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Different types of shopping bags are available in the market, but obviously we want to choose the best with least environmental impact. When it comes to shopping, we know different brands use different bags- polyethylene, paper, cotton, and biodegradable starch bags (bioplastic). There are a number of alternatives available in the market for the packaging of products. All these make consumers confused about the right choice. The answer to which of the bag should be used is not straight as all beat each other in one ground or the other. So, we'll see an in-depth analysis of all four commonly used bags based on different criteria.
CONTENT
The difference in terms of Raw materials
Energy, Water requirements during production
Pollution
Transportation Concern
Product Life Cycle, Decomposability
Recyclability
Conclusion
Different types of shopping bags; the difference in terms of Raw Materials-
Polythene
Harsh on Planet
Polythene bags are made by processing crude oil or natural gas. In the first step of production itself, hydrocarbons are extracted by drilling an oil well. The formation of natural gas takes place several feet beneath the earth's surface, hence, drilling up to that depth disbalances the ecosystem and sometimes leads to severe consequences. Apart from this, the extraction of natural gases in high amounts leads to the depletion of crude oil, a natural resource that regenerates at a very slow pace. To make just 15000 plastic bags, 14.9 kg of fossil fuel is used. By this data, we can think of the level of depletion of resource taking place by the global production of trillions of plastic bags annually.
Paper
Moderate to Easy on planet
Paper is made from cellulose fiber. But this doesn't means that cutting timber plants for fiber pulp is compulsory. Paper manufacturing company mainly uses eco-friendly resources such as post-harvest residue. Sugarcane residue, wheat fiber, and animal waste are often starting commodities. Usage of these raw materials resolves the deforestation problem and simultaneously fixes the debris of other industries. Paper manufacturing is an eco-friendly process.
Apart from the usage of fresh pulp, the pulp is also extracted from used paper. In this way, used kraft paper is utilized in the packaging of other products.
Cotton
Easy on Planet
Cotton or cloth bags are manufactured by using natural cotton yarns. The cotton balls undergo several steps of moderation to become thread and threads are further tangled to form cloth pieces. These cloth pieces are then stretched and cut to make the bag tailor-made for everyday needs. The manufacturing process involves both machine and human labor. With the collaboration of man and machine, cotton balls are molded into cloth bags and make their way from the plant to the consumer's home.
Since the manufacturing process requires large human labor, it provides good employment opportunities.
Bioplastic
Easy on Planet
Unlike cotton, bioplastics don't use plant fiber but starch. Yes, plant-based sugar is extracted from sugarcane, wheat, straw, potatoes, sugarbeets, woodchips, sawdust, etc, and is processed to form the plastic polymer. This manufacturing process poses no stress on any kind of natural resource and also clears the pile of waste created by other industries. We don't even need to cut a tree to make a bioplastic bag, just the debris from farming will be enough.
Energy, Water Requirements During Production
Polythene
Moderate on Planet
In exact figures, 0.48 megajoules of energy is spent in making a single polythene bag (HDPE). To make it more clear, the energy required for manufacturing 8.7 plastic bags is enough to drive a car more than one kilometer (Nolan-ITU 2002). It is a well-established fact that manufacturing plastic bags consumes less amount of water and energy in comparison to paper bags. To manufacture the same amount of bags, a plastic bag firm consumes 58 gallons of water and 763 megajoules of energy while a paper bag firm consumes 1004 gallons of water and 2622 megajoules of energy.
Paper
Harsh on planet
We know that the paper bag manufacturing process requires more energy than plastic bags on average. For the records, one gallon of water is consumed in making a single paper bag. Paper bags require both water and electricity in large amounts. It's one of the disadvantages of paper bag production. But other economical benefits of paper bags can't be discarded on the ground of this single fact.
Cotton
Moderate on planet
In terms of energy and other production requirements, even cloth bags are not that easy on planet. First of all, cotton production itself involves a lot of complications. Availability of land slots, large amount of water and fertilizer are some of catastrophes in cotton production. Usage of large amount of fertilizers later makes the land barren. But in the absence of fertilizers the produce is reduced to 30% so fertilizer is a necessary evil. Percent of the post harvest goes in the making of thread. Just think of the output to input ratio. The fabric is then knitted or woven either manually or with the help of machines. The vast amount of energy driven in both process is yet another concern. The transportation of these bulky cloth bag requires high amount of energy as only limited number of bags can be transported at one time.
