Are the Materials Used to Produce Reusable Bags More Eco-Friendly Than Paper or Plastic Bags?

esources that are required to produce reusablethe production of textiles is carried out in more
shopping bags, paper and plastic bags could possiblyecological ways such as natural dyes or phthalate free
end up as waste. We need to be using reusable bagspainting. Textiles that want to be recognized with a
regularly to have a better impact on the environmentGlobal Organic Textile Standard, (GOTS), need to
than disposable bags. The US EPA claims that ameet guidelines that the product contains no less then
reusable bag only needs to be used eleven times to95% of fibers that have been processed chemical and
make a more positive impact on the environment thanfertilizer free of prohibited chemicals.
11 plastic bags. The materials used in reusable bagSynthetic bags take less time to biodegrade, and
production can have some impacts on thesome products are manufactured with recycled
environment. Bags that are produced with non wovenplastics that may have ended up in waterways.
polypropylene require up to 28 times the energy toReusable bags can be manufactured from a number
produce one bag (compared to one plastic bag),of recycled sources such as cotton, paper, foil and rice
therefore these bags need to be used at a minimumbags. To reduce the impact that consumers have on
of 28 times to cancel out the energy consumed inthe environment they should use reusable bags made
production.from recycled products or synthetic bags made with
Materials such as cotton, canvas, bamboo, linen andrecycled plastics.
even hemp can be used to produce reusable bags.One common reason that people delay their use of
These bags may also contain recycled plastics.reusable bags is that they claim the bags are too
Products such as hemp and bamboo biodegrade at ainconvenient to use. This is a horrible excuse. Reusable
much faster rate than synthetic materials thereforeshopping bags are not more inconvenient to use than
creating less waste. Cotton based bags use fertilizersplastic bags - they fill up the same way and carry with
and pesticides in the cotton harvest process, whichhandles - just like plastic bags. Yes, they require a
has raised concerns for consumers. For consumers towashing every once in a while and you do have to
minimize their concern over the harmful products usedremember to bring them, but today's bags are so small
in the production of reusable bags they could purchaseand compact that you can feasibly keep one in your
bags that have been manufactured with recycledpurse or glove box so that you're never caught out at
cotton or organic substances.the store without one. The benefits far, far, outweigh
The production of textiles at some point will require thethe 2 extra seconds that it takes you to grab your
use of chemicals. This process can lead to the releasereusable bags when you head to the store, so stop
of emissions into our air and water sources. Themaking excuses and just start using them!
release of these emissions can be greatly reduced if