bags are made from virgin pulp for strength. Whole Foods has found a source for strong recycled paper bags. So the main impact of paper is the trees they come from.

Plastic is made of petroleum, which makes it nonbiodegradeable. It's light weight and can't carry many items and can easily become airborn, so it is a huge litter problem.

The best thing to do is get reusable bags. Look around your house and see if you have any old book bags or other containers, I've never had any store tell me they won't load my groceries into any bag or container I've brought in.

Answer 6

I am a member of several environmental websites and green living sites and heard that some states are already banning the use of the plastic bags. They are horrible! Get canvas or use paper and recycle them. I have one huge canvas bag I got free from Toys R Us last xmas when I spent like $50 and I use it for paper goods and light items then use my other 3 canvas bags (gotten free from various places) for other items and large items I just place in my cart then straight to my house. I have a mall cooler in my truck as well for cold items to stay a little cooler in transit during TX summers.

Answer 7

we use paper bags the trees will be cut in order of paper bags? plastic bags the earth is is getting polluted because of them?

Answer 8

If the paper bags are made entirely of recycled paper, then that would make them eco-friendly.  But yea, if they're made of new trees, that is aweful!

The best way to find out is to look on the bag--generally it will have something printed on it telling you if it's made of recycled material.  You can also ask the store manager if they have this information.

Answer 9

I don't know why they brought the paper bag back, but in 2001, they sent a letter to Earth Day Groceries Project saying they support the project through "the Paper Bag Council of the American Forest & Paper Association and our paper bag supplier, Willamette Industries, Inc.".

Ralphs goes on to say "The recyclable handled paper bags Ralphs uses in its stores are in keeping with our company’s ongoing commitment to the community and our environment. The handled paper bags Ralphs uses are made from a minimum of 50% post-consumer recycled fiber and are 100% recyclable and completely compostable." (See source below for entire letter.)

Maybe they thought more people would be buying the reusable bags instead of using plastic bags and as an alternative are offering paper bags.

Answer 10

Paper bags are bio-degradable, while plastic bags are not.

Answer 11

actually paper is made from wood which is biodegradable.

so it will get biodegrade its own in soil.

where as plastic is non-biodegradable so it will not degrade it self and create pollution.

Answer 12

Paper bags are also more easily recyclable. Any paper recycling program can take them, while only certain recycling programs can use the plastic bags.

Answer 13

I remember the days when you were asked paper or plastic! lol But, where I live I don't see any paper ones, but they probably do have them if you ask.

Answer 14

paper bags are easy to recyle. They are great for yard clippings and newspaperss

Answer 15

You've got it reversed.....

The paper bag is gaining popularity because it environmentally friendly.

1)  It's great for going to the car whenever it's raining and gets soaked and all your items drop out and crash.

2)  You can cut eyes out of it and put a picture of an unhappy environemtalist on it for halloween and scare the neighborhood.

(Make sure to give it gray hair and glasses and a Subaru Tattoo)

3)  After using the bag that way.......You can still use it for doodee when you pull the halloween prank and ring the doorbell and run.

What could be better

Answer 16

Ask the manager  that question ... let him know you are not in favor of this  maybe the bags are made from Hemp no trees are  are involved in the process of  making  Hemp bags the Hemp I am referring to does  not have Psychoactive properties .

Answer 17

paper bags can be made of recycled materials and then recycled again....

Answer 18

plastic bags don't usually get recycled and they aren't biodegradable...thats why we use paper plates when we need allot of plates instead of Styrofoam

Answer 19

Because the majority of people won't recycle their plastic bags, and then the plastic bags end up in landfills (or blowing all over the front lawn)... they don't biodegrade well. If at all.

Paper, on the other hand, when it gets wet, becomes part of the earth again...

Of course, I am guessing.

Answer 20

Many people have pointed out two important considerations: that paper is recyclable, while plastic (although recycllable) rarely is, and that plastic is a petroleum product - and many folks post-9/11 are seeking ways to decrease dependence on foreign oil.

There has even been a superb PowerPoint program circulating that discusses the dangers that plastic bags pose to wildlife, even to whales and dolphins. It ends with the fact that plastic is a petroleum product. Even folks who have traditionally been "ungreen" are finding the petroleum connection disturbing. So the grocers' move back to paper is probably becoming quite popular.

In fact, many grocery stores are offering five cents off the cost of each bag you  bring with you, whether canvas or paper, because they're trying to cut back on plastic.

Answer 21

its hard in some places to recycle plastic bags

Answer 22

A lot of health food stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joes choose to use paper bags and perhaps Ralphs is trying to mimic them in order to portray a more "environmentally friendly" image.  Plastic bans should be banned..period.  The process of producing plastic bags comes from non renewable resources (petroleum) and toxic chemicals (phenyl, benzene, etc..).  Paper bags are no better either since they do cut down trees, use a lot of water to produce the bag, and the manufacturing process emits toxic chemicals.

Answer 23

Canvas Bags are the best thing to use