The Other Side of Plastic Bags
The “Company Profile” is an Earth911.com series highlighting consumer goods and services making a difference through product stewardship and recycling. Products and services featured do not pay for placement and are not endorsed by Earth911.com.
Plastic grocery bags are a hot-button issue. Some states are considering instituting a ban or tax on their usage, while others are fiercely defending their convenience, versatility and portability. Hilex Poly, a manufacturer and recycler of plastic “T-shirt” bags, would like the public to use and enjoy plastic grocery bags in a variety of ways—and then recycle them through its Bag 2 Bag program.
Earth911.com recently checked in with Mark Daniels, Hilex’s vice president of Marketing and Environmental Affairs, to discuss that age-old supermarket question: paper or plastic?
Plastic bags are made primarily from natural gas, so recycling this material allows this energy to be made into new products or recovered for its energy value. Photo: Justgetthere.us
A Bit of History
Hilex Poly is a manufacturer of plastic bag and film products and has been in business for more than 30 years, first as Sonoco Products Company, until Hilex Poly LLC bought it out in 2003. When Hilex purchased Vanguard Plastics, Inc. in 2005, it became the largest retail carryout manufacturer in the world.
In addition to making plastic grocery bags from post-consumer recycled content, Hilex also developed Bag 2 Bag, the industry’s first take-back recycling program.
The plastic bags that are returned are compressed into resin pellets and then turned back into bags known as the “Gray is the New Green” campaign. According to the campaign, “Plastic shopping bags made from virgin material are white in color. Whereas plastic shopping bags made partially or totally from recycled resin from used bags are gray, buff or blue.”
Its Hilex Environmentally Degradable (HED) plastic bags can degrade in as few as eight weeks with enough sunlight and oxygen, and its E3 reusable bags load onto existing bag racks in retail stores for more efficient bagging.
Part of Hilex’s mission is to help the public separate the fact from fiction about plastic bags.
Some plastic manufacturing facts:
- When delivering the bags, the quantity of plastic bags in one truckload would require seven truckloads of paper bags.
- In the manufacturing process, plastic bags generate 80 percent less waste than paper bags, and only consume about 18 percent as much energy.
- Plastic bags use less than 3 percent of the fresh water necessary to make paper bags.
- It takes about 91 percent less energy to recycle a plastic bag as it does a paper bag.
“We’re of the philosophy that because of the low carbon footprint and the efficiency of manufacturing plastic bags compared to alternative products, we think we have a real advantage over some of the other carry-out products,” says Daniels.
Headquartered in South Carolina, Hilex operates eight manufacturing locations throughout the U.S., as well as the largest closed-loop plastic bag recycling plant in the world, located in North Vernon, Ind.
“Since building the Indiana recycling facility in 2004, we’ve reprocessed over 30 million pounds of plastic bags and overwraps,” says Daniels. “And our board of directors just approved the capital to double that capacity for post-consumer recycling.”
A Team Effort
Daniels wants the public to understand that the approximately 30,000 Bag 2 Bag bins located in supermarkets throughout the country aren’t just for shopping bags. All items made of polyethylene, such as the plastic wrap from toilet tissue and paper towel bundles, dry cleaning bags and bread sacks, can all be returned.
“The more participation we get from the public to return their plastic bags and wraps, the higher levels of recycled content we can put in,” says Daniels.
One way Hilex is trying to encourage people to bring these materials back in is by involving and educating retailers. Daniels explains that the goal is not just to place a container by the doors, but to have the checkers and managers acknowledge the program and ask their customers to return the bags on their next visit.
“When was the last time someone came up to you and said, ‘Thank you for shopping at Safeway, and by the way we have recycling bins over there so can you bring your plastic bags back?’” Daniels asks. “It’s just grassroots stuff that we’re trying to get retailers to participate in.”
A plastic bag is a thermoplastic, which means it is capable of being repeatedly softened by heat and hardened by cooling. Photo: Smh.com.au
The Best Part
That “grassroots stuff” is actually Daniels’ favorite part of his job. Besides working with retailers to help spread the word about recycling, he also spends his time clearing up misconceptions about the impact plastic has on the environment.
