I think we can all agree that single-use plastics are an environmental hazard. From ocean pollution to marine life contamination, we know that plastic bottles and bags have significant consequences on our environment. And although we certainly do not live in a zero-waste, plastic-free society, we can certainly make more sustainable swaps like opting for reusable grocery bags over plastic ones.
Admittedly, I sometimes find myself amongst the 40 per cent of consumers who don’t always remember to bring my reusable bags when I go to the store. But with Canadians creating three million tonnes of plastic waste each year, I do think that we each have a responsibility to reduce where we can and it can start with our weekly food shops. As more and more companies shift their efforts towards creating less plastic waste, I can’t help but think about the increased production of cotton or cloth bags. In other words, if stores no longer offer plastic bags, will we all end up with piles of reusable bags that we only use once before storing them away in the back of a closet? How much good are we really doing in ramping up the production of reusable bags?
At the end of 2021, the Government of Canada announced the proposed ban on certain single-use plastics across the country. The plan aims to prevent 23,000 tonnes of plastic pollution from entering the environment over a decade and is projected to be put into legislation in 2022. Although the ban has yet to be formally implemented, many stores, including FreshCo and Sobeys, phased out their plastic bags in 2020 and 2021, with Walmart following suit this past month. Such companies will no longer be carrying single-use bags; therefore, customers are encouraged to bring their own or purchase new reusable ones in the store. As a consumer and self-proclaimed environmental enthusiast, it is no doubt encouraging to see big box brands begin to make the transition away from plastic and toward reusable bags. But apparently, we have some things to consider before jumping on board with these classic totes.
A 2018 study from Denmark ranked the sustainability of reusable bags by assessing their lifecycles and environmental effects. This included considering the effects of each type of bag, such as plastic and paper, in comparison to textile (or reusable) options like organic cotton and composite. While there is no debate that single-use plastic bags are heavily linked to fossil fuels, this study outlines that there are also environmental impacts linked to the production of cotton and composite bags. Mostly, this is due to the production of the bags themselves in connection with how often they are actually used. I, like many people, have dozens of bags, with some only being used a handful of times, and this is apparently an issue.
To offset the environmental impacts of the common reusable bag made of polypropylene, the study suggests that we must use the bag 37 times, while organic cotton bags — a much more labour and production-intensive material — must be used 1700 times. Full Frontal’s Spring ‘22 Fashion Report explains that this means that we would need to use them every day for 54 years to offset their environmental impact.
Furthermore, it’s worth considering what we do with these reusable bags when they have lived out their supposed lifespan. If they aren’t sitting in the trunk of our cars or tucked in the back of a shoe closet, many reusable bags cannot be properly recycled due to them being made up of a mix of materials (think grocery bags that have plastic liners inside of the cloth), while cotton and other composite materials are more difficult to recycle.
To be completely transparent: do I think we should stop using reusable bags? Hell no. In my opinion, using a cloth bag over and over again is way more sustainable than wasting a plastic bag every time we make a purchase — even if you have to use it hundreds of times. In no way is this me bashing reusable bags and promoting plastic. By using reusable bags, I do trust that I am aiding in reducing the amount of plastic pollution crowding our oceans and fighting climate change in ways that plastic does not. What I have learned, however, is that we need to consider how much we actually use these bags and what materials they are made of. Opting for bags that only use a single material, choosing polypropylene-based bags over organic-cotton ones, and seeking out facilities that properly discard your bags when they have reached the end of their lifecycles are all steps in the right direction.
Sydney is a BA English major, creative writing student, who has been a content contributor for The Cascade and is now the Opinion editor. In 7th grade, she won $100 in a writing contest but hasn’t made an earning from writing since. In the meantime, she is hoping that her half-written novels will write themselves, be published, and help pay the bills.
