Which is the most environmentally friendly choice? Some would say paper because it decomposes quickly and can be recycled with your newspapers. Others think that plastic bags are better because they have multiple purposes and they cost less energy to produce. According to Institute for Lifecycel Environmental Assessment, U.S. demand for paper bags causes the felling of 14 million trees a year, while plastic bages use up around 12 million barrels of oil a year. Its hard to compare the energy lost by using these resources, so instead of choosing between the better of two evils, there’s an altenative: keep a few cloth bags in your car and use them when grocery shopping. These bags, for sale at most large grocery stores (HEB, Kroger, Whole Foods), last longer and hold more items. In the mean time, plastic bags usually have longer life spans than paper bags and, according to a study done by Franklin Associates, are the greener choice compared to paper.
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Wow! I had always thought that paper was more env friendly than plastic. Great article!
I usually go to Kroger for my fresh things (my local store has a great team in produce, seriously) and yes, the tote bags there are becoming a choice more and more often, as I see in the check out lanes.