Am I the only one who's noticed at the grocery store lately or for a while now...they never ask you for paper or plastic! Unless you routinely shop at Whole Foods where they don't even ask, it never seems to be an option anymore unless you request paper, you always get plastic.
At first, it seems like a trick question...which one is greener, better, and all around a cleaner choice for the environment? Plastic effects wildlife along the coast so those on the coast should choose paper but if you are in the Heartland plastic is the bag of choice. Both are taxing on the environment, Paper Bags use 14 million trees each year and cause 70% more air pollution than plastic bags. However, Plastic Bags each year use 12 million barrels of oil for plastic and 4 times solid waste, and lasts up to 1000 years. 1000 years is a crazy amount no matter how many times you 'reuse' the bag or recycle it. Choosing biodegradable bags whenever possible take up far less space but are not commonly available. So is there a right answer? I try to choose paper whenever possible even though I can fit more and carry more in plastic bags...The answer my friends is carrying your own shopping bags and using neither paper or plastic.
Cloth bags are reusable and if you set them in your trunk, you will be able to easily remember at the grocery store so you won't struggle with the moral battle at the check out of paper or plastic. Check out these A-Mazing statement bags with the 'Reduce Reuse Recycle' Tote for a fun day of picking some things up at the store...
