Paper or Plastic?

You're at the grocery store stocking up with your favorite goodies. You head to the check out line. What's the first question you are confronted with? Paper or plastic? STOP. Who would think a simple question such as this could be so important? Do you choose paper? Who wants to see more trees being cleared when deforestation is already a severe problem. Do you choose plastic? Plastic pretty much does not decompose and remains in our land fills for hundreds of years.

Think about the millions of people each day just like you who are stocking up on groceries as well as an abundance of disposable bags! To put it into perspective, it is estimated that 500 BILLION to 1 TRILLION plastic bags alone (not to mention paper) are consumed worldwide every year! That's 1,000,000 bags per minute! Billions end up in our overflowing land fills each year. Not only does it take a toll on the environment as oil is consumed during production, but hundreds of thousands of innocent whales, sea turtles and other marine animals die each year from eating discarded bags mistaken as food. Plastic bags are not biodegradable, they photodegrade, breaking down into smaller and smaller bits which contaminate soil and waterways.

What's an easy solution you ask? Reusable shopping bags are the solution! Sure, for those of us that do own reusable shopping bags, it's sometimes hard to remember to bring them to the store with us. Keep them in your car or atleast small one in your purse or office desk. Whole Foods and Trader Joe's both sell reusable bags at a very low cost. And, at whole foods you even receive money back if you use them! For more compact and convenient bags check out Onya bags which come in a pouch and are tiny enough it comes on a keychain. Another great find is the Oneless bag. Both of these can be purchased online.

If each person in the world used ONE reusable bag, think of all the waste and energy reduction there would be!         

**Did you know that the city of San Francisco has BANNED the plastic disposable shopping bag! That is one giant step. Now let's contact our cities and get on board with this. Call your alderman and mayor and voice your concern!

GREAT JOB, SAN FRANCISCO!