Which Is Actually Better, Paper or Plastic Bags

Paper bags and plastic bags have long been at odds with one another.

Both have advantages and disadvantages, but it's evident which option is now prevailing based on recent efforts to tax and outlaw the use of plastic bags and switch to paper ones.

But there are a lot of things going on behind the scenes that you may not be aware of.

Paper is often thought to be more ecologically friendly than plastic, but is this really the case?

We need to take a closer look at both possibilities, from their production process to their final disposal, in order to obtain the whole picture.

The Start of a Bag's Production Life Cycle

The manufacturing process is the first step in each item's life cycle.

In the case of paper and plastic bags, plastic is superior.

Comparatively speaking, the production of paper requires more energy than that of plastic.

Actually, it takes around four times as much energy to make paper bags.

Tree-cutting, an energy-intensive pulping process, and even the usage of hazardous chemicals are all necessary for paper bags.

However, when compared to alternative bag choices, the environmental cost of creating plastic bags is the lowest.

Additionally, although using petroleum, the method produces less wastes, hazardous byproducts, and carbon emissions.

Transportation Plastic bags are superior than paper bags even when it comes to transportation.

Because paper bags weigh five to seven times as much as plastic bags, more trucks are required to transport the same quantity of bags.

When more vehicles are used to deliver paper bags, more air pollution is produced.

Therefore, plastic bags outperform paper bags in terms of production and transportation.

This is just one aspect of the struggle between the bags, however.

Comparing Paper and Plastic Bag Usage

No matter what kind of bag you end up using, the more times you reuse it, the better for the environment.

Plastic bags also have a little edge in this regard since paper bags are more prone to tearing and becoming wet.

According to studies, paper bags need to be used at least three times as often as plastic bags in order to offset their environmental effect.

Despite the fact that paper is typically less durable than plastic, paper bags may be reused in other ways, such as for arts and crafts, and are even available in a variety of specialty forms.

Different Paper Bag Types

One advantage of utilizing paper bags over plastic ones is that they are available in a variety of shapes, are almost always biodegradable, and are designed to perform certain functions.

Among the most often used varieties of paper bags are:

SOS bags. Because they can hold twice as much as a plastic bag of the same size, these paper bags are more resilient to liquids and are often used for food takeout.

Bags that are flat. Because of its versatility and ability to hold anything from books to fruits, this kind of paper bag is the most often used.

Shopping bags. Fashion and lifestyle companies complement these purses. When brand marketing is done well, they are elegant, appealing, and sophisticated.

Bakery bags lined with wax paper and glassine help keep perishable items like coffee, cookies, and bread fresh and tasty.

Scotchban Purses. As the name implies, greaseproof bags prevent fatty meals from seeping into your clothing or the surrounding surroundings.

Even while each of these varieties of paper bags is superior, it is toward the conclusion of its life cycle that the paper bag really shines.

The Return

Paper bags are much easier to dispose of than plastic ones.

Paper bags are biodegradable, simpler to recycle, and even when they are left lying about, they have a considerably less environmental effect than plastic bags since they break down much more quickly.

In contrast, when plastic bags are disposed of incorrectly, they seriously harm the environment. And regrettably, this happens more often than not.

In addition to taking hundreds of years to break down, plastic may seriously damage marine life and its ecosystem if it is dumped into the ocean.

The impacts of plastics are still unclear, even when they finally fragment into tiny fragments called microplastics.

However, since microplastics are present everywhere—in everything from farming soul to marine species to the air we breathe—scientists think that their growth will be detrimental to the ecosystem.

Which Choice Is Better, Then?

Paper and plastic bags both have advantages and disadvantages. While paper bags are better when used, reused, and recycled, plastic bags perform better throughout production and transportation but struggle while disposal.