It’s somewhat of a mantra among environmentalists that we need to think of the world that we’re leaving to the next generations that will follow us. In the case of plastics this task is especially daunting because the plastic that we use everyday from sandwich bags to cell phones will stick around for over the next 15 generations. Even when it has finally photodegraded to the size of a grain of sand, it remains as plastic. Some plastics release toxins into the soil, air, and water in the process.
MarkO Productions is happy to introduce a new feature to our blogspot to help us all think a little more about how we can alter our daily choices to help break up the waves of plastic that are continually having a negative impact on our wildlife, and environment.
This week’s Plastic Solution Checkpoint: Ditching the plastic bags.
MarkO Productions is happy to introduce a new feature to our blogspot to help us all think a little more about how we can alter our daily choices to help break up the waves of plastic that are continually having a negative impact on our wildlife, and environment.
This week’s Plastic Solution Checkpoint: Ditching the plastic bags.
Many of us have seen the clever marketing and new growth in reusable shopping bags. They come in a variety of materials (even making use of recycled plastic) and a variety of prices. One thing they all do though is help rid us of some of the most annoying plastic offenders – disposable plastic shopping bags.
According to one New York Times article as of 2007 plastic bags accounted for 90% of all shopping bags used and America alone went through an estimated 100 billon of them every year. Makes you wonder when you think that these bags made for a one time purpose - the drive home from the supermarket - stick around for hundreds of years.
Thankfully many stores, cities, and even countries are trying to do something about it. Some stores offer rebates for using re-usable bags, others have worked to eliminate plastic bags from check out line completely. As of a BBC report in 2008 many countries had imposed a variety of limitations and restrictions on plastic bags and others had imposed fees or charged taxes for them. Several cities around the world have also taken a stand and had them banned outright. As of January 1, Italy was set to implement a country-wide ban on plastic bags as well.
Just to help get started here is our family’s personal favorite find:
According to one New York Times article as of 2007 plastic bags accounted for 90% of all shopping bags used and America alone went through an estimated 100 billon of them every year. Makes you wonder when you think that these bags made for a one time purpose - the drive home from the supermarket - stick around for hundreds of years.
Thankfully many stores, cities, and even countries are trying to do something about it. Some stores offer rebates for using re-usable bags, others have worked to eliminate plastic bags from check out line completely. As of a BBC report in 2008 many countries had imposed a variety of limitations and restrictions on plastic bags and others had imposed fees or charged taxes for them. Several cities around the world have also taken a stand and had them banned outright. As of January 1, Italy was set to implement a country-wide ban on plastic bags as well.
Just to help get started here is our family’s personal favorite find:
http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Bag-Cotton-Natural-Grocery/dp/B000RF0X6O
Just so you know, we weren’t paid for this in any way. A while ago I was looking around and found these and fell in love – for being 100% natural cotton and made under Fair Wage/Fair Trade Standards they were the best deal that I found, and I think they’re pretty cute.
If you do a web search or even browse the rest of Amazon you’ll find tons of other styles and prices. Even look around the next time you’re in the checkout line, many stores are selling reusable bags for around $1.00 each.
The only catch once you have them is to use them, so remember to put them some place convenient like a hook next to the door or even in the car. Good luck!
Just so you know, we weren’t paid for this in any way. A while ago I was looking around and found these and fell in love – for being 100% natural cotton and made under Fair Wage/Fair Trade Standards they were the best deal that I found, and I think they’re pretty cute.
If you do a web search or even browse the rest of Amazon you’ll find tons of other styles and prices. Even look around the next time you’re in the checkout line, many stores are selling reusable bags for around $1.00 each.
The only catch once you have them is to use them, so remember to put them some place convenient like a hook next to the door or even in the car. Good luck!
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