Paper vs Plastic–Which Should You Choose?

The question that’ been asked in countless supermarket scenes in America films over the years is now being asked all over the world. with much greater consequences than what kind of shopping bags we take our goodies home in. ‘Paper or Plastic?’ is the question on everyone’s minds so here are a few tips to help you make the decision for yourself and your business…

Pros and Cons of Plastic

Firstly, it;s important to remember that everything has pros and cons (well, almost everything), and to make an informed decision you should understand this about plastic. It can be moulded down and re-made into useful products like park benches or fencing material, and there is a growing trend in recycling plastic bags to make fashion accessories and even clothing. In addition to this, plastic is one of the most versatile materials in the world. On the other hand, plastic bags are responsible for a large portion of the world’s landfill, as they cannot be recycled and take about 500-1000 years to degrade. Plastic is also manufactured using natural gas, a non-renewable resource, which means more depletion of the earth in an unsustainable way.

Pros and Cons of Paper

Paper is 100% biodegradable and recyclable, so it can be used, re-used and re-introduced to the earth without too much fuss. It is also less harmful to the environment in terms of chemical content. On the other hand, paper comes from trees (something I frequently forget), and costs more in terms of energy to manufacture. Oh, the dilemma…

What to Use For Your Business?

When deciding whether to go the plastic or paper route (pun intended) with your business, there are a lot of factors you should consider. Firstly, which better suits your needs?

How many bags will you be going through? What will create a better public opinion? Are there alternatives in terms of compostable or degradable plastic bags that you can use? Will paper bags end up creating more waste or be impractical for their purposes? Perhaps you want to abandon the paper/plastic debate and go for an eco-product that is sturdy and durable?

The decision is ultimately yours and sadly, it is not as cut-and-dry as it first appears. There is a real need to balance the success of your business with your environmental responsibility and the practicality of the situation. Whichever you choose, do your research and keep your eyes peeled for new Eco-innovations!