Green Bag
Much has been made over recent years as to the use of
more environmentally-friendly packaging, particularly the every-day
shopping bags most of us use without a second thought. The current trend
in many high-street stores and supermarkets is the use of biodegradable
single-use carrier bags. The plastics used in the manufacture of these
bags contain a degrading agent, a technology known as d2W which is
designed to break the plastic material down to leave only water, carbon
dioxide and biomass.
The theory behind these biodegradable bags, is sound enough: when the
bag is exposed to sunlight, water and the elements, the aerobic
environment causes the enzymatic action of the microbes to start the
deterioration process. However, the way the majority of these bags are
disposed of, i.e. amenity tips and landfills (amongst our normal
household waste), means that most of the bags do not get exposed to the
elements and therefore do not degrade.
Contrary to claims by manufacturers that these bags can be composted,
studies by the Australian Government found that the residues and
additives could expose plants and living organisms to potentially toxic
compounds.
Disposable plastic bags have either been totally banned or restricted in
at least 40 countries around the world, including Denmark, France,
Switzerland, Hong Kong, South Africa, Taiwan, even Scotland and Ireland
– but not England.
So what is the answer?
Unfortunately there is no totally green solution currently available.
Even paper bags and starch-based bags have a considerable impact on the
environment during the manufacturing process, i.e. the intensive
agriculture required to produce sufficient crops, plus the water,
chemicals and energy required to grow them.
The real answer lies firstly in our own education and disciplines. How
many bags do we use just once and throw away again? In Britain was
dispose of around 14 billion single-use plastic bags every year. The way
forward has to be through the use (and continued re-use) of reusable
bags. Better still if these reusable bags are made of cotton, jute, or
hemp.
About the author
Jeff Talbot
Anglo Packaging, UK specialists in
printed carrier bags, provides a wide range of
branded carrier bags in a variety of materials, many of which are
suitable for reuse. So even if you use a carrier bag made from nylon or
plastic, provided that you reuse it as often as possible, you will still
be doing your bit for the environment.