June 10, 2008
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Paper Bags Versus Plastic Bags
After the Global Earth Summit in Tokyo, Japan last November I guess i am more aware these days of ecological issues.
True of False: America’s paper bag consumption uses 14 million trees a year. The answer is: TrueAccording to the Sierra Club and other environmental think-tanks, paper bags are just as harmful to the environment when you look at the overall impact behind their production and consumption – where the source material comes from, how energy-intensive they are to make; and how difficult they are to recycle or reuse.
One of the paper bag’s more obvious impacts is deforestation. While America’s consumption of plastic bags uses up 12 million barrels of oil a year, it’s consumption of paper bags fells 14 million trees a year.
It has even been suggested that paper bags cause more global warming than plastic bags, simply because they take up more space so need extra transportation, using up energy.
Others have said the reverse, that because of the energy used in the production process, plastic bags still remain the greatest scourge on the environment of the two.
Comments (3)
To really see the impact of deforestation you must get a “in person” look at how horrible it can be. I hope to photograph some of the devastation of our mts here in East Tennessee with what they call “Clear Cutting”…..it is just awful. Our mts around here have several large bald spots and unless you can ride a ATV or your horse up close you never realize how truey awful it looks. They just cut down everything. What they don’t want they just leave lay. What comes back is just brush and scrub trees. Many people mistakingly think these logging companies have to replant hardwood trees…>>>>>WRONG…they don’t replant a blasted thing. We have seen first hand how awful it really is…..close up and personal …on horseback. Everyday many, many trucks travel down the ten miles off the mt with loads of logs. It is heartbreaking!
Nice post. Of course part of the problem is that at the market we are asked to make a false choice: paper or plastic. Those aren’t the only options. It should be, “Did you bring your own bag today or would you like to buy a reusable cloth bag?”
good point…many folks have their own bags here…their must be a way to offer another option@christao408 -