A lot of arguments are based on myths and spread rapidly, he says, and Daniels is working to set the record straight.
“It’s gratifying to be able to be at the ground level and educate people on this particular product and how it can be recycled,” he says.
Favorite of the Three R’s
“I’m pretty equal on all of them,” states Daniels. It makes sense: Without “recycle,” there would be no Hilex Poly, and if people reuse their plastic bags as lunch sacks or trash can liners, that still helps to lessen the impact on the environment.
As for “reduce,” Daniels explains that Hilex has been running bagger training programs for years, persuading front end managers and baggers to put five or six items into a bag rather than the standard three or four. The plastic bags that Hilex produces are also slightly bigger and thicker than most, offering more confidence to a public that has recently embraced reusable bags and shunned plastic.
“We understand that there are reusable bags out there,” says Daniels. “We distribute reusable bags as part of our portfolio of products. We think that there is a niche for that, and if people want to use reusable bags, that’s fine. If they want to use paper bags, that’s fine. We just want to have the plastic bag be out there as a good environmental choice.”
- (07/20/2009). Mark Daniels Phone Interview.
- Hilex Poly http://www.hilexpoly.com.
- The Truth About Plastic Bags http://www.thetruthaboutplasticbags.com/facts.html.
- Society of the Plastics Industry http://www.plasticbag.com/.
- American Chemistry Council http://www.americanchemistry.com/plastics/.
As of June 17th 2011 we have upgraded our comment system to use Facebook comments. The below comments are closed and are listed for historical purposes.
Amanda
posted on August 3rd, 2009 at 10:33 am
I think that this is a great article–we’re all trained to think “plastic–BAD!” But paper seems innocuous because it’s paper… it comes from trees, it recycles pretty easily. But that’s not the whole story.
Of course the best alternative is to carry your own bag. But if you’ve got to use a grocery store’s bags, it’s important to know which one really is the best option.
Jennie Nigrosh
posted on August 3rd, 2009 at 1:09 pm
The “Ban or Tax” also applies to plastic dry-cleaning bags as well. We must do our part and start carrying our own bags! Check out The Green Garmento! You can get your FREE GREEN GARMENTO by visiting http://www.thegreengarmento.com/BASE/SS/get-free-bags/
Terry
posted on August 3rd, 2009 at 5:18 pm
It sounds like Hilex wants the public to supply them with their raw materials which they will then sell back to the nation at a huge profit. In addition, how much recycled materials are going into these bags? Which ones are 100% recycled ?
Sasha
posted on August 3rd, 2009 at 10:41 pm
So true about the grassroots angle – That’s the best part of the job and one of the only ways people can truly reduce plastic waste. Word of mouth has helpd this reusable bag and canteen company (Simply Green Solutions) and word of mouth can help change the mind of folks that think producing more paper bags is a better idea.
Don
posted on August 4th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
All true. As a former plastics industry employee with more than 30 years of experience in this field I can agree with absolutely everything that is stated in this article. What they have left out though is:
Virgin plastic bags are made from resin a derivative of oil.
Production of the original resin used to manufacture the bag was produced by processing crude oil. It’s not producing the bag that is environmentally unfriendly, it’s producing the resin for that white bag. Resin manufacture requires a great deal of heat and the energy used in that process is more of a problem than that used at the extrusion/bag making stage.
While the energy used in recycling bags and then reextruding the film to make them again may be less than paper, heating the resin and extruding it does produce Carbon Dioxide and electrical energy is the industries largest expense after raw materials. This would all become a non problem if we could produce electricity without burning fossil fuels.
It is not so easy to extrude 100% recycled plastic and usually a small percentage of virgin is added to give it sealability and strength. Most garbage bags are 95% recycled (here in Canada) post industrial waste since it is too hard to collect, sort and clean shopping bags from post consumer streams.
Oil is an non-sustainable resource.
