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Paper Bags

Are Paper Bags REALLY Better Than Plastic? Read This To Find Out!

From Primark to McDonalds, brown paper bags are back in fashion. We always think of paper carrier bags as being biodegradable, recyclable, and compostable, and coming from a renewable source, but are these bags really a cheaper and greener option? Are they better for the environment than plastic? Let's find out.

You may have heard of the news that millions of trees are cut down every year in order to make these bags, and they are manufactured by heating wooden chips at high temperatures in a chemical solution - a process that can cause damage to the environment and lead to acid rain.

However, paper bags are much easier to recycle than plastic bags. According to research, these type of bags are partially manufactured from fibre or recycled paper, and some contain more than 35 percent of recycled material. When these bags are thrown away, they can be recycled again, while plastic shopping bags can clog machines and make the recycling process more difficult.

Paper carrier bags can be used again and again, and can be transported to paper mills in order to make new paper products. Paper gift bags also require less energy when being recycled and are safer for small children to play with.

In addition, many scientists believe that plastic bags pose a real threat to the environment. In fact, 200 different species of sea life (including whales, seals, and turtles) die because of plastic bags according to a World Wildlife Fund study in 2005. Because of this, paper is the preferred option.

The new legislation will also mean that retailers will have to charge at least 5p for plastic carrier bags or face a fine. The new rules - which start in England in October 2015 - won't affect small or medium-sized businesses, although many of these retailers might start using paper bags instead.

So there you have it. Now you know why paper bags are definitely a much better option than plastic bags. If you are looking for an online distributor, you should check out the products available from Shopping Bags Direct Ltd.