Hence, we can conclude all stages of cotton bag production requires high energy and water. On comparing the output to input ratio, and the harm done to the land by fertilizers, we can see it is neither a economical nor sustainable process.
Bioplastic
Moderate on planet
Bioplastic might be considered better than conventional plastic in some terms, but on the account on energy consumption is higher for bioplastic. For the initiation of the manufacturing process, machine needs to be warmed up. This machine warming stage itself pose high energy demand. In addition other stages such as injection molding, milling, fused deposition moulding also requires high amount of energy to maintain the product quality. Apart from core manufacturing process, agriculture requirement also led to high energy consumption. Large amount of agriculture stock are required for bioplastic manufacturing. Hence it effects the supply chain and leads to shortage and price hike of agriculture crops. Due to these disadvantages, bioplastic has lost its appeal.
Pollution
Polythene
Harsh on planet
On an average, one single-use plastic bag produces 1.58kg CO2eq same amount as produced by 8km of driving. Plastic bags when thrown on street contribute to litter. This solid waste is accumulated in street over a long time span. The misery with plastic is the lack lack of adequate recycling firms. Plastic bag produces less greenhouse gases than paper bags while manufacturing. But there is no point of manufacturing such bag on vast scale which has low scope for recyclability and will lead to solid waste generation.
Paper
Harsh on planet
When paper making process is investigated on the ground of pollution we found that many harmful chemicals are used during paperbag manufacturing.
When drop bulb is pressed into paper, large amount of water is used for washing it. Afterwards, the paper is being cut, packaged, shipped, and transported. The water when released untreated into rivers carry a large amount of chemicals with it. Hence you need to be careful about the paper making company you are choosing. You need to know about the environmental conservative practices it carries. Washington Post analysis says that paper production cause 70% more air pollution and 50 times more water pollution then plastic bag production because it invoice so many toxic chemicals its hazardous to human health. Unbleached paper is better for environment than bleached paper. Bleaching uses chemical to make pulp white in order to reduce errant dark colored particles in the finished sheet of paper, bleaching also targets some contaminants. But its better to go unbleached for environment.
Cotton
Harsh on planet
Cotton totes have the worst environmental effects of all the bags, according to research from Denmark, the UK, and other countries. To grow, cotton needs a lot of land, a lot of water, and chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Use of fertilizers cause eutrofication on large scale. As we have read earlier, in cotton bag production, agriculture input consideration have more impact on environment than the direct impact of core manufacturing process.
Bioplastic
Harsh on planet
The biggest complication with bioplastic is that majority of biodegradable plastic ends up in water or landfills, but it doesn't break down there. Without oxygen, they could release methane, a gas 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide at warming the planet. Bioplastics contaminate the environment if they are not properly disposed of , they can contaminate the environment, emit greenhouse gases, and cause air pollution, global warming, and drastic climate change.
Transportation Concern
Polythene
Easy on planet
When we examine the entire life cycle of plastic, we see that it doesn't require much energy for transportation. It's just that a single plastic bag takes up less space than a paper bag. Therefore, the same mode of transportation is capable of carrying much more plastic bags at once.
Paper
Moderate on Planet
A universally known fact is that paper bags weighs six to ten times heavier than plastic bag hence leading to difficulty in transportation. It causes higher distribution cost and greater environmental impact. According to one estimate, seven trucks would be required to transport as many paper bags as a single truck of plastic bags can carry. Transportation is not the only concern; the bulk of paper also consumes more space in warehouse and landfills. Due to high weight, paper requires more energy in transport.
Cotton
Harsh on planet
Large amounts of energy are used in cotton production, processing, and transportation, and cotton totes are more expensive to ship because of their weight and bulk. As manufacturing cotton totes first require processing of cotton balls into thread which is later yarned to form cloth. The piece of cloth is then stitched to form cotton bags. So, the transportation of fresh cotton balls from farm land to industry requires adequate energy. Another issue with cotton bags is the bulky nature of cotton tote.
Bioplastic
Moderate on planet
In term of bulkyness, bioplastic range somewhere between paper to conventional plastic. Being more heavy than polythene and ligher than cotton bag, Biopplastic is rated moderate in term of transportation concern. The main setback of bioplastic is low recyclability scope and high cost. So, their production is hampered by low yields and being expensive, and they are typically two or three times more expensive than the main conventional plastics, like PE or PET.
