Verified Document

Environmental Benefits Of Reusable Bags Thesis

2007, para.7). There are also a number of other environmental consequences to using these bags that should be considered. Plastic bags clog storm drains and they also block the natural flow of oxygen and water through the soil -- all of which contributes to placing increasing pressure on the sustainability of the environment and ecosystems. (Single-Use Plastic Shopping Bags. Presentation to the Transportation and Environment Committee, 2008)

2. The advantages of non-reusable bags

It therefore follows from the above discussion that fewer plastic bags in circulation means less toxic chemical and less pollution of the environment. As one commentator writes, "if people were to use reusable bags instead of plastic ones, dependence on these non-renewable resources would be significantly less" (Go green! Benefits of reusable bags). The increase in usage of reusable bags would also mean a significant reduction in the need for plastic -- and it must be remembered that plastic in itself emits toxic chemicals into the environment. An important statistic in this regard is that it takes about 430,000 gallons of oil to produce 100 million plastic bags, and the U.S. produces 380 billion bags a year (Single-Use Plastic Shopping Bags. Presentation to the Transportation and Environment Committee, 2008). Therefore, the greater usage of reusable bags would mean less drain on natural fossil fuel resources and possibly more funds that could be spent on environmental issues.

In place of plastic bags many environmentalist suggest making use reusable textile bags. These have a number of significant advantages over plastic and other non-reusable bags. These include the fact that they have a less detrimental impact on the environment due to "not producing toxic gases if incinerated" and" being biodegradable and thus not filling landfill waste disposal sites for many years to come, as most plastic bags do" (Single-Use Plastic Shopping...

The central advantage therefore of making use of reusable bags is that they reduce these threats and dangers to the environment and the future of the world in which we live.
3. Conclusion

In conclusion, the danger posed by plastic and other forms of non-reusable containers and bags is a real and persistent threat to the environment. We cannot afford to ignore this threat in the light of the contemporary deterioration in the world's environment and natural ecosystems. The reality of climate change and global warming underscores the necessity to find alternative and more eco-friendly types of containers.

References

Benefits of Reusable. Retrieved September 4, 2009, from http://www.reusablebagsdepot.com/reusable-bag-benefits.html

Go green! Benefits of reusable bags. Retrieved September 4, 2009, from http://www.helium.com/items/976541-go-green-benefits-of-reusable-bags

Knight M. (2007) Plastic bags fly into environmental storm. Retrieved September 4,

2009, from http://edition.cnn.com/2007/TECH/11/14/fsummit.climate.plasticbags/index.html

Single-Use Plastic Shopping Bags. Presentation to the Transportation and Environment

Committee. (October 13, 2008) Retrieved September 4, 2009,

http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:mFYBAtwGg_4J:dallascityhall.com/committee_briefings/briefings1008/TEC_plasticBagPolicy_10132008.pdf+Environmental+Benefits+of+Reusable+Bags&cd=19&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=za&client=firefox-a

The Benefits of Using Reusable Bags. Retrieved September 4, 2009, from http://www.brighthub.com/environment/green-living/articles/13792.aspx

What are the benefits of reusable textile shopping bags? Retrieved September 4, 2009,

from http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_benefits_of_reusable_textile_shopping_bags

Sources used in this document:
References

Benefits of Reusable. Retrieved September 4, 2009, from http://www.reusablebagsdepot.com/reusable-bag-benefits.html

Go green! Benefits of reusable bags. Retrieved September 4, 2009, from http://www.helium.com/items/976541-go-green-benefits-of-reusable-bags

Knight M. (2007) Plastic bags fly into environmental storm. Retrieved September 4,

2009, from http://edition.cnn.com/2007/TECH/11/14/fsummit.climate.plasticbags/index.html
http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:mFYBAtwGg_4J:dallascityhall.com/committee_briefings/briefings1008/TEC_plasticBagPolicy_10132008.pdf+Environmental+Benefits+of+Reusable+Bags&cd=19&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=za&client=firefox-a
The Benefits of Using Reusable Bags. Retrieved September 4, 2009, from http://www.brighthub.com/environment/green-living/articles/13792.aspx
from http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_benefits_of_reusable_textile_shopping_bags
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Analyzing Loss of Biodiversity
Words: 3799 Length: 11 Document Type: Essay

Loss of Biodiversity Biodiversity Loss and Mitigation This essay will discuss the environmental citizenship concept and the different theoretical debates in the context of loss of biodiversity as well as its mitigation: In our society, the life of human beings and business management have their foundation on a multitude of benefits from ecosystems -- many blessings of nature that come from natural assets such as water, air, soil, animals and plants. To continue

Biology Questions & Posts 01 Biomes and
Words: 976 Length: 3 Document Type: Essay

Biology Questions & Posts (01) Biomes and Diversity - Extinction is a natural selection process. Should humans strive to preserve a representative sample of all biomes or aquatic zones? Why should humans be concerned with the extinction rate? Disregard for the conservation of the earth's biomes is an example of how human ignorance and hubris can result in irreversible environmental destruction. At any particular point in time, human beings cannot be certain

Green Marketing Analysis
Words: 2976 Length: 8 Document Type: Marketing Plan

Organic Milk Green Marketing Observation and Portfolio Analysis Consumers' interests in purchasing organic products should be carefully treated by producers, by retailers, and by marketers that develop strategies intended to increase consumption in these areas. Organic milk is an important market segment characterized by a sensitive product that requires producers to meet high standards regarding their production process. Green marketing strategies are intended to emphasize environment friendly practices, and not to

Reducing Ecological Footprint Through Lifestyle Changes
Words: 1299 Length: 5 Document Type: Essay

Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Our Ecological Footprint Biology And Life Ecological footprint is one method that can be used to measure how our individual lifestyle affects the planet including the people and animals living here. The lifestyle choices that each individual makes can affect the quality of our environment in a huge way. The more resources each individual consumes, the larger their ecological footprint thus leaving little for everyone else (Sustainable Communities

Green Marketing As Consumers Become
Words: 2279 Length: 8 Document Type: Research Proposal

An additional negative aspect can occur when a seemingly green product really isn't, in the long run. As an example, one of the most successful 'green' vehicles is the Toyota Prius. The hybrid Prius has become the status symbol for all of those wishing to flaunt their environmental conscience. However, the vehicle isn't nearly as eco-friendly as the Green Marketing campaigns lead consumers to believe. The nickel metal hydride battery

Recycling What Are the Tangible
Words: 3703 Length: 12 Document Type: Research Paper

About.com. 2011. Some facts about the actual costs of recycling vs. traditional disposal expenses is presented by this article, and is certainly worthy of examination: a) a well-run curbside recycling program costs between $50 and $150 per ton; b) typically a trash collection and disposal program costs between $70 to $200 per ton. When New York City discovered that it was losing money on its recycling program in 2002, it eliminated

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now