Who can help me figure out how to get stores and big companies to reduce plastic bags?

Question

in class we just started learning about how much money and oil goes into making plastic bags. 12 billion barrels makes` 10000 bags. we need to stop this soon or our environment will become a dump. if you want to tell me your oppinion on this go ahead. thanks

Answer 1

Call me mister skeptic, but I think who ever told you it takes 12,000,000,000 barrels of oil to make 10,000 little plastic bags is goofy. And, too, what does that say about someone who would believe them and then repeat it on YA.

Answer 2

People can change this by bringing a canvas reuseable bag with them each time they go to the grocery store. Less demand=less supply.   Less plastic will get out in the environment this way.  Also, if you use plastic, make sure to recycle it.

Answer 3

it isn't as easy at it sounds to make stores stop using plastic bags. tell all your friends and make them tell their friends and so on to use their own bags when they shop. it is the only way to ruduce the use of plastic. try sending out a chain email with a lot of evidence supporting the cause and poeple will listen.

Answer 4

You can't change the world -- you can only change yourself.

Invest in some reusable bags, and take them with you whenever you go shopping.

I have a small basket with a few dozen cotton bags (of differing sizes and strengths); and I take them with me whenever I go shopping.  I also have a couple of small collapsible bags that fit nicely into my handbag (whenever I do some impromptu shopping).

I never use plastic shopping bags.  I always use my own; and you'd be amazed how many people will follow suit.  

So be an initiator and refuse to accept a store's plastic bags.

Answer 5

Maybe look to Canada, we are slowly getting rid of bags. British Columbia and Nova Scotia are now bagless.

Answer 6

Well, you could tell the bigger stores to spend some money in research and development for more natural bags because plastic bags are made of petroleum and will never biodegrade (if that is even a word).

Answer 7

Many European countries charge extra per bag at the check-out line.  If our grocery stores started charging per plastic bag, it might fuel people to bring their own from home. Plus, grocery stores will save money, not having to provide all of those free plastic bags.

Answer 8

this is just a small thing but i think it can help you.  i already did this.  i am a regular customer of this supermarket.  i save all the bags they use for the goods i bought, and then the next time i shop, i carry the plastic bags i saved and ask them if i can use them instead of providing me a new one.  i encourage everyone i know to do the same.  sure, it won't really tell them directly to stop producing plastic bags, but when customers use less bags, their stock won't run out as fast as it did before and somehow lessen their need to produce more.