The Detriments of Paper Bags

If plastic bags are so bad, why not start using paper bags? After all, they're bigger and can hold more. Surprisingly, although paper bags seem like a decent alternative to plastic, the truth is that they are actually worse than plastic bags. To start, paper bags require more energy to produce than plastic bags (almost 3 times a much). Paper bags are not made from recycled paper, so to make paper bags, live trees must be harvested. Further, paper mills pollute the environment while producing paper products such as bags.

"Paper sacks generate 70% more air and 50 times more water pollutants than plastic bags."
Source: "Comparison of the Effects on the Environment of Polyethylene and Paper Carrier Bags," Federal Office of the Environment, August 1988

Paper bags also take more energy to recycle than plastic bags. Like plastic bags, paper bags that end up in landfills do no degrade. Finally, paper bags are much heavier than plastic bags. As a result, trucks that are responsible for transporting paper bags are forced to use more fuel to transport them, resulting in additional pollution.

The solution to the paper bag problem is the same solution to the plastic bag problem - start using reusable shopping bags! They don't overfill landfills, they cause less pollution because once produced they have a much, much longer useful life, they're easier to carry, have multiple uses, and are more durable than most "free" bags. Reusable bags are a great solution to a problem that will only continue to get bigger unless we take action now.