Do you want paper or plastic?

Most grocery stores only carry plastic bags, such as Wal-Mart, Meijer, or Target, and as a result, consumers don't have the dilemma in having to choose what kind of bags are the most environmentally safe, on top of their dilemma in having to choose which brand of food they have to buy. However, there are some stores that hold both plastic and paper bags, such as our very own Apple Valley here in Berrien Springs. As the cashier checkouts your groceries, the helper usually asks, "Would you like paper or plastic?" Most choose plastic, because that's what everyone else gets, or its easier to hold. However, there are those that choose paper and they walk to their cars feeling extremely satisfied because they think that they've done something very eco-friendly and helped the endangered wildlife animals.

I have to admit, I was one of those people who thought they'd done something very good for the environment the times I got paper instead of plastic. I'd also get compliments from other people too ("Good for you! Getting paper!"). Too bad I didn't know how bad both plastic AND paper were until I researched a little bit on the eco-friendliness of plastic and paper bags.

Almost everyone knows that plastic isn't the best thing for our environment. Not only does it pollute our environment because it takes forever to break down completely, it also has a high environmental cost. Scientists have tried to make plastic a little better by trying to use a different type of oil in making it, but let's face it--plastic is still bad, and it will be bad forever. Plastic is recyclable but in 2005, only 5.2% was recycled. So what happened to the other 95%? Most of the plastic ends up in landfills and remains to pollute and strangle wildlife for about 500-1000 years. Over 100,000 birds and marine life die each year due to plastic debris, most of which are due to plastic bags. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is just one example of many showing the harmful effect of plastic (http://seacat.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/plastic1.jpg). We know that plastic is bad, but who knew that paper bags were probably just as bad? To begin with, there are lots and lots of resources required in the making of plastic bags. High energy inputs are required along with a considerable amount of trees. In 1999, it was estimated that 14 million trees were felled to produce 10 billion paper grocery bags. The process of making and transferring paper bags also requires energy and machinery, on top of the energy and machinery needed to cut down the trees.

We can conclude that both plastic and paper bags consume large amounts of natural resources and a majority end up in landfills. Both have their pros and cons; plastic bags use less energy during production but paper bags are more recyclable and biodegradable. If that's the case, then what's the best decision? Do we go with plastic or paper? Neither. Research shows that reusable cloth bags are actually the best if wanting to be the most eco-friendly. Although they are more expensive, in the long run they're more efficient and better for the environment than plastic and paper bags. Also, even though they may be about $5, they are reusable for thousands of times and unlike paper bags, they have handles! However, it's understandable why everybody doesn't start using cloth bags all of a sudden. It's a nuisance to always have to remember to bring your nifty, reusable cloth bag every time you go to the grocery store. People are so used to depending on the grocery store to provide for their bags that they don't remember to bring their cloth bags. I also think it's due to the fact that they fail to realize the danger of the continual use of plastic and paper bags. Shouldn't we at least try to become more mature in the topic of the world and environment we live in?? We should stop being so selfish and take care of only ourselves and our needs. After all, God did give us an order to be have good stewardship in Genesis 1:28. We should start by using reusable cloth bags in grocery stores.