Plastic bags ae better than paper or cloth? Really?

[razz]

Found this thought provoking video on BBC. -
https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p07r72xb/how-plastic-bags-were-supposed-to-help-save-the-planet

The plastic carrier bag has become something of a symbol for the problems caused by plastic pollution. But according to the family of the man who created it, Sten Gustaf Thulin, his design was supposed to help the planet and he'd be shocked and upset to see what it's become. The Thulin family make no money from the sale of the bags.

[rosarugosa]

Very interesting, especially now as these bags are being banned in my area. Thanks for sharing, Razz.

[happystuff]

I like the last thing that is said - "just use a bag that you already own, and use it again and again and again. And when it breaks, mend it or recycle it." (not exact quote) This is what I am trying to do - use what I have and not accept any more simply because they are free. (I used to take a lot of things simply because they were "free" - whether I actually needed or wanted the item or not - sigh).

[catherine]

The thing I like about this is when Thule's son said that his dad would keep a plastic bag in his pocket. I use more single-use plastic bags than I want to because I'm always forgetting the bags that I leave in my car. So the learning for me is, since a plastic bag takes up so much less space, I should maybe find a little zippered pouch and then keep a couple of plastic bags in the pouch and keep the pouch in my purse.

[ToomuchStuff]

Always good to carry a plastic bag, especially when drug out shopping with the spouse.

https://youtu.be/DuScm9FZPmQ

[catherine]

Always good to carry a plastic bag, especially when drug out shopping with the spouse.

https://youtu.be/DuScm9FZPmQ

LOL! There you go!

[razz]

Perfect example of being prepared with one's own plastic bag, TMS.:D

[happystuff]

LOL. Love the commercial, ToomuchStuff. Thanks for sharing it.

I like that the gentleman tried to come up with a more environmentally friendly alternative. But - at least in my area now - the plastic bags really aren't durable enough for multiple uses. One box of cereal put in the wrong way rips a hole down the side; more than four cans and the teller or bagger is doubling up.

I do like the fact that my local grocery store has a container for the plastic bags for people to drop off into or remove from to use. What would be really nice would be if current manufacturers could find ways to use the old bags in the production of new bags - just keep that cycle going. Just a thought.

[jp1]

I hate those super thin plastic bags that tear as soon as you put anything in them. We re-use plastic bags when scooping the litter box, and those bags can't be used for that. We don't get many anymore since this is san francisco, but my MIL lives elsewhere and saves up plastic bags for us. Every christmas we bring home a huge stash, but oftentimes we have to double bag the kitty litter.

[ApatheticNoMore]

Plastic bags are illegal here. Many of the stores still have plastic bags. One might have thought making them illegal would have worked to get rid of them. But no.

Now the catch is they are the more durable type and so the stores claim they are not "single use" and that's how they get away with continuing to have plastic bags despite plastic bag bans! But most people are probably single using them. But if one didn't want to single use them they are durable.

But I will never believe plastic bags are better for the environment, nothing plastic is, most recycling is really down-cycling and that's when it even happens (so I don't know if they even could become plastic bags again). Plastic bags are one of those things cities are saying they don't recycle, and this is cities that are still holding on to their recycling programs for other plastics etc. even though that market has crashed. I know of one store that seems to take them, otherwise the only way to dispose of them is into the landfill pretty much.