Scientists estimate that it takes upwards of 500 years for a plastic bag to decompose, filling up landfills at an alarming pace. Plastic bags are also dangerous to animals and sea creatures who accidentally ingest them.
Plastic bags are cheaper and I do believe, easier to make as compared to paper bags.
The biodegradability of a plastic is not strictly related to its tensile strength.However, it's a fair bet that a biodegradable bag is probably weaker than a "regular plastic" bag.
cows use more tin foil than plastic bags.
Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Paper bags are better for the environment because they are biodegradable, but in order to make paper bags, more trees need to be cut down. They are also less convenient to carry if you do not have a car. They also rip easily if something leaks inside them, but that is usually a minor inconvenience. Plastic bags are easier to carry, but they take hundreds of years to disintegrate; plastic bags can also kill wildlife- plastic stuck on birds' beaks when they forage through trash can melt in the sun and prevent them from eating and breathing. Animals can also choke on plastic bags, if accidentally swallowed. The compromise: If you have a car, choose paper bags, and after you're done emptying them, save them for garden debris or storing light materials away. If you have to walk to the store, choose plastic bags, but don't throw them away- you can take them with you to use again. An even better idea is to purchase a reusable cloth bag with handles; they are inexpensive, washable, and will not produce any trash. If you're worried about bacteria accumulating from packaged foods such as raw meats, just make sure you wash all your bags between grocery store trips.
Is plastic coldish? No, it's usually room temperature. Is plastic groovy? Yeah, it's a great invention and it's interesting to think of all the different ways it's used. Is it cool to get plastic bags when you shop? No. It never decomposes; it just clogs up our ecosystem and plastic bags are creating dead zones in the ocean. That means no more delicious fish. Plastic bags are also made of petroleum, which is not cool politically. If you reuse bags, you get the benefit of not killing so many fish, not "consuming" any more than you have to which is better for the environment, and not using more petroleum. Paper bags are better, as they'll decompose someday if they're not in a landfill.
Say goodbye to single-use plastic bags and embrace the trend of reusable grocery bags. With eye-catching designs and sturdy materials like canvas or recycled plastic, these bags make grocery shopping a fashionable affair. Foldable and compact, they are easy to carry in your purse or car, promoting both style and sustainability.
Some substitutes for plastic are starch from corn or wheat, corn syrup, ad even potatos.
Tupperware is much better than plastic bags! A plastic bag is usually thrown away after one use. Tupperware sandwich containers can be bought for a little more money but, in the long run, last longer. A Tupperware container, if looked after, can be used 6500 time over and over again. The water needed to clean your Tupperware is still better than plastic bags.
Cotton bags can be reused more than 100 times without tearing.
Whether paper is better than plastic depends on how it is used. As a writing material, paper is often better. As a conveyance for flowing liquids, plastic is usually better than paper. For bags, if you are unable to use reusable grocery bags (which are readily available for very low prices but require periodic laundering), paper is the much better option. Paper bags, while not exactly environmentally friendly, can at least be composted or recycled. Plastic bags have very few secondary uses, and are almost always simply thrown in the trash.
Plastic bags are cheaper and I do believe, easier to make as compared to paper bags.
Plastic shipping bags are still being made. Biodegradable plastic and degradable plastic bags are much friendlier to the environment than just regular plastic bags.
There are many companies out there who make eco-friendly plastic bags. You can check out www.reusablebags.com to find out more information. Better than using eco-friendly plastic bags are to use the reusable grocery bags that many retailers are now offering.
The biodegradability of a plastic is not strictly related to its tensile strength.However, it's a fair bet that a biodegradable bag is probably weaker than a "regular plastic" bag.
cows use more tin foil than plastic bags.
Brown paper bags are more eco-friendly because they are often made of biodegradable paper and will biodegrade much faster than clear plastic shopping bags.
If anything is disposed of improperly or carelessly, it can cause problems. My problem with the disposal of plastic bags and poly bags has more to do with how it is being disposed as opposed to what is being disposed. Unfortunately, there is a lot of chatter concerning the banning of plastic shopping bags and poly bags. I think this is a very bad idea. It will destroy US jobs. Less than 1% of all plastic waste in landfills is attributed to plastic bags. We put more plastic based products into our bags at the supermarket than the plastic bags themselves. Reusable / recyclable bags are the only answer along with strict recycling laws. You can purchase a wide array of plastic bags, paper bags, poly bags, shopping bags, grocery bags, non woven tote bags at http://isellpackaging.com