As people worldwide become more engaged in the discussion surrounding plastic bags and the serious environmental implications these bags pose, it is essential that the entire life cycle of these plastic bags and that of paper bags, the alternative, is well understood.
The debate over plastic bags and paper bags has been ongoing for a long time, and the established notion is that paper bags are more environmentally friendly than plastic bags. How true is this claim?
In drawing these conclusions, we must consider the complete life cycle (from manufacture to disposal) rather than just how these bags are disposed off. Conventional knowledge portrays plastic bags as the environmental culprit, with paper bags being the hero. However, a recent study shows a more versatile story. While plastic bag pollution is real and undeniable, plastic bags may, however, have a smaller environmental effect, especially at the manufacturing stage, than paper bags.
Plastic bags
Plastic bags are made from raw materials, High-density polyethylene (HDPE), Low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and Linear low-density Polyethene (LLPE) obtained from non-renewable resources such as petroleum and natural gas. The typical grocery shopping plastic bags used across the country are made from the raw material HDPE.
The raw materials are produced by extracting petroleum, from the ground and applying extreme heat to get a polymer. These polymer resins are transported to manufacturing companies, melted, and turned into sheets, then folded into desired shapes and sizes to obtain the plastic bags used and distributed in most grocery stores.
It is estimated that by the time a plastic bag reaches its destination, it should have contributed about 1.6kg of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. This is the same amount of energy a car produces when driven slightly over 6km.
Although the production of plastic bags requires non-renewable resources such as petroleum, its carbon footprint is estimated to be lower than that of paper and cotton bags.
Due to the durable nature of plastic bags, many people do not discard them after their intended purpose of carrying groceries, gifts, and other items from one place to the other, but, more than likely, reuse them for lining bins and disposing of trash.
Recycling plastic bags, nevertheless, in a country like Ghana can be very daunting, because of the limited availability of resources. Ghana, like most other countries, recycles only a small percentage of single-use plastics.
Proper waste collection continues to be a major challenge in Ghana and the swiftness of urban growth is also not helping, making it difficult for the local governments to establish a well-planned waste management system.
In Ghana, about 12,710 tonnes of solid waste is generated daily, with only 10% collected and disposed of properly. Plastic garbage makes up a considerable amount of urban waste. What seems to be the norm in most households is burning garbage in the dry season and throwing the accumulated garbage into drains in the rainy season to flow away with running water. The result has often been flooding and displacement of families. The rest of the stray plastic bags end up flying away, littering the environment and becoming an eyesore.
Paper bags are made from pulpwood obtained from trees, a renewable resource. It begins by identifying and felling down selected trees to attain the raw material, pulpwood. The pulpwood is subjected to various water and energy-intensive procedures to acquire the final product, a paper bag.
It is estimated that for every 1 paper bag produced, 1 gallon of water is required. Producing a single paper bag can be responsible for about 5.5kg of carbon dioxide (CO2). In the case of tree farming to produce the raw material, deliberate application of fertilizer, and crop protection chemicals is required and, these processes also contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In most cases, the plants take up only a percentage of the fertilizer applied, with the rest running off into drainages and waterways, or getting broken down by microbes thereby releasing the GHG, nitrous oxide.
It is estimated that deforestation, agriculture, and other land use changes account for approximately 25% of worldwide GHG emissions.
The use of paper bags as a substitute for plastic bags has increased over the last decade or so in Ghana. Most businesses seeking to evade the use of plastic bags, and /or, to rebrand their businesses have resorted to colorful paper bags that are appealing to the eye to push the frontiers of sustainable packaging and to also display their brand’s purpose.
However, paper bags are more expensive because of their high cost of production. They are often less durable than plastic bags and more prone to tears, especially when wet. Hence, reducing the likelihood of reusing them after exposure to water.
In instances, where paper bags are reused a few times, they tend to have a shorter lifespan. According to research, a paper bag would need to be used 3 to 43 times to equalize its environmental effect compared to plastic.
It is unlikely that a person would get enough use out of a paper bag to offset this environmental effect because of its short-lived nature. Additionally, paper fibers become shorter and weaker with each recycling process, thereby, limiting the number of times paper can be recycled.
