Reusable Shopping Bags: Reduce Your Carbon Footprints

Small but constant measures, in the pursuit of a sustainable living, result in enormous effects. One such change includes the use of Reusable Shopping Bags. These are multipurpose bags and apart from eradicating the problem created by single-use plastics, they are quite instrumental in lowering your carbon footprint.

Let’s see how this small transition can help and what benefits our planet would have from such a change.

The Problem with Single-Use Plastics

One of the most common kinds of litter, single-use plastic bags have caused great harm to the environment. The United States EPA has estimated the use of 380 billion bags, sacks, and wraps made from plastic every year. Most of them end up in dumpsites and may take up to 200 years to break down. At that stage, they spread pollutants onto the ground and water bodies, which pose a threat to the fauna and flora.

The Carbon Footprint of Plastic Bags

Many resources are utilized in producing plastic bags; they require crude oil to be extracted and undergo refining before producing polyethylene – the main constituent that is later processed into these bags. Consequently, the production process involves the reduction of metal oxide thereby releasing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions which contribute towards increasing temperatures on the earth’s surface through the creation of a layer known as the ‘greenhouse effect’. Research done by the Australian government shows that manufacturing one plastic bag and its utilization leads to the release of approximately 1.6 kg of CO2.

How Reusable Shopping Bags Make a Difference

1. Reduced Production Emissions

Reusable bags are normally made from fabrics such as cotton, jute, or recycled plastics; which are relatively cheaper to produce. Although the production of the green bag, which is a reusable bag, would be costlier in terms of the amount of carbon emissions, the savings begin to build up faster than the continual use of single-use plastic bags. A historical study by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency revealed that a cotton bag needs to be used 131 times to eradicate the impact of one plastic bag. Since reusable bags are made to have a long life span, it is very possible to reach this number.

2. Decreased Waste and Pollution

Each time you use a reusable bag, you effectively eliminate a plastic bag from the system. Such a reduction of waste not only leads to the overall reduction of the number of plastic bags that are dumped in landfills but also impacts the chances of these bags finding their way into water sources, sea, or any given waterways. With less use of plastic bags, there will be reduced cases of endangerment of marine life and habitats.

3. Lower Energy Consumption

The energy content needed in recycling or eliminating plastic bags is high. However, reusable bags, in most cases, get to end their life cycle in a more environmentally friendly way, like being recycled or breaking down more effectively than plastics. This implies lower energy use which in turn also implies that there will be lesser emission of carbon.

4. Encouraging Sustainable Practices

Reduction of the use of conventional carry bags is the first step to embracing other sustainable practices. It reminds individuals about the need to cut down on the use of disposable items and makes everybody consider the kind of things that they use. This kind of change in attitude can result in more significant changes in behavior, which, in turn, will help decrease overall carbon traces.

Choosing the Right Reusable Bag

To get the most out of reusable shopping bags and also to improve the condition of the environment, we must be careful to choose the right ones.

a). Durability

Choose bags that are strong enough and can be reused many times before they get torn or worn out.

b). Material

Choose the ones that are made from natural or recycled fabrics or materials. Organic cotton; jute and recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles are ideal choices.

c). Size and Convenience

Choose shopping bags that are in line with your shopping habits. For impromptu buying, there is nothing better than a folding bag. When you want to shop for groceries, you will need a big bag like a tote.

If you switch to reusable shopping bags, you will lower your carbon footprint while shopping. If there is less demand for plastic bags that are used once and then thrown away afterward, then fewer greenhouse gases shall be emitted into the atmosphere, which will also reduce waste and help to protect the environment as well. This is just one small action with a huge effect that can create sustainable living patterns in years come as time goes by. 

The next instance when you go shopping, always bear in mind carrying a reusable bag, with yourself. 

Check out and try our reusable shopping bags, which are made of jute or cotton and have wonderful designs and colors!