The Eco Advantages of Reusable Grocery Bags and Where to Find Them

photo by Kat

Its the twenty-first century and it is time for plastic and paper grocery bags to be a thing of the past. Like many products of the twentieth century, from gas-guzzling cars to clothes dryers, they do not make sense in terms of efficiency, expense or the environment. Plastic and paper bags cost stores money, an expense that it inevitably passed on to the consumer. They also have a negative impact on the environment. Why not make the switch to reusable grocery bags? There are so many advantages for the environment, but also for you.

The Facts on Plastic and Paper

Both plastic and paper bags are made from the earth's natural resources — plastic bags are made from oil and paper bags are made from trees. The extraction and manufacturing process of both materials also puts a strain on the environment. After use, what happens to these bags? Some are recycled, but the majority of bags become trash and end up in landfills. From 1 to 3 percent of all plastic bags produced (and hundreds of billions are produced each year) end up as stray bags, jeopardizing marine life, clogging sewer piper and simply polluting, according to the Environmental Literacy Council.

Benefits of Reusable Bags

Switching to reusable grocery bags is a simple way to make this environmental nightmare go away. Many grocery stores now sell reusable bags for one to two dollars. You can also find cute reusable bags online — try Envirosax for washable, designer bags. ChicoBag offers customized reusable grocery bags made from a variety of materials, including their trademarked rePETe fabric, which is made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled plastic bottles.

From the cute and customized to the standard and sturdy, these bags can be used for years, over and over again. Reusable bags are designed to be super strong, able to carry much more weight than a typical plastic or paper bag. They also are easier to carry, with handles that are not going to break.

Using reusable grocery bags just makes sense. For a few dollars you never have to worry about the hassle of using and properly disposing of paper or plastic. Also, you can use reusable grocery bags for, well anything. When you go shopping for clothes, books, hardware supplies, when you need a few things for a road trip, or to bring a bottle of wine to a friend's house, you have a bag to carry whatever you need.

Eco Benefits of Using Cloth Diapers

photo by Lori Ann

Are cloth diapers a thing of the past, or the wave of the future? With so many environmental benefits of using cloth diapers, not to mention the financial savings, switching from disposable to cloth may be worth looking in to. So, what difference does it make on the environment if you switch to this eco-friendly alternative?

Green Benefits of Cloth Diapers

The primary reason to choose cloth diapers instead of disposables is waste reduction. Cloth diapers are washed and reused over and over again. Disposable diapers are tossed into the trash and end up in landfills. The average child contributes 1 ton of diaper waste by the age of two. An estimated two percent of landfill waste is due to baby diapers. Considering that it takes 450 years for disposable diapers to decompose, according to the EPA, that percentage will inevitably increase each year unless more people use cloth diapers. Just something to think about when you change your child's diaper four to ten times each day.

Another eco benefit of using cloth diapers is a reduction of toxins. Dioxin, a known carcinogen, is found in disposable diapers as a result of the bleaching process. Another chemical, tributyl-tin or TBT is found in disposables, according to Greenpeace research. It can be absorbed into the skin and it also ends up in the environment. TBT can affect the human immune system and upset hormonal balance.

Cloth Diapers Aren't Perfect

Despite the environmental benefits of using cloth diapers, the reusable alternative is far from perfect. First, there is more work involved unless you use a diaper cleaning service. No matter who is doing the washing, cloth diapers need to be washed after each use, and this means an increase in water use. They also eventually end up in the waste stream. Cloth will decompose faster than disposable diapers and obviously the number of cloth diapers accumulating in landfills is nothing compared to the massive tonnage of disposables.

So what is the easy answer? Is there one? What diaper you use is a personal decision that depends on many factors. If you can afford a diaper cleansing service, then cloth diapers ultimately are a win-win situation. Without the cleaning work involved, the increase in water use is a more eco-friendly alternative to the increase in landfill waste.

Another option is compromise. Buy a package of cloth diapers and use them some of the time. Most parents are aware of their child's habits. Why not use a cloth diaper once or twice during the day when there is no danger of a bowel movement and a more serious clean-up. You'll save money and over the two or three years of diaper use, the total diaper waste will be significantly less.