The Cutting Edge Of Plastic Bags
Plastic has been with us for many years. It was first unveiled in 1862 in London’s Great International Exhibition as a material of the future. Although you may have some difficulty seeing a plastic grocery bag as an innovation, it has allowed plastic to become a commercially viable material with a number of applications.
In recent years, many people have been pointing fingers at plastic bags as one of the major contributors to environmental degradation. There have been some large attitude changes to the way plastic bags are perceived. China has placed a ban on plastic bags thinner than .025mm and Ireland has recently placed a tax on every plastic bag used. Australia, along with thirty three London councils are also making plans to place a ban on the thin plastic bags.
In America, San Francisco has also placed a ban on plastic bags, while over in New York, all retailers providing plastic bags must also provide a place to recycle plastic bags as well. Seattle has take a different approach, deciding to charge a 20c tax on every plastic bag used. With the increased awareness of the environmental consequences, the future for plastic bags is looking grim.
Recently, supermarkets have seen the uptake of reusable shopping bags. To use these bags all you have to do is purchase reusable bags and bring them to the store with you when you are out shopping. If you live in a country or region that is planning to ban or tax plastic bags, purchasing a reusable bag would save you money and hassle in the future.
New research into plastic bags may be gearing them towards a greener future. After years of research, scientists have managed to develop a biodegradable plastic that can be used in the manufacturing of plastic bags. The new plastic bags work by way of using the sun to weaken the plastic and break it down. The condition that the plastic eventually degrades to is able to be digested by microorganisms. With work continuing in this area, it is very likely we will be these new breed of plastic bags in shopping centers soon.
Plastic bags have become firmly ingrained into people’s daily living. The versatility of the plastic bag is undeniable, whether it is used to store things around the house or as a small or temporary rubbish bin. It looks as though the plastic bag will still be around for years to come. The only thing that may end up changing is the materials used to manufacture them and their impact on the environment.
When something as important as the environment is at stake, we should all be doing what we can to minimize our impact. As research continues it is only a matter of time before the process is perfected and we are all using plastic bags with the same convenience but with no damage to the environment.
To find out more, visit our page on plastic shopping bags.