Eco-friendly bags should be used to protect the environment
The Bangladesh government has banned the use of environmentally harmful polythene bags in all super shops in the country. So, the question in the mind of many people, then, what to use instead of polythene bags? Is it paper bags?
Paper is not suitable for transporting all kinds of goods. Again, many people have questions about how environmentally friendly these paper bags are.
A bag’s eco-friendliness depends on the energy required to produce it, its reusability, and its rate of decomposition in soil.
From that point of view, many people prefer paper bags over ordinary polythene. However, it should also be noted that the recycling of paper bags is very low. Usually, it is almost impossible to use these bags more than once or twice.
However, it is not suitable for carrying wet items. On the other hand, paper is made of plants, which absorb carbon dioxide from air and release oxygen into air.
Otherwise, it was shown in a study in Ireland that found that producing a plastic bag requires four times less energy than making a paper bag. Although paper bags are fast decomposable, many trees are cut down to make them, forests are destroyed.
The production of paper bags also generates a lot of toxic chemicals. Bangladesh Government guidelines recommend the use of jute or cloth bags. These are durable and perishable. But those who are fashion conscious, they can use a more variety of bags.
These include bamboo, rattan and bamboo bags. These bags are available to buy in many stores. Even if you order online, you will get these eco-friendly bags.
Among jute bags, tote bags are now very popular, apart from the two-ribbon bags of daily market. There are also varieties of cloth bags—tote bags, handbags market bags, etc.
Although there is a strict ban on polythene, the Bangladesh government has not effectively enforced it. The success of the new initiative remains to be seen.
