Why is the use of plastic bags prohibited?
Plastic bags are bags made mainly from plastic (commonly used plastics include polypropylene, polyester, nylon, etc.) and are essential items in people’s daily lives. They are often used to store other items. Due to its advantages of low cost, extremely light weight, large capacity, and easy storage, plastic bags are widely used. However, due to the long degradation cycle and difficult handling of plastic bags, their production and use have been banned by some countries.
Since June 1, 2008, China has implemented a plastic restriction order: a paid system for the use of plastic shopping bags is implemented in all supermarkets, shopping malls, markets and other retail places, and plastic shopping bags are not allowed to be provided for free. The production, sale and use of plastic shopping bags with a thickness less than 0.025 millimeters are prohibited nationwide.
The use of plastic bags has led to serious environmental pollution problems. Plastic bags are mainly made of non degradable materials such as polypropylene, polyester, nylon, etc. These materials are difficult to decompose in the natural environment and can cause pollution to the land and atmospheric environment over time, forming the so-called “white pollution”. Especially ultra-thin plastic bags are easily damaged and often discarded after use, leading to “visual pollution” and “white pollution”. In addition, some so-called ‘biodegradable plastics’ may turn into microplastics when used improperly, further polluting the environment.
Secondly, the production and use of plastic bags result in the waste of energy resources. The production of plastic bags requires a large amount of non renewable resources such as oil, and they are often discarded after only one use, resulting in resource waste.
The drawbacks of the ban on plastic bags
Not all plastic bag bans are born equal. Each city, county, and state that enacted legislation has adopted different methods to reduce the use of disposable plastic bags, some of which have been proven to be more effective than others.
Santa Barbara, California prohibits supermarkets, pharmacies, and convenience stores from using disposable plastic bags. The latest data shows that this legislation saves 490 plastic bags per person per year, while the plastic bag ban in Philadelphia restaurants and retail stores only saves 127 plastic bags per person per year. So, why are there differences? Details determine success or failure.
California was the first state to pass a statewide plastic bag ban, which prohibits the use of disposable plastic bags at supermarket checkout counters but allows stores to sell thicker plastic bags deemed reusable. This is an unintentional loophole that has resulted in more plastic waste.
In fact, after the ban was implemented, the amount of plastic waste in California reached a historical high. A study shows that the plastic bag ban in New Jersey in 2022 also had a similar impact, resulting in a six fold increase in the use of woven and non-woven polypropylene plastics and a 500% increase in greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers have found that a non-woven polypropylene bag needs to be used at least 11 times to have a smaller impact on the environment than supermarket plastic bags. But Blackspear said the problem is that this is simply impossible to happen.
Revoke the ban on plastic bags
A total of 10 states – Arizona, Florida, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, and Wisconsin – have implemented preemptive bans on plastic bags to prevent their implementation. Athens, Ohio overturned its plastic bag ban in 2023, when a judge called the county’s ban on disposable plastic bags “unconstitutional” as it conflicted with state laws allowing retailers to use plastic bags. The proposed legislation in Florida will prohibit local towns from using disposable plastic products, including plastic bags.
In these states, overturning the ban will render our work and progress meaningless. It is regrettable to see these efforts politicized, and what we should truly consider is what is best for the environment and the ocean.
Can banning the use of plastic bags really save the earth?
The impact of plastics on the environment
Plastic takes over 400 years to decompose, which means that every piece of plastic that has ever been manufactured still exists. In 2016 alone, approximately 335 million tons of plastic were produced worldwide! Only about 9% of plastic waste is recycled.
Most of the rest eventually flow into the ocean and are consumed by marine organisms. Birds may accidentally consume plastic waste, causing their stomachs to be filled with plastic and ultimately leading to hunger. It is worrying that 95% of giant petrels, 93% of blue petrels, and 80% of northern blizzard petrels have plastic in their stomachs.
Reduce our impact
Of course, this analysis is only based on the resources required to manufacture different types of plastic bags. We have not yet considered the typical usage patterns of these plastic bags and their impact on specific species or habitats. As is well known, disposable plastic bags can cause countless problems, especially after they enter the ocean.
But simply banning the use of plastic bags is not enough to save the earth. If we just replace one type of plastic bag with another without changing our usage patterns, the world may end up worse than when we started. The key to minimizing the environmental impact of shopping bags is to reuse them as much as possible. Prohibiting the use of plastic bags itself is not very useful – on the contrary, we need to focus on changing our habits.
