There is a common belief that paper bags are more environmentally friendly than plastic bags. Even though paper bags sound like the perfect sustainable alternative, they are not a “green” option. This is because to produce paper bags:
- it takes twice the energy used to provide a plastic bag
- it requires much more water than the manufacture of plastic
- it makes more greenhouse gases
- they can’t break down properly if they end up in a landfill
A benefit is that paper bags can be easily recycled or composted after they serve their purpose. This makes them less harmful to the environment, but this is only if the paper bag doesn’t end up in a landfill. If paper ends up in a landfill, it usually gets buried with a lot of waste. It starts breaking down in an anaerobic process (without oxygen) instead of an aerobic (with oxygen). This produces methane gas – a hazardous greenhouse gas. That’s why it is always best to reuse whatever you already have, and if it is single-use plastic or paper bag – dispose of it correctly when they are no longer usable.