Not necessarily says the
EPA. For one thing, plastic bags consume 40% less energy than paper to produce. An article published in the April 2008 issue of
Reason Magazine highlights the issue of
re-usability:
The good news is that, given a choice between plastic, paper and multi-use grocery bags, most people make the best available environmental choice: whichever bag they are most likely to reuse. In an informal online MSNBC survey last month, 38 percent of respondents said reusability was the most important factor in choosing what type of grocery bag to use. The plurality, 41 percent, choose plastic. Twenty-eight percent reported that environmental concerns were their top consideration and-unfortunately, given the comparative life cycle analyses-56 percent believed that paper is more "environmentally friendly."
Photo: by Jotman. An Indonesian man prepares plastic bags for recycling.
