Comments on: Plastic Bag Recycled Content Goal

By: michael

michael — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 02:53:45 +0000

The so called fact that plastic bags are responsible for the killing of thousands of marine animals is a myth and based on a misinterpretation of a canadian study.

“The central claim of campaigners is that the bags kill more than 100,000 marine mammals and one million seabirds every year. However, this figure is based on a misinterpretation of a 1987 Canadian study in Newfoundland, which found that, between 1981 and 1984, more than 100,000 marine mammals, including birds, were killed by discarded nets. The Canadian study did not mention plastic bags.”

Also the production and recycling of plastic is more environmentally friendly than paper.

By: karen

karen — Thu, 21 May 2009 13:27:19 +0000

Most people might believe since there are recycling bins for plastic everywhere, that it’s OK to use plastic. They are recyclable so why not use them? When in fact, stats like this just confirms that it makes no sense to produce plastic at all. What’s the point in making plastic bags when we can only recycle a small percentage of them and still have toxic remnants in the landfills? I also don’t like plarns or any crafting done with plastic bags. They are not contributing to the green movement – just another method of greenwashing the real problem.

I say, go with cotton canvas that can degrade fast when we are ready to throw them away. I’m beginning not to like even those reusable bags that grocery stores sell since they are also made with synthetic material that won’t degrade.

By: Earth…Plastic? : EcoLocalizer

Earth…Plastic? : EcoLocalizer — Wed, 06 May 2009 07:00:32 +0000

[...] products like these, companies wouldn’t spend the time and resources to develop them. From the American Chemistry Council’s initiative to produce bags with 40% recycled content by 2015 to more and more cities banning plastic bags all together, it feels like folks are more mindful of [...]

By: Plastic Bag Recycled Content Goal

Plastic Bag Recycled Content Goal — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:46:15 +0000

[...] Read more of this story » [...]

By: Autumn

Autumn — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:03:53 +0000

I wonder about degradation. Paper fibers can only be recycled so many times, and the gloop left over is toxic. How much of the 40% recycled bags will end up being toxic gloop when they are sent for re-recycling?

Reusable bags supplemented with compostable bags makes much more sense to me.

By: Sophia Katt

Sophia Katt — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 21:14:42 +0000

The permanent environmental harm to sealife alone would make this last ditch effort by the petroleum lobby a no go. Surely your crafty readers don’t want to contribute to supporting that!

By: Becky Striepe

Becky Striepe — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 21:12:21 +0000

I’m sort of torn the same way that you are between yay recycling, and what’s taken these guys so long?

Esther – Thanks so much for those facts! I thought 40% seemed awfully low, since I didn’t think about the quality of the plastic. Interesting!

I am totally with you guys – moving away from them all together seems like the best option. It feels like this goal from the ACC represents sort of a sea change. Almost like they’re finally reacting because of consumer pressure. That’s a good thing, at least!

By: Summer

Summer — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:58:58 +0000

I agree… from a crafter’s point of view, I think we should still be making more canvas totes to reduce the darn things altogether. But I also don’t think crafts from reused plastic bags are going to disappear.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:45:28 +0000

Hmmm…interesting. I’m all for removing these things from our environment, but I don’t see how even recycled plastic bags will be desirable, especially since more and more communities are moving to get rid of them altogether.

By: Zack Perry » Recycling of plastic bags

Zack Perry » Recycling of plastic bags — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:32:21 +0000

[...] http://craftingagreenworld.com/2009/04/27/plastic-bag-recycled-content-goal/ [...]