Cloth Bags

Reusable cloth bags are a necessary alternative to plastic bags which have become a significant environmental problem. Unlike many other materials we use, plastic is very slow to break down. Some suggest it can take up to two hundred years for plastic bags to totally disintegrate in a land-fill site. Other problems with plastic bags are that they are often blown by the wind and end up in lakes, rivers, or fields and forests. In addition to being unsightly, they are a hazard to wild life, because animals can mistake them for food.

For years and years plastic bags have been the item of choice for shoppers to carry home purchases. It is now expected that stores will provide these bags. Recently, however, some governments have made laws to reduce the use of plastic bags. Ireland was the first to introduce a plastic tax of 15 cents per bag. The revenue was redirected to environmentally friendly projects. This tax reduced the use of plastic bags by about 90 percent. Some cities and countries are seeking to ban their use. The city of Los Angeles and the country of China are perhaps the most noteworthy.

Because of this change in laws and the shift in priority of the general public, a new type of plastic bag has been made available. These bags are made from corn starch, and will break down in a few months as opposed to the decades that it takes normal polyethylene bags. See www.greenorganic.ca The reusable cloth bag is another very environmentally friendly alternative. Cloth bags can be made from a number of materials. They can be made from synthetic fibres or natural fibres. Some of the natural fibres are cotton, hemp or bamboo. The natural fibres are especially environmentally friendly as they will decompose naturally when they are worn out. If good quality cloth is used, it will last a long time and can be laundered often. There are many types and sizes available and they come in a variety of colours. With a bit of forethought we can bring environmentally friendly shopping bags with us when we plan to shop.

Bring Your Own Bag is a very proactive company. They are encouraging the conversion from plastic to reusable cloth bags. They carry a wide range of attractive products. They are located in Canada but ship to the U.S. and other countries. Using reusable bags gives us the convenience of carrying purchases in a shopping bag without negatively impacting the environment.

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