More Should Be Done

In the UK, it is estimated that we use 167 bags per person, per year. On a global scale, shoppers worldwide are using 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags per year. This translates to about a million bags every minute across the globe, or 150 bags a year for every person on earth.

More needs to be done in the way of reducing the use and abuse of plastic bags. I currently live in England and am pleased to say that I have seen some changes in the past year particularly in supermarkets. This is where I would argue most plastic bags are picked up while doing the weekly shopping. Supermarkets here (like Waitrose for example) have stopped leaving plastic bags out for the customer to pick up at their leisure without a second guess. Although this doesn't eliminate the problem by any stretch of the imagination because these bags are still available, but it does begin a process by which plastic bags are no longer a commodity for consumption and abandon. The customer now has to ask for a bag, or two or as many as they think they need. This won't solve the problem, the bags are still there and will still be thrown away and subsequently get dumped in a landfill somewhere and most likely end up choking up water ways and possibly an animal or two. It's about changing habbits and realizing consequences. We have become far too acustomed to getting to the end of the checkout and finding a pile of bags. We have become far too concerned with our own conveniece, taking 6 bags instead of 4 because we want to 'even out the weight a bit'. This has to stop.

I have also seen a rise in the sale and use of more durable plastic bags. These cost somewhere between 20 and 60p. Not much. I myself have not purchased any because again I don't believe this is truly solving the issue. They are, however, another important step in changing the way we think. Unlike the other less durable bags, these are on display and every now and then the cashier will ask you if you want to buy one. This needs to be stepped up. Yes it may get annoying but it's all about raising awareness. Maybe you should buy one if only to shut them up. By paying for these bags it encourages the customer to re-use them and to hopefully think twice about the real cost these bags and, crucially, our actions have on the environment. But this is not enough.

Another thing I've noticed and am happy to see is the rise again in the sale and more importantly the use this time of canvas bags in supermarkets. I feel this is the way to go. We need more people to step up and encourage the use of these bags. Not only are they more durable than even the sturdier plastic bags being sold, but they have a far greater weight capacity and more fits in them (thus reducing the need for more bags). What you can fit in 3 plastic bags (also taking into account weight) could quite easily fit and be carried in a single canvas bag. Many are biodegradable too. Moreover, they are far more comfortable to carry both in your hand and on your shoulder. Also, on a personal note, it feels great to get the checkout and being asked 'would you like a bag', replying 'no thank you' and taking out my own canvas bag.

I still feel that this is not enough. Don't get me wrong, these are great steps towards raising awareness and reducing the use of plastic bags. These schemes are, to an extent, working. It's great to see manufacturing companies stepping up and doing something about the problem rather than waiting for the government to pass some sort of legislation forcing them to manufacture and sell durable plastic bags and canvas bags. We shouldn't have to wait. We should take responsibility for what we as consumers are doing to the environment and what we as voters can do about it. In fact, if we did wait for the government, not only can we not afford to wait in the first place, but you'd probably find people complaining about their solutions (like, say, charging you for using any kind of plastic, or raising taxed on gas etc.)

I want to see companies doing more. It's not enough to just sell more durable bags. It's not enough to put (in small print most of the time) 'this bag has been made from X% recycled material' or 'please re-use this bag' or 'please recycle this bag'. Though these are all commendable initiatives and should be applauded, especially as not all stores do this, still more needs to be done. I know, as I'm sure most people know, that plastic bags should be re-used and recycled. It's great that 'this bag has been made from X% of recycled material' but who cares? Realisitcally speaking, this won't have much of an effect on the customer. In fact, by telling me that is recycled might encourage me to use it but it won't get me to recycle it. We need to discourage the use of ALL plastic bags, whether durable or not, recycled or not.

I would propose a scheme much like the one used to discourage smoking. We've all seen those big black and white messages on cigarette packs, most notably (the shorter and thus the biggest) 'Smoking Kills'. I would like to see this being implemented in an attempt to raise awareness. One of the biggest problems I believe is the fact that people can't see and therefore don't know the direct and indirect effects of using and throwing away plastic bags. Where do they end up? What happens from that point? What are the dangers to wildlife? To the environment? What effect does it have of pollution and Global Warming? What can I do to stop it? If all these questions were answered in the form of facts, numbers and causes, consequences and solutions printed onto all plastic bags similar in impact and size (proportionally) to that of the cigarette packets, hopefully people won't be so quick to grab them. And if they do, at least they'll have made a conscious decision to ignore the facts and continue destroying the environment. At least they'll know now exaclty what they're doing. What's more, people will, with some luck, feel less comfortable walking down the street carrying a plastic bag with a message to the effect of 'Plastic Bags Destroy the Environment' or 'This Bag May Kill' splayed across it. We need to give people a chance to make up their own mind by providing them with the information and knowledge upon which they can base their decision on. We can't expect people to make the right decision regarding plastic bags or anything for that matter if we don't make the consequences clear.

While we're at it, let's put these on plastic bottles too. Far too many are finding their way into landfills.

We're living in an age where we have access to so much information, let's put it to good use.

S.Alzuria