Earth Poll: Users Dig Their Reusable Shopping Bags
by Jennifer Berry
Published on January 5th, 2009
10 Comments
A recent survey on Earth911.com showed that Earth911 users are doing their part to reduce their plastic bag use. Of the options given, half (50.0 percent) carry reusable shopping bags to reduce disposable bag use.
While reusable bags were popular responses to the question posed
What is your favorite simple way to go green?
- 8.0% Carpooling with my office buddies
- 25.0% Basking in the glow of my CFLs at home
- 50.0% Taking my trendy reusable shopping bag everywhere
- 16.0% Feasting on organic food from the farmer's market
- Only 8 percent responded that they carpooled.
- 25 percent enjoy using CFLs at home.
- 16 percent check our their local farmer’s markets for organic produce.
Recent changes in plastic bag legislation across the U.S. has made reusable bags more popular. Additionally, many countries around the world have enacted bag laws to reduce their citizens use of disposable bags. Grocery chains across the nation are also incentivizing reusable bag use, providing donations to charitable organizations and/or refunds on purchases.
A bag in the Red Sea looks suspiciously like a jellyfish, a common food for sea turtles. Photo: Guardian News
Each year, about 380 billion plastic bags, sacks and wraps are used. Of these 380 billion, only about 5 percent was recycled in 2005.
Due to their lightweight nature, plastic bags are one of the most popular forms of marine debris and are easily mistaken for food by fish and wildlife. In fact, small plastic bags made up about 9 percent of the debris found along various U.S. coasts in a five-year study.
Recycling plastic bags helps not only reduce our consumption of virgin materials, but also energy and carbon emissions. When one ton of plastic bags is reused or recycled, the energy equivalent of 11 barrels of oil is saved. By utilizing reusable bags, the initial energy expenditure in creating this disposable product is eliminated.
clear perspective
posted on January 5th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
For facts about plastic bags and the environment as well as environmental shopping strategies visit http://www.thetruthaboutplasticbags.com
Hold The Carbon » Blog Archive » Earth911.com Poll: Users Dig Their Reusable Shopping Bags
posted on January 5th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
[...] According to the site, “Recent changes in plastic bag legislation across the U.S. has made reusable bags more popular. Additionally, many countries around the world have enacted bag laws to reduce their citizens use of disposable bags. Grocery chains across the nation are also incentivizing reusable bag use, providing donations to charitable organizations and/or refunds on purchases.” [...]
Frances
posted on January 5th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Readers of this blog are way ahead of the curve (50% carry their own…that’s great). But how often do we find ourselves needing bags and not having them? That’s why I think the key to fewer plastic bags is to make reusables more convent. I tried some bulky canvas bags and found myself without them all too often. But recently I found some bags that hold a lot, but squish down super small: Breezy Bags (http://www.breezybags.com). I ALWAYS carry a set of 5 in my purse and hardly know there are there. Never finding myself without my own bags is a great feeling!
Finnegan
posted on January 5th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
The user named “clear perspective” is acting on behalf of a plastic bag company and posting that link everywhere on the Net. The truth about plastic bags is that they’re a poor use of a very valuable resource (oil) which we need to create good things like solar panels.
Bring your own bag!
Ruth Ethridge
posted on January 6th, 2009 at 9:31 am
We use grocery bags that are green and get plenty of stares at the stores.
Sandra VanderMey
posted on January 7th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
I walk daily along the Los Angeles river and frequently see plastic bags filled with personal garbage pitched into the river (along with a phenomenal amount of large furniture and other disgusting items!). Not only does this river flow directly into the Pacific Ocean but I’ve been told the number of ducks, egrets, herons and hawks along with other wildlife who make this river their home has drastically reduced over the last ten years. What can I do to help clean this river up? Will plastic bags ever become biodegradable for those who don’t care?
Sandra VanderMey
posted on January 7th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
I just heard that our Vons grocery store will be charging for it’s plastic bags. I’m not sure if that will include all Vons stores or just the store we use but it sounds like a great incentive idea for reusing your plastic bags. IKEA already does it for theirs.
Dana S.
posted on February 10th, 2009 at 10:02 am
Try ENVIROSAX at http://www.envirosax.com
They roll up to the size of an eggroll and snap closed! I carry two in my purse at all times so there’s no excuse for forgetting my bags!
Monica F.
posted on February 12th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
We can all do our part. Our company also has all reusable shopping bags Made in the USA. It’s a win-win situation. Win for the environment and a win for supporting the USA workers. I always carry 5 in my car and use them all the time….we can all do our part!
Monica F.
posted on February 16th, 2009 at 11:27 am
We can all do our part in helping the environment by reusing our shopping bags. For the best in reusable shopping bags you can reach us at http://www.carebags.biz. Care to make a difference…reuse your shopping bags where ever and when ever you shop. We will work with your company to meet your retail, fundraising, and promotional needs.