Earth Fare just announced that we’re eliminating plastic bags from our stores.
And, many of you have responded to this with, “Why plastic bags and not paper bags?” Here at Earth Fare, we know that the paper versus plastic debate is bound to rage on for many years to come. But, we felt like we needed to take a stand.
So, here’s why Earth Fare has decided to boot plastic over its paper counterparts:
1.) Plastic bags can take over 1,000 years to biodegrade. Paper only takes two to three weeks to biodegrade in a warm landfill.
2.) Only 13% of plastic bags are ever recycled. OVER 56% of paper bags are reused or recycled.
3.) Plastic bags are made of petroleum and natural gas, both NON-renewable resources. Like plastic bags, paper bags do require energy in production. But, two-thirds of that energy is RENEWABLE ENERGY. Creating paper bags is a carbon neutral process
4.) Don’t be fooled. Paper is a renewable resource! The Society of American Foresters have reported that there are more trees now that there was 100 years ago. The paper and forest products industries plant more than three times the number of trees that they harvest.
Turtle eating a piece of plastic bag
Finally, and most importantly, paper bags are safer for animals than plastic bags. How often have you heard of a wild animal getting caught in a paper bag or dying from eating one? NEVER. But, this is exactly what happens when plastic bags get picked up by wildlife, especially birds and marine wildlife. They eat it. They feed it to their young. They die from it.
So, that’s our take on the plastic versus paper bag debate. Now, we want to hear from you. Where do you stand on this debate?
Tags: paper versus plastic, recycling, reusable, sustainable
The most important thing is to recreate the advantages of plastic bags in the paper bags. Sturdy, handles, and not the ultra huge size of old school paper bags (I remember being a kid and trying to handle those monstrosities when we got home from the BX grocery trips and they were a nightmare).
If you do that I am not sure why people would complain, but I’d love to hear reasons to see if I could rebuke them!
Kenneth Andrews
April 19th, 2010 at 9:59 ampermalink
I would like to know the nutritional value of deli items.
Many have much to much salt for my taste.
Carol Hawley
April 19th, 2010 at 10:03 ampermalink
I prefer to use re-usable bags. Stores sometimes offer a credit for bringing your own bags to encourage usage. They are useful for all kinds of things, not just hauling groceries.
I would love to add some Earth Fare re-usable bags to my collection!!
Michele T.
April 19th, 2010 at 10:35 ampermalink
thank you!
Lindsay
April 19th, 2010 at 10:55 ampermalink
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by EarthFareWest: The Paper Versus Plastic Debate http://shar.es/mvGq2…
uberVU - social comments
April 20th, 2010 at 12:52 pmpermalink
Although I use totes, I definitely agree that paper is preferable to plastic when it comes to grocery bags.
When might you begin to allow us to show you our coupons on our Blackberries rather than printing them out? I don’t like to use a whole sheet of paper to print a little coupon…
Marie Leonard
April 21st, 2010 at 7:23 ampermalink
[...] but paper requires trees and energy, so not a perfect solution. One of the blogs I read is called Tomato Talk and is a part of the Earth Fare Supermarket chain website. Earth Fare just announced that we’re [...]
Paper, plastic, or other…what does it take to reduce plastic bags? | Great Lakes Green Pages
April 21st, 2010 at 8:31 ampermalink
[...] Earthfare Tomato Talk [...]
Protect Hawaii’s Environment with a Double Duty Beach Bag
April 22nd, 2010 at 10:00 ampermalink
How about an alternative for the plastic bags in the bulk food area and produce?
Tried the Boone location yesterday for the first time. Great experience, wondeful selection and friendly staff.
Thanks!
Any chance you will open a Hickory location????
D. Johnson
April 26th, 2010 at 8:35 ampermalink
Although I use totes, I definitely agree that paper is preferable to plastic when it comes to grocery bags.
When might you begin to allow us to show you our coupons on our Blackberries rather than printing them out? I don’t like to use a whole sheet of paper to print a little coupon…
Ian
April 27th, 2010 at 3:00 ampermalink
I would like to know the nutritional value of deli items.
Many have much to much salt for my taste.
Ian
April 27th, 2010 at 4:51 ampermalink
Well, in Europe(at least Germany, Sweden and Copenhagen) they CHARGE you if you must use a store bag – most consumers carry their own reusable cloth bags and or/backpacks to carry their groceries – they shop more often too and only buy a few days worth at a time! Oh – yes and many, many walk to the grocers and back – or take public transportation if necessary!
JeanScaraglino
April 28th, 2010 at 8:25 pmpermalink
There are so many places doing this now. I love the idea. Also some stores, like sams and aldi’s they dont even give you a bag, you either bring in your own or you can purchase one. ALthough sams you dont even have the option to purchase, you either bring your own bag or box, or you can just let things go where they may in the trunk of your car. I always take my own bag now. It has made things so much easier once you get into the habit. I dont have the bags always stuffed everywhere in my house.
Michelle
April 30th, 2010 at 4:48 pmpermalink
i too agree with paper over plastic, but i say BOO to citing that very deceptive statistic about more trees today than 100 years ago. while technically true, it is my understanding that the count includes tree farms and orchards, both of which have relatively young trees that are comparative weaklings compared to an old-growth forest’s carbon-to-oxygen power. i suggest you investigate the details on that statistic and not take it at face value.
Vangelique
April 30th, 2010 at 11:11 pmpermalink
also would like to suggest some non-plastic bulk item containers… maybe do what brewerys do with their “growlers” … i.e. offer earthfare branded glass storage jars that have their weights entered in your system (for subtraction from final weight pricing) that people can buy and bring back over and over to refill. heck, even a good quality plastic jar (to avoid the breakage issue) would be preferable to all the baggies that most people discard as soon as they get home and dump the bulk item into their home storage jars.
Vangelique
April 30th, 2010 at 11:14 pmpermalink
Amiable brief and this post helped me alot in my college assignement. Thanks you as your information.
Wordpress Themes
May 1st, 2010 at 4:34 ampermalink
I agree with paper over plastic. Do you sell canvas totes as an alternative? We would be happy to purchase those with the store logo at a reasonble price. Walmart, Publix and Target offers those as options and we have taken advantage of that option.
Vickie Spurlin
May 1st, 2010 at 3:39 pmpermalink
[...] Earthfare Tomato Talk [...]
Protect Hawaii’s Environment with a Double Duty Beach Bag - Travel News, Guides and Tips - Travel Guides
May 6th, 2010 at 12:31 pmpermalink
KUDOS for giving THE BOOT to PLASTIC bags, Jack! Can’t wait for Earth Fare to open in Tallahassee!! I agree, about choosing paper over plastic, but we could do without both if we get creative about it. In addition to canvas bags and totes, I bring jars and stack-able reusable plastic containers w/ me, weigh them at the customer service counter when I enter the store, and use those for bulk items. (I do this for leftovers in restaurants too.) See-thru fabric bags w/ draw strings are available now for produce. I bring a couple of large cold-insulated totes in the store and gently pile my produce in there, then sort it out as it’s being weighed at checkout. If you sort it as the cashier is weighing, it doesn’t slow them down. I have one small thick fabric bag I always use for eggs. I keep a couple of coolers in my car, load produce into one and other cold items into the other. Then I can run errands without worrying about food spoiling in the car. I bet, if we think about it, we can each come up with creative solutions that work best for us. Thanks for giving us this forum to share ideas about protecting our planet. Hey, maybe this could be another idea for an Earth Fare contest, Jack!
Tallahassee Lassie
Bethany Cavano
August 20th, 2010 at 11:11 ampermalink