Paper Carrier Bags

In the UK many supermarkets and stores are declining to offer carrier bags to their customers free of charge at the checkouts. The idea being of course to encourage people to re-use their plastic bags, but some stores are also moving to paper carrier bags.

The idea is that paper carrier bags are better for the environment that plastic for the environment. Is this really the case or is it a fallacy?

The point is that paper bags are the most ecological ones, because people perceive them as an organic and natural product. But even so, there is a reason why paper also wins against plastic, and why paper does not harm the environment when people use this type of bag. The answer is so simple, paper is biodegradable and plastic isn’t.

Stores and supermarkets adopt these policies as they are keen to show their green commitment and obtain positive public relations as a result. Of course, many shoppers are also environmentally aware too and they may choose to support the greener supermarket over another.

The best contribution we as citizens can make is working with the recycling process, by separating waste paper from other ones and depositing it in blue containers. In that way, our paper will have a new life and contribute to a sustainable cycle of a natural resource. But even if by mistake or neglect we do not deposit the paper bag in the container for recycling it is not a problem because they are biodegradable and are going to be recycled by the earth in just under 2-5 months.

Of course, paper comes from tress, and we need to bear this in mind, so you may prefer to use plastic carrier bags but keep using them again and again until they eventually wear out. The issue here is that with our busy lives it is easy to forget to take your carrier bags with you, and then of course you’ll more “disposable” ones from the supermarket or shop.

So to sum up, what are you doing to help the environment regarding the use of carrier bags – is it paper or plastic for you – and are you recycling. Remember the famous saying, we don’t own the planet, we borrow it from our children!

Don’t purchase any paper carrier bags until you’ve visited Business Pac, who offer wholesale carrier bags for business large and small.