Benefits of Plastic Grocery Bags
Plastic grocery bags or plastic shopping bags become the most popular which are used in supermarkets, general stores, groceries, fruit stalls and any type of consumer shops. It’s so not difficult to overlook its benefits beside the perception that they are environmentally unfriendly. They may have some ecological drawbacks; it can’t be denied that plastic grocery bags can be beneficial to retailers, consumers and even the environment.
For Retailers
Retailers have favored plastic grocery bags since they have been available about 50 years. The reasons for using it are they are cheap, easy to use and convenient to store. They are put in bulk purchases at a fraction of a cent piece. Meanwhile, paper bags normally cost 5 cents or even more per piece. In large volume, they have obvious overhead cost benefits for stores.
Moreover, plastic bags are quicker to open, double up and pack than paper bags. You may think spending a few second opening a bag is not a big deal, however, for busy cashiers, this can help keep lines moving efficiently. Also, they require less space than paper because of their light weight and polyethylene material, in both storage and at cashier stations. The other heavier duty bags may take up the most space, but they are suitable for multiple uses as reusable bags.
For Customers
Just as retailers, customers have found that plastic bags are better option than paper bags in term of their convenience. According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), American use 100 billion plastic bags shopping annually and only about 10 billion paper shopping bag each year.
It is easy to see the two main benefits of plastic bags to consumer. Firstly, plastic bags are more durable than paper bags. They are difficult to be torn, easier to carry, and far more useful when raining. Secondly, they can be reusable for numerous purposes, with many people using them as trashcan liners of to pack and store miscellaneous items. Unlike paper, plastic bags last dramatically longer.
Environmental benefits
There are much controversial opinions over whether paper or plastic bags are more detrimental to the environment. The truth is, each has its pros and cons when compared to each other. Many people agree that there are several ecological advantages of plastic grocery bags over paper shopping bags. Because they weight so much less, they contribute far less solid waste to landfills when not recycled. According to the EPA, the production of paper bags needs 40 percent more energy than the production of plastic bags. Also, paper bags manufacturing results in 50 percent more water pollution and 70 percent more air pollution than plastic bag manufacturing. Plastic bags can be reused; they therefore help save energy and limit the impacts on environment. Michael Kors bucket bag