Plastic bags are seldom made with biodegradable plastic. For the stores that do buy such bags for their clients, it’s an expensive option. Biodegradable or not, discarded or broken bags still harm the environment by finding their way into trees and shrubbery, or clogging sewers and storm drains.
Reasons to Avoid Plastic Bags
Birds, whales, seals and turtles eat plastic bags mistaking them for fish, then die from intestinal blockages. Worse still, the plastic bag takes longer than the dead animal to decompose, and often kills another organism that tries to feed off it.
In order to reduce some of the toll that plastic bags are taking on nature, some cities are imposing plastic bag taxes. Some stores are banning them altogether, in an effort to have people reduce the amount of bags used, and eventually, move to a more sustainable solution.
Business Initiatives to Reduce Plastic
The HBC line of stores is rewarding clients for buying and using reusable bags. Having launched a line of reusable shopping bags called Global Mind, Home Outfitters, Zellers and The Bay customers will receive 1,000 HBC Rewards Points when they purchase any of the Global Mind brand of reusable bags. They also offer 100 HBC Points to customers who bring those, or any other brand of re-usable bag to take their purchases home.
Some grocery chains take a more punitive approach, charging clients anywhere from ten to fifteen cents per plastic bag, and some stores, such as the LCBO (Liquor Control Board of Ontario) are phasing out the use of plastic bags, supplying clients with paper bags or an LCBO-brand reusable tote as options.
By removing plastic and offering solutions, more stores are re-branding themselves as being environmentally aware, marketing themselves in a positive light towards consumers. The shops that provide a reusable bag with the store’s logo is investing in creating an image, and is using the bag as vehicle for brand recognition.
Green Is The New Cool
Reusable totes provide advertising space in a somewhat more positive way. While plastic bags have companies’ names and web sites on them, re-usable bags do not deteriorate as quickly, and can spread their company’s word longer than their thin plastic incarnations. A tattered plastic bag tangled in a tree branch leaves a subtle message that its company is somehow responsible for environmental damage.
Changing behaviour is the first step to reducing the amount of plastic bags that find their way into the environment. Making a commitment to bring a reusable bag is no longer seen as the habit of little old ladies or frumpy housewives. Colourful bags in hip patterns are available shoppers of all ages and genders.
Sustainable Fashion Choice
Companies are now getting in on the green industry ticket. By providing consumers with sustainable fabrics or giving a donation to a charity, enviro-friendly shopping bags are an industry in themselves.
One such company, Envirosax, which has a range of bags that cater to all styles and tastes, in a range of organic fibres. The bamboo, linen or hemp bags are all printed in vegetable based inks.
Ten Thousand Villages sells various sizes and kinds of totes and jute bags, all of which support various initiatives, such as CORR – The Jute Works. Buying their jute tote helps support women’s rights awareness, job training, literacy and health issues in Bangladesh.
Buying a bag that supports a charity or just keeps your plastic bag drawer from overflowing is a positive change. Remembering to bring that bag with you, by stuffing it in a glove compartment, or folding one in your purse is another.
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