Paper or Plastic?

How about a reusable bag?  I love to support local businesses. So, today my pitch is in support of Chico Bag.  They have a wonderful product line that is not limited to their well known reusable shopping bags.  Their list of products includes book bags, bottle slings, produce bags, duffel bags and the list goes on.  You can check out their entire product line at http://www.chicobag.com/t-productcategoriespage.aspx

Why should you care?

A LITTLE INSIGHT ON PLASTIC BAG USAGE RATES

  • According to American Plastic Manufacturing, the average US per capita bag use is about 500 bags a year – the oil equivalent of about half a gallon of gas http://www.apmbags.com/bagmyths
  • How long does it take for a plastic bag to degrade and break down.  The simple answer is NEVER! The plastic will breakdown into smaller and smaller pieces but does it ever truly disappear?   According to most scientists a plastic bag might be gone in anywhere from 10 to 100 years (estimates vary) if exposed to the sun, but its environmental legacy may last forever.

 

BACKGROUND ON SINGLE-USE PAPER BAGS

  • Each year the United States consumes 10 billion paper grocery bags, requiring 14 million trees.
  • Five industries account for 68 percent of all energy used in the industrial sector.  Pulp and paper accounts for 6 percent of energy usage making it the fourth largest contributor.

Buying Chico Bags is a great way to support a local business and keep plastic garbage bags out of the landfill!!!

6 Comments on “Paper or Plastic?”

  • Charlene Torres September 29th, 2011 11:24 am

    I really love this post! I’m beginning to like it when I see a company push the use of reusable bags. For example, Walmart in Sacramento area are now basically giving you a choice, either use our reusable bags or bring your own, because they do not provide plastic anymore. Granted having to pay for their reusable bags can be seen harsh for some people. But i think they are only $.10 a bag or something like that.

  • Laveta Mcglothen October 14th, 2011 2:22 pm

    Wow! Thank you! I continually needed to write on my site something like that. Can I implement a part of your post to my website?

  • Jill October 14th, 2011 2:29 pm

    Laveta,

    Thank you for your compliments and if you see something of value that you would like to share with your readers please use it. I only ask that you put our website on your post so others can check out our site as well. You can also find out more information at bagmonster.com and chicobag.com.

    Thank you,

    Jill

  • Jill October 14th, 2011 2:35 pm

    Charlene,

    thank you for reading my blog. Supporting companies that are making good choices has multiple wonderful outcomes. First you support their continued pursuit of positive procurement choices and secondly you support the economy in general. Finally and specifically it supports the local community that the business operates in. In my eyes that is a win-win-win!!

    Jill

  • Bailey Lamers November 2nd, 2011 6:44 am

    Keep working ,remarkable job!

  • Joan March 25th, 2012 1:40 am

    Enjoyed examining this, very good stuff, regards .

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