Impact – plastic vs paper bags
Environment
Plastic bags typically take hundreds of years to decompose and because of their flimsy nature, plastic bags are dumped indiscriminately into landfills occupying hectares of land and emitting dangerous methane and carbon dioxide gases. If plastic bags are not properly disposed of, they can impact the environment by causing; littering, stormwater drain blockages, flooding, polluting rivers and beaches, and destroying property, which have been a major concern in Accra over the past few decades.
While recyclable, the recycling rate for plastic bags is relatively low due to the limited availability of the infrastructure required to do so. Paper Bags decompose much faster than plastic bags. Paper bags are generally compostable, easily recyclable, and often made from recycled paper, although recycling involves significant energy use.
While paper bags are made from renewable resources, the production process is energy-intensive and can lead to deforestation, unless sourced sustainably. When the trees are purposely grown, environmental pollution because of chemicals and fertilizer application becomes a major environmental concern. Mainly because, fertilizer production and application have a high carbon footprint.
Cost
Producing plastic bags has proven to be relatively cheaper than paper bags. This is seen in the price difference of a single or bulk purchase of both bags, potentially leading to higher price differences for consumers. Plastic bags are generally lighter than paper bags, which can reduce transportation costs due to the possibility of using less fuel during transportation.
Additionally, plastic bags are more compact and lighter, thus, more of these bags can be transported in a single consignment possibly resulting in fewer vehicle emissions during transportation and reducing the cost of logistics.
In comparison, plastic bags are more durable than paper bags and may be reused numerous times, potentially saving money over time. Also, due to the high production cost, paper bags have a higher price than plastic bags, and this price difference can be a barrier to its widespread adoption and usage. Significant amounts of water and energy are required to produce paper.
According to studies, producing paper bags requires 10% more energy and four times more water than producing plastic bags. One research discovered that paper bags are responsible for 70% more air pollution and 50 times more water contamination.
What can we do?
Businesses and Individuals
Most food vendors, supermarkets, and restaurants provide plastic bags to customers to bag their items. Street hawkers who sell water, beverages, and household products to pedestrians, drivers, and passengers stuck in traffic, often give free plastic bags to buyers regardless of the size of the item purchased. This gesture has gradually become a norm and I dare to say a marketing strategy in Ghana.
Drivers and passengers sitting comfortably in their vehicles are likely to be offered plastic bags for the purchase of tiny items such as a pack of chewing gum. As we patronize these vendors, we should make a conscious effort to decline unwarranted plastic bags.
The use of durable tote bags or conventional tote baskets should be encouraged when visiting the markets. These individual little changes and consumer behavior can have a major impact on the environment. Communal clean-up activities should continue to be encouraged and supported.
Supermarkets should encourage their customers to reuse their shopping bags, and possibly provide recycling points in the shops for customers to conveniently dispose of their unwanted plastic bags. Supermarkets can also collaborate with waste management companies and work towards building a robust infrastructure for recycling plastic bags.
Government and advocacy bodies
The government through the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) introduced a directive to restrict plastics smaller than 20 microns and to utilize bio-degradable additives in plastic production following a tragedy in Accra in 2015 that claimed lives due to the disastrous floods and fire explosions linked to inadequate plastic waste management.
The provision of this directive has been difficult to implement, because of the outcry from producers, however, the government should continue to make conscious efforts to provide sustainable alternatives for citizens and consumers.
Additionally, the government, advocacy, and development bodies should continue sensitizing the public on the effects of indiscriminate use and disposal of single-use bags, the dangers of plastic pollution, and the benefits of reusable bags. Companies that make a conscious effort to promote the recycling of plastic bags should be identified and supported.
Conclusion
The fight against climate change requires a collective effort, regardless of one’s geographical location. Anytime you choose to use a bag, whether; plastic, paper, or cotton bag, remember to apply the “R”: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. By so doing, we can all contribute towards protecting the climate from the impacts of single-use bags. Choose reusable options and opt for reusable bags whenever possible.
We should endeavour to recycle paper and plastic bags according to the stipulated guidelines to reduce the environmental implications of these bags. The key to reducing the impact of all carrier bags – no matter what they are made of – is to reuse them as much as possible. The best option would be to use a tote bag or basket you already have and central to reducing the impact of plastic or paper bags lies in responsible consumption and waste management for both types of bags.
By:Fatima Abdulai Issah