So prevelant in present day life are plastic bags because of their ease of use and cheapness. However, there has recently been increasing concern on adverse effects that they have on the environment. Plastic bags are usually manufactured from polyethylene, and this is a petroleum product that has a very slow rate of degradation hence taking many years to be recycled naturally. The governments and environmental organizations have long been concerned with the excessive usage of plastic bags or the complete banning of these bags.
When looking into the relationship between plastic bags and the environment, it is crucial to know what the bags consist of. Plastic Bag materials fall under various types and these have diverse characteristics in manufacturing, uses, and disintegration rates. The primary forms of plastics employed in carrier bag manufacture are polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and degradable types.
Polyethylene (PE)
Single-use plastic shopping bags are primarily derived from polyethylene plastic. Depending on density, polyethylene is of two types: low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) of which the latter is used with much frequency for manufacturing bags. Polyethylene is synthesized from ethylene gas which is made either from refining petroleum products or the ethane present in natural gas.
HDPE plastic has benefits that make it popular for shopping bags:HDPE plastic has benefits that make it popular for shopping bags:
- Durability – Once manufactured, these HDPE bags are appreciably strong and nearly impervious to puncture while being relatively slim, light, and translucent. High tensile strength makes them strong carriers in terms of strength.
- Low Cost – The production of HDPE resin and fabrication into bags involves efficient mass production techniques that do not necessitate high costs.
- Recyclability – HDPE is among the most favourable consumer plastics with regard to recycling. HDPE bags are easy to collect and then recycled for production of other items.
Although they seem like an environmentally friendly solution, polyethylene bags are made of fossil fuel and cause plastic pollution. An HDPE bag is used for 12 minutes on average and takes 20 years and approximately 250 years to decompose.
Polypropylene (PP)
The second most used plastic in single use carrier bags is polypropylene or PP for short. The reasons for choosing polyethylene and polypropylene may include; This is manufactured from propylene gas which is a by-product that is obtained while refining oil or processing natural gas. Polypropylene has properties that make it useful for specialized bags:Polypropylene has properties that make it useful for specialized bags:
- Water Resistance – This is a virtue of PP bags as they are non-porous and therefore do not absorb water as do polyethylene bags. This makes them suitable for use when carrying wet something.
- Thermal Resistance – PP bags are resistant to boil water temperatures so hot liquids cannot penetrate through them.
- Resistiveness – Also, they differ in the level of durability whereby PP is slightly more rigid, stiffer and also opaque than polyethylene. This may prove helpful for some extent of bag functionality.
Polypropylene is non-biodegradable in nature and bags made from it are can take up to 100 years to decompose fully due to the fact that it is highly resistant to water degradation. Nonetheless, PP is still marketed as one of the most recyclable plastic packaging materials on the market.
Biodegradable Plastics
Bio-degradable plastics have latterly come in to replace the normal plastic bags or other bags that do not require a long life span before they fully decompose. There are two main types of biodegradable plastic:There are two main types of biodegradable plastic:
PLA – Polylactic acid (PLA) is usually produced from sugar-derived starchy materials such as corn. As it has been mentioned before, PLA can break down in industrial composter, and can do it in backyard composting as well. However, some people are dissatisfied with the position of PLA because it continues to rely on fossil fuels in its production.
PBAT – Polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) is derived from the fossil feed stocks as well as bio renewable resources like plant oil. The material of PBAT film can biodegrade in the environment such as in the landfills, soil and in marine environment than the usual plastics. However, PBAT has slightly slower degradation than PLA.
This paper will also demonstrate that biodegradable polymer bags offer even more eco-friendly solutions but are at a relatively higher cost at the moment. They also do not have the same strength and sturdiness that polyethylene or polypropylene bags have and cannot be re-used several times as well. More research is aimed at making totally bio-based bags economically sustainable and feasible for large-scale production.
The Effects of Using Minimalist Plastic Bag Decisions
The materials used in bags and their efficiency has not been established to have an ideal one that is best suited for both performance and environmental impact. There are pros and cons to opting for normal plastic that has greater toughness or biodegradable bags which can have reduced lifespans that amount to less harm to the environment. While most scholars are in consensus on the fact that the main goal should be the minimization of avoidable single-use bags.
To the extent that consumers and retailers are able to determine the origins and properties of various different bag materials, they can make more informed decisions. For such clients who use the products for a short time then dispose, biodegradable bags may suit the needs better. For multiple re-uses, sturdy used recycled polyethylene or polypropylene bags could be considered appropriate. There also must be the facilities and mechanisms put in place by the governments and firms to adequately collet and recycle used plastic bags.
In the future, there is the need for plastic bags manufacturers to look for more efforts and investment to utilize the fossil fuels completely. The perfect answer can be from the second generation bioplastics when the shelf life, affordability and sustainability of such plastics are on par with conventional plastics. However, adopting right approach in consumption and recycling can ensure that the effect of manufacturing a large number of plastic bags is not felt strongly on the environment.
