While the intention behind “bags for life” may have been for the greater good of the planet, it turns out it was an idea that has backfired.
Bags for life as they are called contain higher concentrations of plastic than single-use plastic bags. They claim these to be their “eco-friendly” bags, even though they are heavy plastic.
What is even worse is that the sale of these increased by 25% in 2019 bringing the number of bags sold to 1.5 billion bags just in 2019! That equates to 22 bags for every man, woman, and child in the country. If this is not upsetting to read, then I don’t know what is.
Seven of the ten largest supermarket chains in the UK reported a higher plastic packaging tonnage in 2019 compared to previous years. According to the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and Greenpeace, retailers were responsible for more than 900,000 tons of plastic waste in 2018, which leads one to believe those numbers could easily go over 1 million tons for 2019.
Juliet Phillips, an EIA ocean campaigner, commented;
It’s shocking to see that despite unprecedented awareness of the pollution crisis, the amount of single-use plastic used by the UK’s biggest supermarkets has increased in the past year. Our survey shows that grocery retailers need to tighten up targets to drive real reductions in single-use packaging and items. We need to address our throwaway culture at (its) root through systems change, not materials change – substituting one single-use material for another is not the solution.
As reported by CNN, some campaigners have called for an increase in the cost of the bags. Others have spoken more realistically, that a complete ban is necessary.
Plastic use from suppliers is also to blame and supermarkets just willingly accept this influx of plastic packaging. Tesco Lotus has at least threatened to start delisting products from suppliers who use excessive plastic packaging.
Also reported by CNN was the global movement to reduce plastic including:
- In 2017 Kenya made it illegal to use, manufacture, or import plastic bags for commercial or private use.
- In March of 2019, the European Parliament approved a ban of single-use plastic items such as cutlery, straws, and cotton buds by 2021.
- The UK did the same in May but will ban these items in April 2020.
- Canada plans on banning those same items by 2021.
- In Thailand, starting January 1st, 2020, 7-11 plans on banning plastic bags.
To get involved please visit NOPLASTICWASTE.ORG and sign the petition and share so we can help this global problem that affects us all.
As someone who has traveled around Asia and currently lives in Asia, it makes my head want to explode to see the fruit that grows naturally wrapped in plastic. I also witness thousands of travelers walking around with their single-use plastic drink cups drinking out of single-use plastic straws, inside of single-use plastic bags! It is possible to say NO to using plastic. We can either refuse the plastic bags or bring cups to take away the drinks. It’s also possible to bring your own to-go container if ordering food to take home. I would also urge governments to implement these changes now, not in 2 years or however long they plan on waiting.
