Paper or Plastic?
Single use shopping bags are commonly portrayed as being highly wasteful since (as their name
implies), they are only used once before being disposed of. As such, consumers are encouraged to use
alternatives to single-use shopping bags in order to decrease plastic waste. Let’s consider the efficiency
some of the alternatives.
a) Environmentally, which is more efficient? Paper or plastic bags? Why?
b) Environmentally, which is more efficient? Re-useable or plastic bags? Why?
c) The results you found may not have been what you had expected. How about another
means of reducing plastic waste – using aluminum foil vs. plastic wrap to cover food. Which
is more efficient and why?