Paper vs Plastic Bags: Which Option is Truly the Best?

1. A bag's life cycle, from beginning to end.

--Manufacturing

The manufacturing process marks the beginning of any item's life cycle.

In the case of paper and plastic bags, plastic wins.

Paper manufacturing consumes much more energy than plastic manufacturing.

In fact, approximately four times more energy is required to manufacture paper bags.

The production of paper bags involves cutting down trees, an energy-consuming process involving pulping and the use of toxic chemicals that are harmful to the environment.

Conversely, plastic bags have the least environmental impact of all the bags.

Even though petroleum is used in the process, less carbon is emitted and fewer waste products and by-products are generated.

--Transportation

Plastic bags are superior to paper bags in terms of transportation.

Paper bags weigh five to seven times more than plastic bags, meaning more trucks are required to transport the same weight.

The more trucks, the more air pollution is generated during transportation.

So plastic bags win over paper bags in terms of manufacturing and transportation.

However, this is not the only factor in the battle between the two types of bag.

2. Paper vs. plastic bags: which is better?

When it comes to using bags, no matter what kind they are, the more you reuse them, the better it is for the environment.

However, because paper bags are more easily torn and vulnerable to water, plastic bags have a slight advantage in this respect.

Research has revealed that paper bags have to be used at least three times to counteract their environmental impact compared to plastic bags.

Nevertheless, paper bags can be reused for other purposes, including arts and crafts, and are available in a variety of specialised forms that offset the fact that paper is not as durable as plastic.

3. Types of paper bags

Paper bags are available in various types and are nearly all biodegradable. They are designed for specific purposes, which extends their usable life and is an advantage of using paper bags over plastic bags.

The following are some of the most common types of paper bag:

SOS bags. These bags are more liquid-resistant and are used for carrying food away, as they can hold twice the amount of a similarly sized plastic bag.

Flat bags. This type of paper bag is the most widespread due to its versatility; it can hold items such as fruit and books.

Shopping bags: These bags are associated with fashion and lifestyle brands. With the right application of brand marketing, they are elegant, lovely and classy.

Bakery bags are made of glassine and waxed paper to preserve the taste and freshness of perishable foods such as bread, biscuits and coffee.

Scotchban bags. These greaseproof bags, as the name implies, prevent greasy foods from leaking onto your clothes or the surrounding environment.

While all these paper bags are good, the area where paper bags really beat plastic bags is in their end-of-life cycle.

4. The comeback

Plastic bags are much worse than paper bags in terms of disposal.

Paper bags are easier to recycle and biodegradable. Even when they are littered, they have a much smaller environmental impact since they degrade much more quickly than plastic bags.

In contrast, plastic bags are very harmful to the environment if not disposed of properly. Regrettably, this happens more often than it should.

Plastic takes hundreds of years to decompose, and when it is thrown into the sea, it can cause serious damage to marine life and the environment.

Even when plastics fragment into smaller pieces, the effects of these microplastics are still unknown.

Nevertheless, researchers are certain that an increase in microplastics will be extremely detrimental to the environment, as they are present everywhere, from marine life and farmland to the air we breathe.

5. So, which option is better?

Both plastic and paper bags have their advantages and disadvantages. Plastic bags are superior to paper bags in the production and transportation process, but inferior in the disposal process. Paper bags, on the other hand, are superior in terms of use, reuse and recycling.

Although paper bags appear to have a minor advantage over plastic bags in terms of usage and disposal, it is ultimately the way in which consumers use either type of bag that defines which is best for the environment.

Whatever bag you decide to use, remember that the more you reuse, repurpose and recycle, the more environmentally friendly the end product will be.