Plastic Bags: The True Cost
Plastic Bags as a One-Use Item
The use of disposable bags has become so routine that most people don’t even think about it: they make a purchase and a clerk places it in a bag, which the customer takes home and throws away. Multiply the number of purchases an average person makes in a year – from groceries to cosmetics to hardware – times the number of people in the U.S., and you have a situation that creates an enormous amount of waste. An increasing number of municipalities and states are passing laws to limit or eliminate the use of disposable bags, particularly those that are made from non-recyclable plastic.
Plastic Bags Pollute Our Oceans
Disposable bags are big contributors to pollution in the world’s oceans. This causes harm to ocean ecosystems as well as huge costs for coastal states that must clear this waste from their beaches. The creation of plastic products also contribute to the use of fossil fuels. Even when they’re recycled – and they rarely are – the financial costs of recycling are great and the payoff in terms of the value of new bags created is very low.
Are Reusable Bags the Answer?
Providing customers with the temporary convenience of a disposable bag creates a major expense for retailers. If this cost were eliminated, the savings could be passed on to consumers. Many businesses already offer their customers a financial incentive for using reusable totes for their purchases.Making the transition to reusable bags is good for the environment and good for everyone’s bottom line. Check out the infographic below for more information on the benefits of eliminating this source of waste.
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