I hope by now most of us reply, “I brought my own bags” to this seemingly timeless question. However, the second best option is on the horizon for all you “Oh crap, I left my bags in my car” folks.
Earlier this year, the city of San Francisco banned the use of polyethylene bags altogether. While these bags actually produce less pollution to make than their paper counterpart, their creation relies heavily on imported petroleum. Now the rush is on between the most innovative upstart companies to produce the cheapest biodegradable plastic bags, wraps, and containers.
One of the leading producers, Earthcycle, makes plastics from palm oil. Earthcycle is currently working on a biodegradable plastic bag, but its “environmentally friendly” packaging materials can be found at Wal-mart and Trader Joe’s. However, we should be aware of the danger palm oil monocultures pose to the surrounding tropical forests. An even more exciting innovation comes from Biotech Environmental. Because about 95% of all plastics end up in landfills, Biotech created Bio-Batch — a microbial additive that reduces the decomposition time of plastics to 1-5 years. (MORE)
But to avoid spending excess energy in the production of any sort of bag, whether it’s biodegradable or not, best thing we can do is remember to bring our own bags — and use them over again. Bazura Bags, for example, offers adorable, large reusable bags made from recycled juice packs by a women’s co-op in the Philippines.
The Market Bag pictured here, ($26.95) is just one of Basura’s many functional styles offered.
Related: eco-friendly and eco chic shopping bag guide (previously on AltCon 3.26.07)
Dec 20 07 is LA County’s official Ban the Plastic Bag Day.
To join in and show your support, sign the petition here.
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I am glad that your article mentions the dangers of palm oil plantations destroying rainforest. A few years ago now I experienced what should have been an unforgettable trip deep into the middle of Sarawak, a state on Borneo. Expecting to get to see a large amount of wonderful rainforest, it became an unforgettable trip for the opposite reason – lack of rainforest. Absolutely huge areas had been clear felled (initially for the logs), and then were being turned into Palm Oil plantations.
There is some hope on the bag issue though. In our London shop, two thirds of customers have their own bag to put their items into (and we have plain recycled paper bags for the rest). As many stores are in a habit of giving out bags with their logo / name all over it, as much for marketing as for function, maybe authorities could get draconian and ban any printing / logos on bags? Then there would be no incentive to give out a bag unnecessarily – it becomes purely a cost.
I would like to clear up some inaccuracies in your posting.
Earthcycle is not making plastic from palm oil. We are not currently or plan to be working on making plastic bags from palm oil.
We make molded pulp containers from the waste of the palm oil industry– specifically the husk upon which the palm fruit grows. The husk is considered waste, after it is harvested for the palm fruit, and typically burned.
There is now a definition and certification system established for palm oil, which is managed by the multi-stakeholder organization called the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). More information can be found at http://www.rspo.org.
Earthcycle’s sources of palm husks are certified according to the definition established by the RSPO. In particular, we can show that our raw material was not created at the expense of rain forest or animal habitat destruction.
Thank you so much for the clarification.
My sincere apologies,
Molly