All things considered this carbon footprint must follow the bags through it’s many reuses and cannot simply be ignored the first time a bag is recycled.
Why compare plastic to paper, why not compare it to reuseable cloth bags?
Ken
posted on August 4th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Plastic bags have been a better option than paper for 40 years. In that time the technology has improved and the bags have become stronger.
Terry… yes, Hilex is asking you to recycle so that bags don’t just get wasted or littered. They are then recycling that material into new product instead of using new resources. Huge profits? I don’t know about that. They do incur expenses when recycling. Plastics have to be sorted, shredded, and remade into bags. Are they making money doing it? Yes they are. So what? Would it be better to NOT recycle?
RecycleBill
posted on August 4th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Don wrote: “Why compare plastic to paper, why not compare it to reuseable cloth bags?”
Excellent question, Don. Could it be that Earth911.com has become too cozy with Industry? Afraid to ask the tough questions? Unwilling to bear the bad news? Has no one else noticed the trends in the way articles are posted to Earth911.com?
Trey Granger
posted on August 4th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
While us consumers may recycle to save the Earth, the main reason it is done (at least in America) is so businesses can make a new product and sell it. The same thing happens when you recycle bottles and cans in a curbside program, as your city or county is making money by reselling them.
Raquel Fagan
posted on August 4th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
Thanks RecycleBill and Don for your questions/concerns! We here at Earth911.com try to bring a variety of ideas to our readers. These ideas are not to tell consumers which is better – but simply let the companies speak for themselves. We don’t endorse the products or the companies. The above article is Hilex Poly’s story. We have covered the other side with Ecoroot’s story. Whether it be Diaper Choices, Reusing Waste or Alternatives for To-Go, Earth911 gives space for all types of companies that are trying, in whatever way they can, to make a difference. If we only focused on companies that were in a particular sector, we would be missing out on a huge section of the market, a market that most consumers participate in. We are just trying to give a multitude of options and experiences. Thanks for the feedback, we really do appreciate it! – Raquel Fagan, Earth911.com Exec. Editor
EcoTrend
posted on August 4th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
The Earth has been facing immense pollution from our garbage and consumption. The latest deadly pollution is plastic bags that fill up the landfills. With plastic bags becoming a growing concern, canvas bags has become the new way to help stop the pollution.
With plastic bag pollution being a rising concern, many shoppers need to start using canvas bags in order to stop the pollution.
Plastic bag pollution is very deadly and takes hundreds of years to break down. Even if the component is broken done, the deadly chemicals will go into the ground and water system. By reducing the usage of plastic bag, Earth can recuperate. That’s why cotton bags should be used world wide to help reduce the pollution.
It is our generation to stop the pollution and start using cotton bags as the solution. With global warming going out of hand from gas exhaustion, we don’t need any more problems especially plastic bags that are harmful when broken down naturally. These broken down elements cause sickness and destruction to the air, soil and water system.
Use canvas bags starting today as a way to stop the plastic pollution that is becoming a major threat to the environment. Our lives are threatened ever more from the growing usage of plastic bags. It is time you bring a canvas bag to shopping the next time you go to a supermarket.
Arthur
posted on August 5th, 2009 at 9:05 am
I commend Ms Fagan and Ms. Wilson on a very insightful article that creates a balanced discussion for both sides of the argument. No question, the reusable bag is the best solution; however, I can see the benefits of recycling for BOTH paper and plastic bags. And what in the world is so wrong with creating recycling jobs and recycling profits for tax paying companies? Last I checked, our economy could use more stimuli and our environment needs cleaning too. I am most interested in learning about all of the legislation and potential regulations being considered across the U.S. Will it be effective? Are politicians preparing to make law that they have not read nor researched – like the health care bill, and cash for clunkers etc? Perhaps Ms. Wilson could interview Assembly persons and members of Congress to assess their knowledge of the facts in this matter. As for me, I bring now my resuable bags to the market, but I appreciate the freedom of having options.
