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PLASTIC BAG REDUCTION
Staff Reporter / 2009-11-11 13:55:16
We all want to take care of our planet, and one of the easiest ways to make a difference is to stop using or dramatically reduce our use of plastic bags. According to environmental organizations, every resident in Spain uses an average of 238 disposable plastic bags annually, or nearly 10 billion in total. And while most industrialized nations have already begun tackling this environmental problem, Spain has made a relatively late start.
Last year, the Spanish government approved the ‘Plan Nacional Integrado de Residuos’, a set of rules aimed at restricting and eventually banning the use of single-use, disposable plastic bags by 2015. At the same time, most supermarkets have begun implementing plans to reduce plastic bag consumption.
Eroski gives customers a bonus of one cent for every plastic bag they do not take, while Alcampo and El Corte Inglés each offer customers the option of purchasing reusable plastic, paper, or canvas bags. Charging customers for each single-use plastic bag is a third tactic employed by some supermarket chains to reduce consumption.
Customer reactions are mostly positive. Most people realise the importance of the changes, and have started to bring reusable bags with them. It’s just a matter of getting into the habit of remembering to bring the bags with you when you go shopping.
Most consumers and environmental groups agree that these new shopping habits will effect a significant reduction in the use of disposable plastic bags; however, the new options are not without controversy. Some critics point out that reusable bags made from recycled plastic will still end up in the environment and take nearly 400 years to decompose, while durable paper bags use 300% more energy to produce and will eventually emit large amounts of methane gas.
Tags: Shopping, Bags, Environment, Supermarkets
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