Paper shopping bags have become immensely popular these days. Available in a wide array of colors, styles, and designs, paper shopping bags have become a huge hit among shoppers from all walks of life. In this article, we’ll discuss the major factors that influence the production of paper shopping bags.
Energy and natural resources:
It is evident that manufacturing a plastic bag is easier than producing a paper bag. Usually, it takes more than four times energy than to make a paper bag than to a plastic bag. It is widely accepted that paper comes from tree pulp. Thus, manufacturing of paper is directly related with the reducing tress in forests. According to published news stories, in 1999, about 14 million trees were cut to produce about 10 billion paper grocery bags used only the American citizens in that particular year.
Pollution:
Usually, for making the Kraft paper, wood chips are used to heat under pressure at high temperatures in a chemical solution. Millions of gallons usually pour into the waterways to cause water pollution and burning of wood chips may add up to the air pollution.
Recycling:
In comparison to recycling of paper than the recycling of plastic is easier and takes less time as well. It takes 91% less energy to recycle a pound of plastic than to a pound of paper. Also, the recycling rates are very low and the output is usually ranges from 10 to 15% of paper bags than to 1 to 3% of recycled plastic bags.
