



Photo by Masha Kotliarenko

With single-use plastic bag bans taking place across several jurisdictions including New York State, 38 to 48% of the US population has turned to reusable bags. Reusable bags are seen as an eco-friendly alternative and this might be true, but only under a certain condition: that they are used at least a specific amount of times according to the material they are made of.





For climate change, ozone depletion, human toxicity, resource and water source depletion and other environmental impacts, the Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark found how many times the following bags should be used to bring as many benefits as a rigid handle low density polyethylene (LPDE) bag, also known as single-use plastic bag.





Based on data by the Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark

There are three important takeaways from the chart above. First, recycled materials aren’t automatically eco-friendlier as it’s the case of polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The process of recycling consumes energy and other resources that might outweigh the benefits of cleaner materials.





Second, plant-based materials can be worse for environment than those made from fossils. Low cultivation yield and use of pesticides make organic and conventional cotton respectively less than ideal choices. Additionally, the production of paper requires the use of toxic chemicals that cause an impact more significant than which it prevents at the time of its disposal.









Finally, it’s important to consider the durability of the material when purchasing a reusable bag. Even though recycled polyester needs to be reused 35 times to yield as many benefits as LPDE, the former is also sturdier and harder to puncture. Therefore, recycled polyester bags can be used more than 35 times, the point when they become more beneficial than single-use bags. Single-use bags on the other hand, puncture easily and don’t resist heavy weight or high temperatures which leads them to be discarded after the first use.





Switching to reusable bags is a great step towards a greener lifestyle, but the material and the durability of the bag you get should be carefully considered.







