Paper Bags Are Not a Better Choice

For a long time, paper bags have been considered a more environmental alternative. However, consider their whole life cycle and you find a different story.

Yes, paper bags are made from a renewable source and they are biodegradable. But look at paper bag manufacturing, usage, and even disposal problems, and you will see why they are not a better choice.

Birth: Compared to plastic, making a paper bag:
emits 70% more global warming gasses
creates 50 times more water pollution
uses 4 times more raw materials
consumes 3.5 times more energy

Life: Once used, paper bags are unlikely to be re-used. They tear easily and are made for one time usage.

Death: Eighty percent of all paper bags end up in landfills. There, they do not biodegrade because of a lack of oxygen. They also cost more to landfill because they take up much more space by weight and volume than plastic bags do.

The Problem >> The Problem: Paper Bags Are Not a Better Choice