 More and more research has uncovered the dangers of plastic shopping bags used to tote our purchases. It is estimated that society consumes about one million of these bags a minute and in the end, the bags take about 1,000 years to break down. Paper bags are not any better. They require more energy and create even more pollutants than plastic bags. They are very difficult to recycle and do not break down faster than plastic in landfills because there is not enough light or oxygen to permeate the bags. With all these grim facts in mind, it is no wonder so many consumers are turning to reusable bags. Each reusable bag has the potential to eliminate the use of over 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime. It also saves millions of barrels of petroleum. Less fossil fuel to burn will eventually improve the quality of the air we breathe. Some stores even offer credit per bag since it saves them from having to buy their own bags.
Some reusable bags are better than others. The trick is getting to know what kind of a bag to use. The first thing to investigate when getting free or cheap reusable bags is to find out how they are produced. Fair trade and Fair Labor practices work to ensure that the goods being produced are made by people who are being paid fair wages and also use resources wisely. Some of these bags are made using materials that contain toxins or unsafe materials because they are cheaper. Therefore, it is better to make sure that the reusable bag truly is made using best practices. Another question to ask is how long the bag will last. There is not much point to using one of these bags if they break after a few uses. In fact, it simply contributes to more bags being wasted. Overall, it is well worth the money and effort to get bags that are higher quality with a good selection because they truly do save money and waste.
The best way to go is to own a handful of durable, attractive bags that you will want to have with you whenever you go out. It will minimize waste and just make you feel better overall. There are bags made from hemp and recycled materials. In addition to bags other reusable items as well such as canteens, lunch boxes and more, are available.
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