Four reasons to chose paper and reusable bags. The enormous amount that plastic and its products are used these days has created a lot of buzz among people. With the help of advanced technology, it seems that everything is available made from plastic – primarily, bags are produced with micro-plastic which is highly responsible for devastating the ecosystem as it does not break down and sits in landfills, clogs waterways, and devastates wildlife. More and more consumers are looking to reusable bags paper bags, which have made a grand comeback in the market.
As time passes, more and more consumers are becoming environmentally conscious. People these days have ditched conventional plastic bags and evolved to eco-friendly carry bags such as paper bags. Why? Well, this is because plastic bags release harmful toxins into the environment and have created enough exposure for inescapable pollution hazards in our natural habitat. We all can do the bare minimum in conserving the environment by switching to reusable bags and biodegradable paper bags.
In ancient times, way back before plastic bags were invented, people used to carry their essentials in a reusable material bag – this usage vanished with the technological revolution that upturned the creation of plastic bags. These days, things have changed again and we have reached that point when we need to think about our impact on the earth. For this reason, it is becoming more and more suggested to use Eco-friendly products in our day-to-day life.
How do paper bags help the environment?
The effects of non-biodegradable and non-reusable plastic bags on our environment are disastrous. Every year, millions of marine animals die due to ingestion, suffocation, and entanglement caused by non-biodegradable plastic bags. Immeasurable plastic waste particles create clogging in the drainage system. As a result, the sewage line faces heavy, bursting and a visible accumulation of wastewater is generated on the roads and houses in the slums. A simple replacement of single-use plastic bags with biodegradable paper bags can serve in saving the lives of voice animals and keeping the ecosystem clean. Besides these benefits, paper bags help in conserving natural resources. Paper bags are highly biodegradable, reusable, and recyclable.
Paper Bag Terminology
Paper bags due to their recyclability, biodegradability, and reusability have their own set of distinctive properties. Below we have mentioned few such prominent properties such as
- Paper bag basis weight refers to the thickness of the bag and the amount of weight the bag can carry. The paper basis between 30-49 lbs is of standard quality and used best to carry lightweight products. In addition to that, paper bags constructed with thicker materials have a paper basis weight of and above 50 lbs are used to carry heavy weights.
- A gusset is the expanded space in the bottom and side of a paper bag that provides volume and allows the paper bag to have greater capacity.
- Paper bags with pinch bottom design have a tightly sealed pointed base and hence there are no length measurements present in the bag. These bags are best suited for cards, candy, and calendars.
- Flat bottom design bags are the most common bag type with an expandable flat bottom. They are very easy to use and load products.
Why are reusable bags better?
Reusable shopping bags are the best alternative investments to plastic bags. They can cost less on average compared to single-use plastic bags. Reusable bags are extremely durable and provide high endurance capacity, which minimizes early wear and tear of bags. Along with that reusable shopping bags are easy to maintain and can be washed whenever needed. They are a convenient option when it comes to carrying a heavy load at a time and also prevent ripping and falling of groceries while in use. Nevertheless, reusable bags can be utilized for multiple purposes such as it can be used as a beach bag, grocery bag, trip bag, to keep books, and also as a purse. Plastic bags might provide durability, but that can last only for a fraction of time in comparison to reusable bags.
What are the advantages of paper bags over plastic bags?
Plastics are made from the extracts of natural minerals and crude oil, it can’t be disposed of completely from our natural habitat and lacks re-cyclability. Whereas paper bags are biodegradable and are recycled from brown kraft paper. This way, it helps in saving natural resources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Plastic bags create hazardous effects on the environment which include the death of numerous wild animals and spikes in carbon footprints in our surroundings. Recycled paper bags are completely biodegradable and provide less suffocation in environments to young kids or wild animals. At times, many paper bags can withstand more pressure or weight than single-use plastic bags. When it comes to benefits of using paper and reusable bags, some of the considerable advantages are noted below:
1. They’re Reusable
Bags that are made from either paper or material are designed to be used again and again. Unlike plastic bags, they are not supposed to be disposed of after a single usage – this is one of the most significant advantages of these reusable and paper bags. They also can save you money as you don’t have to purchase them every time you go to the store.
If any reusable bag is ripped or has worn out after a few years of use, it can be recycled where facilities exist – this means it doesn’t create any solid waste that could harm the environment. Your paper bags can also be recycled.
Icegreen offers a wide range of reusable wine bags, insulated lunch bags, grocery bags and much more.
2. Hygiene
When it comes to cleanliness, reusable bags serve us with an option to wash them when needed. Most reusable bags can me machine washed on the gentle cycle with an Eco-friendly laundry soap and line dried. For instance, if your lunch or grocery items have leaked in the bag, a quick wash can return your bag back to clean hygiene.
3. Ecosystem
Due to the excessive utilization of plastic bags, our ecosystem gets disturbed. Apart Plastic bags are so light that they can catch a breeze and travel in the air, ending up in places where they negatively impact the ecosystem. This harmful impact is not only on the terrestrial area but also it is highly responsible in endangering the life of marine creatures. Due to this reason, it is suggested to switch from plastic bags to reusable bags.
4. Durability
Reusable bags are manufactured from strong materials such as jute, canvas and woven recycled and synthetic fibers. Unlike plastic, reusable bags have built-in high endurance capabilities; they can retain their quality for an extended period of time as the material used is sturdy and durable, reducing the possibility for early wear and tear.
If a single swap from plastic to paper or reusable can help you protect the ecosystem, then why not make that choice?!
Well, we’ve just made a minor attempt to cover the effects of plastic on the ecosystem. Now, it’s up to you whether or not to make the choice to switch to paper or reusable and do your part to decrease the amount of UN-recyclable plastic waste on our planet.
What is the best kind of reusable bag?
By simply opting for reusable bags we can save our environment from harmful exposures to unavoidable environmental problems generated by plastic. Here are the four best eco-friendly reusable bags options that customers should definitely consider
- Jute bags are made from the fiber obtained from the jute plant. Jute bags are easily decomposed and recycled. They are renewable resources and unlike plastic, they do not contaminate products within it with harmful toxic chemicals.,
- Cotton bags are known as traditional reusable bags. They are highly biodegradable and sustainable renewable resources. As they are made from cotton, these bags can easily last many washes. Nevertheless, they also complement you in your personal styling as they are available in many shapes, sizes, and colors.
- Reusable paper bags are highly sustainable and biodegradable in comparison to flimsy plastic bags. They can be recycled and easily decomposed without causing serious environmental threats.
- Hem bags are made from fibers that are considered the strongest fiber in the world. Hemp can easily blend with silk and cotton fibers.
Utilising paper bags is always beneficial because of its eco-friendly qualities. With just a simple switch we can save our environment from potential life hazards and harmful plastic toxins.
