Plastic Grocery Bags - Plastic Grocery Bags Are Very Important in Day to Day Life. It Makes Buying

Plastic grocery bags have long been a common sight in daily life, offering a convenient way to transport purchases. However, their widespread use has ignited a global debate, weighing their practical advantages against significant environmental concerns. This article delves into the nature of plastics, the rise of grocery bags, their perceived benefits, and the profound challenges they pose to our planet.

What Exactly Are Plastics?

To understand plastic grocery bags, it's helpful to first grasp what plastic is. Plastics are polymers, substances made of many repeating units. Think of it like a chain, where each link, or "mer," is typically composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and/or silicon. These individual links are then hooked or "polymerized" together to form a long chain.

Natural polymers have existed for centuries, found in materials like tar, shellac, tortoise shell, and tree saps that produce amber and latex. These natural materials were processed using heat and pressure into useful items such as hair ornaments and jewelry. The 1800s saw the chemical modification of natural polymers, leading to innovations like vulcanized rubber, gun cotton, and celluloid. The first fully synthetic polymer, Bakelite, was created in 1909, followed shortly by the first synthetic fiber, rayon, in 1911.

The Rise of Plastic Grocery Bags

With the advent of consumerism, plastic production expanded rapidly, leading to its use in countless forms, from toys to various types of bags. Among these, grocery bags became particularly significant for everyday consumers.

Once introduced, plastic grocery bags quickly gained widespread popularity among shopkeepers and shoppers alike. They were cheap, easy to produce, reliable, and convenient to carry, making them an instant market success.

Plastic vs. Paper: An Early Comparison

For many years, the choice between paper and plastic grocery bags was a subject of discussion. According to the Film and Bag Federation, a trade group within the Society of the Plastics Industry based in Washington, D.C., plastic bags were considered the superior choice.

The federation claimed that, compared to paper grocery bags, plastic bags:

Historically, the economic advantages of plastic grocery bags for store owners were also significant, as they cost a fraction of the price of paper bags. First introduced in the 1970s, plastic bags eventually accounted for four out of every five bags distributed at grocery stores.

What Are the Environmental Concerns with Plastic Bags?

Despite their initial advantages, the immense success and widespread use of plastic bags have led to severe environmental consequences. A dramatic increase in floating plastics has been observed in oceans, rivers, streams, and drains worldwide, where they harm wildlife by choking, strangling, and starving animals, and facilitate the spread of alien species.

Discarded plastics pose a significant threat to both human health and the environment. Due to their non-biodegradable nature, plastic litter causes irreversible damage. Specific concerns include: