Plastic Bags!!!!

[Jax]

I don't understand what the problem is with taking your own bag around with you (it was the norm years ago!) or paying a little bit to buy one if you really need one, to reduce wastage and production etc.

My youngest works in B&Q and for the last 6 months since he began working there, it's always been the policy to charge 5p per bag.........but he's constantly being given grief about it by customers. Firstly he's following the comapny guidelines and secondly we ARE generally trying to reduce the nasty plastic bags.........so why give him grief?? :rolleyes:

I couldn't believe the amount of fuss he said he got, until the other day when I saw it for myself, he explained it was 5p a bag and this woman started tutting and exclaiming to all that 'they should give bags out', so I shot round and said 'no way, I just use my hands look'.............she had 2 small items and so did I ;)

[Le Petit Crab Dejeuner]

I always take reusable bags to Tesco but have to admit the motivation for that is the green clubcard points :o

I think shops should follow Tesco's example and give customers some kind of incentive to reuse bags.

After all, retailers are saving money by not giving out as many free ones so why not pass that on to the customer in exchange for customers' cooperation?

[Jax]

OOOO being the nosey mare that I am, I've just found a petition on the Green England site (http://www.green-england.co.uk/plasticbagpetition) to apply a 10p tax to plastic bags.

They say;
People in Britain use an average of 300 plastic bags every year. Each bag lasts up to 400 years, spending the vast majority of that time in a landfill site or strewn across the British countryside. People are becoming increasingly aware that we need to reduce our use of plastic bags.

In Ireland, a tax of 15cents per bag resulted in a 90% drop in plastic bag usage, and raised 3.5 million Euros which was spent on environmental projects. Bangladesh has banned polythene bags altogether while Taiwan and Singapore are taking steps to discourage their use.


As an alternative we've got a couple of these Onya bags (http://www.onyabags.co.uk/) that are so versatile and scrunch down into their own little pouch.

[Jax]

If you think I have a bee in my bag..................you could be right LOL :D I've just read that a recent survey showed we still use an average of 160 plastic bags per year (av of 400 per household).

The number of bags given out in 2008 had reduced by 26% but we still accepted 9.9 billion bags. If this 9.9 billion was laid end to end, it would reach to the moon and back......................not just once but a massive SEVEN times!!!! :eek::eek::eek:
(Ethical News in Healthy 71)

Big applause to Modbury, Devon then that have decided to eradicate the plastic bag! :638: They are now officially the UK's first ever plastic bag free town - check them out here (http://www.plasticbagfree.com/facts.php) and look around the site for the damage that plastic does and how they've accomplished this.

We've only had plastic since the 50's and it is anticipated that it lasts for at least 400 years, a lot of scientists now estimate that age at more like 1000 (MCS) New Scientist) (UNEP) (Modbury)

[Jax]

I've found another option to the plastic bag, a 5 in 1 bag from ZPM, they've got a few others too like the Trolley Dolly (has enough bags in it for a £300 family shop) and Pod Shoppers. Some have been reduced so could be good Christmas pressie ideas ;)

5 Bagz link (http://www.zpm.com/products/reusable-bags/5bagz/default.aspx)

Pod Shopper link (http://www.zpm.com/products/Reusable-Bags/pod-shoppers/default.aspx)

Trolley Dolly link (http://www.zpm.com/products/Reusable-Bags/trolley-dolly/default.aspx)

[Tinkerbell]

Found these on e-bay - free postage and 100% of the profits go to charity! You do have to buy them individually but they're not too expensive :)

FIZBAGS (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FIZBAG-100-of-profits-go-to-charity-Please-buy-from-us_W0QQitemZ140341759178QQcmdZViewItemQQptZWomen_s _Bags?hash=item20ad054cca&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262)

[Jax]

They look quite good Tink, thanks for that...........am thinking they could work as Christmas pressies especially with other goodies stuffed inside ;) :D

I bought a similar one for my son's gf to use as something to sit on (or a bag of course!) at this years music fests :)

[Jax]

Just mooching on the Onya site (http://www.onyabags.co.uk/shop.php?crn=219&rn=447&action=show_detail) for something else and spotted they have a bag similar to mine (although mine is bright PINK!) for £5.00, normal price is £6.50.

Made from attractive, strong parachute material and easily stuffs into it's own key-ring sized pouch * Convenient caribiner clip means it is literally always 'Onya'
* Built-in shoulder strap makes this a very versatile bag
* Built-in shopping caddy loops for easy packing
*Just 50g total weight
* Generous gusset to allows for 14.7 litre capacity
* Holds several kilos (infact, more than most of us can carry)

[Jax]

Found these on e-bay - free postage and 100% of the profits go to charity! You do have to buy them individually but they're not too expensive :)

FIZBAGS (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FIZBAG-100-of-profits-go-to-charity-Please-buy-from-us_W0QQitemZ140341759178QQcmdZViewItemQQptZWomen_s _Bags?hash=item20ad054cca&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262)Just to let you know Tink..............I did buy some at Christmas and they've been well received ;)

[Sasta]

I have found another option to replace carrier bags.....

http://www.freesetbags.co.uk/shop/

..........there are also some other Fairtrade products on the site too.

[nzmegs]

Sorry to resurrect this thread but in my humble opinion we should be able to do away with plastic altogether.

Before the 1950's no one used plastic at all as they hadn't been invented. Nobody died through want of a plastic bag. Yes we can keep plastic furniture, medical supplies and anything which lasts a long time and is used over and over, but plastic bags are nonsensical.

Lets go back to paper bags and glass jars.

You know that coffee ad how they are boasting that their new plastic pouches are 97% less packaging than the old jars. Whoop-de-do - the old glass jars are 100% recyclable and the pouches are 100% not...what a con!

[Jax]

Lets go back to paper bags and glass jars.

You know that coffee ad how they are boasting that their new plastic pouches are 97% less packaging than the old jars. Whoop-de-do - the old glass jars are 100% recyclable and the pouches are 100% not...what a con!
LOL don't apologise about the thread.......it's good it's getting 'recycled' http://www.rawinuk.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Yes totally agree with you, it's mad how things change and become soooo readily acceptable when it isn't neccessarily doing any good :( Shops readily giving out plastic bags has been one of the most stupid ideas IMO!

And yesssss that advert has driven me insane! I miss those weigh and save type shops which kind of harp back to the old shops where everything was served to you by scoops etc.

[Raw Rob]

I always carry cloth shopping bags with me, and learn how to say "I don't need a bag, thanks" in the local language wherever I go! (French: "Pas de sac", SpanishL "No necesito bolsa", might not be technically correct, but they get the message across!) We've had some Funky Raw organic, fair trade cotton bags made, with a fun drawing by my partner Jolita:
http://www.funkyraw.com/shop/images/funky-raw-organic-shopping-bag.jpg (http://www.funkyraw.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=21&products_id=352)

http://www.funkyraw.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=21&products_id=352

Rob

[ani]

love your bag Rob

when i go shopping at the supermarket
i have tried buying stuff and getting them to put it in my containers
but they aren't allowed to makes me mad.
the packaging is much more of an issue as when you buy organic
it is all wrapped in plastic.
i reuse my carrier bags for the bin save buying bin bags
and for when i go foraging
but i can't reuse plastic from my 3 courgettes
which pees me off to begin with as i only wanted one!!!
sorry i am on a rant this weekend
what with fluoride in the water and stopping so many herbs

[Jax]

LOL have to laugh because I've been adding all plastic bags in anyway, but now supermarkets will accept 'thin film' plastic wrapping in their plastic carrier bag recycling bins;


Plastic-wrapped bakery goods
Breakfast cereal liners
Packaging for household goods (toilet roll wrap, kitchen roll wrap)
Plastic-wrapped grocery produce (fresh and frozen)
Multipack shrink wrap.

This offers the potential for recycling a significant amount of the packaging currently thrown into our black bins, if we make just a little effort to put them all in a separate bag and take them along to a supermarket!




Participating stores: Asda, The Co-operative Group, WM Morrison, J Sainsbury's, Tesco, Waitrose.



News Link! (http://www.brc.org.uk/brc_news_detail.asp?id=1931)