Comments on: Whole Foods to quit plastic bags. need I say more?

By: Margaux

Margaux — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 03:51:16 +0000

Most of the time, I carry my own reusable bags to the grocery store rather than use paper or plastic. The clerks usually look at me as though I am some sort of lunatic and often have a difficult time trying to figure out how to place groceries in the bags I provide. Consequently, I bag my own groceries. What I have learned from my conversion to reusable packaging is that most people I encounter are really unconcerned with the environment. It is great to tout “Earth Day” and recycle a few items but when it comes to putting ideas into practice, Americans really do not. As a nation, we like our convenient paper and plastic bags- which come at a greater expense than we care to acknowledge. Ace correctly pointed out that there are no easy solutions. However, there is hope for the future when WalMart carries organic items and promotes reusable bags.

By: Michele

Michele — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:19:27 +0000

Here in Canada, there is talk of charging customer for using plastic bags so we are encourage to bring out own bags which by the way has the best of both world when it comes to plastic vs paper. They are square on the bottom so they stay put and have handle to carry easily but the best argument to use the cloth bags is that 5 bags will carry a weeks worth of supplies for a family of 4 vs to 15 of the plastic kind.

By: Dana

Dana — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:44:44 +0000

Dear Doug

Bring your own cloth type bags. No, in fact, you do not NEED plastic bags. The bags at Trader Joe’s for example work just as well as plastic for stuffing things into, and do not create the waste. You cast one oiption as the only option, and of course you know that is bad science.

Dan

PS: And geez, some civility would be nice.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 06:32:20 +0000

Lesley:

I just think people are lazy. I’ve lived in fairly “eco-friendly” areas, and people still get lazy about recycling. Ecological change is (sadly) generally forced so that way it’s not a decision at the individual level.

By: sam

sam — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 04:56:41 +0000

paper bags were made of waste pulp. that is pulp wood that is still in use , the bad part is the waste pulp is dumped whereas it was once used for bags.now whales dolphins turtles etc. die from consumption of the plastic bags that resemble jellyfish.environuts foretold the benifits of plastic bags yet woodcutting has not slowed nor has the turn to plastic bags slowed the cutting of pine trees.instead the excess pulp is dumped in the local water source.bring back paper bags.my cat loves them and they are more sturdy.

By: Charlie Stover

Charlie Stover — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:04:38 +0000

I like Camellia’s solution. Doesn’t require the use of trees or crude oil. Doesn’t contaminate the environment. Doesn’t even clutter the environment for the first few years, until it wears out. Doesn’t hurt the fingers to carry. Doesn’t fall apart when it gets wet. Does require the use of laundry detergent (what natural resource might that deplete?), water and whatever fuel powers your electric supply. You do have to guess at how many you will need on any given trip to the store. I suspect that some kinds of stores (not grocery) won’t allow you to carry them around inside, or that they will give you suspicious looks if you do carry them inside.

By: Lesley

Lesley — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 13:23:54 +0000

The bottom line is that whether you choose to use paper or plastic, there needs to be an easy way to recycle them. Instead of focusing on the front end (whether the store offers one or another), they need to focus on the back end - how to promote recycling. I believe that most people want to do something that is better for our environment, but our public officials need to step up to the plate and enforce the means to do so. Just saying…

By: Ace in Honolulu

Ace in Honolulu — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 09:32:39 +0000

The whole “paper vs. plastic” arguement is one which will never be solved to anyone’s satisfaction.

When I worked as a grocery sacker in Kansas a couple of decades ago, when our local supermarket chain was introducing and promoting the use of plastic sacks the “incentive” to use them ranged anywhere from their strength & convenience to their cost effectiveness to their recyclability & preservation of trees. Initially we requested of the customer to state his/her preference, later we were instructed to “suggest” the use of plastic automatically and resort to paper bags only when the customer insisted upon them. In each case, WE GAVE CUSTOMERS AN OPTION! After living in Hawaii for a few years, the “phase out” of paper began with the introduction of “shrunk” paper bags which had no capacity value to speak of; later they were phased out entirely, to everyone’s dismay — NOW Honolulu is talking about “banning” the use of plastic bags and bring paper back… didn’t we just go down this road once before already?

WHAT IS SO WRONG WITH OFFERING CONSUMERS A “CHOICE”? Each has certain advantages — ESPECIALLY if you’re operating “two-wheeled” vehicles (handle bars could support a couple of looped plastic bags, while the floor board of a motorscooter or the straddle bar of a bicycle are well suited for supporting paper bags, and such vehicles equipped with baskets offer expanded flexibility). But even as each has its particular advantage, they also have their particular disadvantages, mainly with regard to their impact on the Environment.

It’s the classic win/win, win/lose, lose/lose scenario — there are no right or easy answers. The simplest solution would be to just let the people make their own choice and set up drop-off points to encourage the recycling of both products. It’s not a perfect solution, but it’s the best we can come up with until we invent teleportation booths.

By: david hays

david hays — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:13:27 +0000

I can’t say too much one way or the other, paper or plastic both have their advantages and disadvantages. As fo Whole Food’s decision, it doesn’t bother me, there are none in my city, I have only seen them mentioned on Martha Stewart’s TV show, so I figured they were a NYC store.
I would suggest that if anyone continues to use either they should provide a means to recycle them as Wal*Mart does with plastic bags. Our community recycling (curbside) does not accept cardboard, and likely not paper bags, nor do they accept plastic bags or foam containers. We need more recycling avenues of these containers–paper plastic-foam, etc. Our citywide curbside has recently started accepting plastic containers other than #1 or #2, at least.

By: Camellia

Camellia — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:36:00 +0000

There is opportunity for even greater freedom of choice in the type of bags you choose to use. Several grocery stores encourage customers to bring their own bags (any type they choose). Some even offer incentives such as a five cent refund per bag brought in. One could bring their own plastic bags to any grocer if they prefer. They’re lightweight, add minimal bulk, and can withstand mulitple uses.

I choose to bring in cloth bags with shoulder straps which enable me to carry the most at one time. In addition, they are easy to wash and long lasting.