Beej
posted on August 6th, 2009 at 8:25 am
Yes, Terry, Hilex will make money off of people recycling their bags. There’s nothing wrong with that. The reason why this company exists is to make money. If they make money they can employ people. Right now jobs are scarce, and this company is helping out our nation’s economy by providing employment. And if they can recycle some plastic while they’re at it–win win! There are worse things companies can do to make a buck, eh?
I have been reusing bags and haven’t given much thought to all the other stuff that comes in plastic like TP and drycleaning. It’s nice to know that I can now recycle those at the supermarket bins too. I am going to stash all that plastic wrap in my reusable bags, instead of the trash. Thank you for giving me another tip!
Dave
posted on August 6th, 2009 at 9:20 am
I would prefer to hear more incisively what the actual postconsumer recycled content of these “Bag2Bag” products are, and if there is an estimate how many times the actual plastic bag now in use, is recycled before ending up in a landfill. My guess is the numbers are bad. What is being done to increase this rate? An economic stimulus in favor or the desired recycling activity is likely to be most effective. How do the numbers compare to paper, and to reusable bags? Only with that extra info will I be able to sort the green from the greenwash. Meanwhile I’m happy to recycle all the plastic bags I run across, via the Bag2Bag program at my local store. But I’ll still bring my own bags to the store whenever possible.
I’m so tired of picking up windblown plastic bags from behind my local grocery store, right near the riverbank. Sometimes over a dozen a day, day in and day out as I pass by on the bike trail to and from work. Plastic ending up in the rivers and oceans (the mid-pacific gyre is the biggest garbage patch in the oceans) and the damage being done to ecosystems and food chains by plastic pollution, are a bigger concern to me than precious landfill space filling up.
Chad Lupkes
posted on August 8th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
One of my concerns is the ocean wasteland of plastic trash double the size of Texas. We can make bio-degradable plastics. Why not mandate that all plastic must be biodegradable? We could do that nationally and set an example for the rest of the world.
Country Meadow » Blog Archive » Eco News: Plastic Bags Are Not All Bad!
posted on August 13th, 2009 at 8:44 am
[...] out the article below from Earth911 and see for [...]
pldrake
posted on August 14th, 2009 at 7:33 am
There’s the option to reuse those plastic bags. I’ve been converting plastic bags to yarn, known as plarn, to use for crocheting, knitting, or weaving into purses, coasters, rugs, heavier-duty carry bags. It just takes cutting them up and rolling strips of plastic bags into balls. Scraps from the cutting I then recycle.
John Fox
posted on June 5th, 2011 at 5:21 pm
Recycle Bill: Earth911 appears to be a journalistic site, but it is not. Hilex Poly is their customer and they produce this “seemingly 3rd party” media for Hilex Poly. You are basically reading an infomercial disquised as an independant website. Whatever you see is omitted from the article is on purpose. You might notice that Raquel’s response – was carefully crafted.
meatheadmerlin
posted on June 8th, 2011 at 6:03 am
Paper, plastic, reusable. They all have their strengths and weaknesses.
Paper bags come from a renewable resource.
However, if the bag gets dirty or greasy, putting it in the recycle bin is no longer an option.
At that point it is at best compost or fuel and at worst landfill fodder.
Also, paper has a finite number of times it can be reliably recycled.
One additional benefit of paper bags is the potential for other uses
like covering textbooks and craft projects.
Plastic bags come from a non-renewable resource.
If a plastic bag gets dirty or greasy, it can easily be cleaned and still recycled.
And, being a thermoplastic, it can theoretically be recycled infinitely many times.
However, improperly disposed of, they are at best unsightly and at worst a danger to wildlife.
Reusable bags can certainly help reduce waste.
However, what is that bag made of? Can it be recycled at the end of it’s life?
If not, you would still be creating more waste than if you had used
disposable bags and always recycled.
I can’t pretend to compare other costs like carbon footprint
with so many steps in any processing from materials to product and beyond.
While such issues are important, there are plenty of loops to be closed.
Responsible handling of any product to reduce waste is, I believe,
a step in the right direction.