Paper or Plastic?

When Professor Steve Davis gave us the details of our next blogging assignment, I immediately thought, "he probably wants us to reconsider a popular misconception; otherwise, we would just be doing research on a well known fact." Indeed, this was the case: paper bags and reusable bags are just as damaging to the environment as plastic bags are, and clay mugs are no better than Styrofoam cups. However, the research led me to some facts about the carbon footprints of all the options that were very disconcerting.

• Over a billion plastic bags are given out daily.
  
• Paper bags take roughly four times as much energy to produce than plastic bags. However, most paper comes from tree pulp, so deforestation adds significantly to the problem of carbon emissions.
• Paper bags generate 70% more air and 50 times more water pollutants than plastic bags. Both paper and plastic bags generate toxins as they degrade.
• Although paper bags have a higher recycling rate than plastic, each new paper grocery bag you use is made from mostly virgin pulp for better strength and elasticity.
• Current research demonstrates that paper in today's landfills does not degrade or break down at a substantially faster rate than plastic does.

Reference: http://www.reusablebags.com/facts.php?id=7

All of the current options are giant contributors to our carbon footprint. Some may advocate biodegradable bags to lessen the waste products, but this does not eliminate the equally high energy costs of this option. The only real advantage to using these "eco-friendly" options is that it provides the individual a viable option to get involved. This should by no means should be undermined because it does signify that people care. However, the real inescapable hurdle that Sachs and others present as our only solution in reducing our carbon footprint is to simply produce and use less.