Product Life Cycle, Decomposability
Polythene
Harsh On Planet
Plastic bag loose the battle when it comes to decomposability as they can’t be degraded by soil microbes when discarded and lead to land and water pollution. On analyzing the life cycle of polyethylene its found that After four or more uses, reusable plastic bags are superior to all types of disposable bags — paper, polyethylene, and compostable plastic, across all significant environmental indicators.
Paper
Easy On Planet
The biggest strength of paper bag is the decomposability factor. But paper decomposition takes time hence for a considerable time using paper bags generates five times more solid waste than using plastic bags.
Cotton
Easy on Planet
Cotton bags are made from a renewable resource and are biodegradable. They are also strong and durable so they can be reused multiple times.
Bio-plastic
Moderate On Planet
Plant based starch is the first unit of bioplastic synthesis. Starch is converted into a polymer to create the end product. The drawback of these plastics is that they cannot be used in crafts and cannot even be recycled, despite the fact that they are quite durable and can be reused to reduce environmental impact. Only under the right circumstances, such as high temperatures and moisture, can it be composted. Concerningly, the natural environment hardly meets these requirements at all.
Recyclability
Polythene
Very Harsh On Planet
Since almost all plastic is non-biodegradable and accumulates in the environment, where it can be harmful, recycling is essential. For instance, each year, about 8 million tones of waste plastic enter the world's oceans, harming the ecosystem and creating sizable ocean garbage patches. But irony with plastic is that all polythene manufactured on earth can’t be recycled. And those which can be recycled face recycling centre’s deficit. Hence the non-availablity of recyling options in addition to non-decomposable nature made plastic the worst choice.
Paper
Easy On Planet
The best part of using a paper bag is easy recycling and capability to be used n number of times. Almost all kind of people grocery bags can be recycled with the same ease be it a brown paper bag or white kraft paper bag. Sometimes the bag we bring from grocery store poses a bit problem due to the plasting coating done to increase durability. These of paper bags can't be recycled with other regular bags. But these difficulties can be resolved with corporation of local junk dealer and eusing these products more and more.
Many people are concerned about the add-ons present in the paper bag in addition from paper while sending the bag for recycling. So the solution to some of the common doubts is discussed here. Paper bags are so much versatile than you think when it come to recycling.
Doubt1) What about the plastic coating, metal or glass material if present?
Answer : All though the presence of these material make the process complicated but it didn't completely hamper the recycling ability of paper. Plastic, metal and glass are separated using the heating process.
Doubt2) What about oil stains?
Answer : Since plastic, metal, and glass are recycled using a heat process, grease, oil, and other liquids are less of a problem for those materials. However, when paper goods like bags and sacks are recycled, water is added and they are combined to create a slurry. The problem is obvious because water and oil don't mix.
Throw away your used paper bags that are dirty, or clean them completely before recycling the remaining portion of the bag in your community.
Doubt3) What about the glues?
Answer : The majority of glues used on paper bags, like the glue to attach handles and other parts, are water soluble. Before disposing of these bags in the trash, make sure your community can recycle mixed paper. Any paper mill that can process mixed paper can remove these adhesives during the recycling process.
Doubt4) What about handles from the bag?
Answer : You can leave the paper handles on your bag if it is made from paper. Before recycling your bag, take off any handles made from other materials, such as plastic, string, or ribbon.
Cotton
Easy On Planet
Due to its all-natural composition, cotton is mostly completely biodegradable. They are recyclable and reusable in addition to being biodegradable. By tearing them into threads and reshaping them into brand-new or identical bags, they can be used repeatedly and then restored to their initial state.
Bioplastic
Moderate On Planet
There are currently no options for recycling bioplastic, and there are no plans to add any in the near future. The primary cause of this is the fact that bioplastics were created to be biodegradable, despite the fact that this property makes them paradoxical in real-world contexts. The main problem with switching to bioplastics is recycling. Bioplastic recycling is not yet a common practise. Products made from recycled bioplastics and other plastics may not be usable. Recycling is the most effective and environmentally responsible way to make plastic products, which is a concern with bioplastic. In conclusion, the disadvantages of bioplastics greatly diminish their charm.
Conclusion
We have seen how different types of shopping bags out performs each other on different basis. What is the strength of one might be the shortcoming of other. Hence, we need to evaluate the bags on more than one criteria to get an inclusive result rooting from various dimensions.
What are shopping bags called?
Different types of shopping are named on the basis of material used and design of shopping bags.
What kind of shopping bag is more eco friendly?
Different types of shopping bags beat one another on different grounds, but paper is found to have least carbon footprint on overall life cycle analysis.
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