The environment has always been a topic of concern for us in recent years. In this article, I will share some concepts related to the environment that you might be unsure about, while also answering the question: Are paper bags really “greener” than plastic bags as we often think?
To answer right away, the belief that paper bags or paper products like paper straws and boxes are always “greener” than other materials is a common misconception. Why is that?
What is a Carbon Footprint?
A carbon footprint (measured in kilometers, kilograms, or tons) is defined as the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by a product or service, from the time it is manufactured, used, and until the end of its life cycle. These greenhouse gases primarily include carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4).
For example, when you eat beef, the process to get that piece of meat to your meal goes through many stages, and many of those steps generate greenhouse gas emissions. According to experts, raising cattle usually produces more greenhouse gases and consumes more resources compared to other animals. This is why you sometimes encounter campaigns urging people to stop eating beef to protect the environment.
How is the Carbon Footprint Measured?
Measuring the carbon footprint of a product or service is often very complex because they go through many processes throughout their life cycle. Detailed measurement is the job of scientists and environmental experts, but it can be understood that there are three main measurement goals:
- Direct emissions measurement: for example, when you drive a gasoline-powered vehicle, in addition to generating energy to power the vehicle, gasoline also produces carbon waste directly.
- Indirect emissions measurement: this is a bit more abstract because the product or process itself does not directly generate carbon emissions. However, the processes that create it do generate carbon emissions. For instance, when you use an air conditioner, it consumes electricity to operate, and most of the electricity generated on the planet comes from burning fossil fuels, which is the step that generates carbon emissions.
- Measurement of other emissions: this is a relatively complex goal because it is summarized from many different processes. Organizations or experts create their own methods and tools to calculate this third measurement goal.
There are quite a few online tools that allow individuals to estimate their carbon footprint based on daily living habits. If you’re interested, you can explore further.
About Paper and Plastic Bags
As I mentioned earlier, the assumption that paper bags are greener than plastic bags is a misconception stemming from the propaganda of many organizations and entities. In reality, producing paper bags requires significantly more resources compared to plastic bags. Specifically, paper bags require approximately four times more water to produce than plastic bags, and they also generate 3.1 times more greenhouse gases (due to the need to grow and cut down trees).
Additionally, many plastic bags are made from polyethylene (PE), a byproduct of natural gas processing. This means that humans do not need to create a separate process to produce this material. If PE is not utilized, it will be burned and disposed of without serving any positive purpose.
Usability
Another important aspect when discussing sustainability is reusability. In this regard, it is evident that paper bags or paper products generally fall short. They are not waterproof and can easily tear or get damaged. Furthermore, the load-bearing capacity of paper products is not high, which is considered a significant weakness. To overcome this drawback, more paper is required in production, which brings us back to the earlier issue, creating a vicious cycle with the point I just mentioned.
Plastic bags, of course, do not face these disadvantages; on the contrary, they have good load-bearing capacity, are waterproof, and are not easily damaged during use. Therefore, they are considerably more reusable.
Recyclability
Because paper bags are biodegradable, this is the main reason people believe paper bags are truly “greener” than plastic bags. However, this is not the case; paper bags are about eight times heavier than plastic bags on average, meaning transporting them is significantly more challenging. For example, transporting 2 million paper bags to a recycling facility would require seven times the number of trucks compared to transporting 2 million plastic bags. The emission impact of this difference will grow over time.
Moreover, plastic bags are not easily damaged, allowing them to be reproduced from a virtually unlimited material. In contrast, the lifespan of paper is very limited as their fibrous structure is easily broken down once they reach the end of their recycling life.
Disposal
Finally, proper disposal of bags also significantly contributes to their “greenness.” Disposing of paper bags irresponsibly also exacerbates greenhouse gas emissions. Most people think that paper bags, being made from biodegradable materials, can be discarded with other waste or thrown in landfills without much impact. However, this is a misconception, as biodegradable materials require an oxygen-rich environment to decompose properly. Without this, they will decompose into methane, one of the most harmful greenhouse gases for our atmosphere.
Carbon Footprint of Plastic and Paper Bags
According to data from CO2 Everything, a paper bag has a carbon footprint of about 5.52 kg, equivalent to the emissions produced by a car over a distance of 28 km. Meanwhile, a reusable plastic bag has a carbon footprint of 21.51 kg, while a single-use plastic bag has a carbon footprint of only 1.58 kg.
This article only analyzes the carbon footprint aspect; however, to truly evaluate the “greenness” of a material, many other factors must be considered. For example, if paper bags decompose in nature, they do not harm wildlife and ecosystems. Additionally, marine animals are not likely to ingest plastic waste as seen in many images. The important takeaway here is that we should maximize the use of products, whether they are paper or plastic, to enhance their product lifespan. Furthermore, waste collection and recycling efforts need to be improved so that plastic products do not negatively impact the environment. In conclusion, both paper and plastic bags have their own advantages and disadvantages, and the choice of which to use ultimately depends on personal preference.
