THE TRUTH ABOUT DIFFERENT TYPES OF BAGS AND BIODEGRADABLE BAG SOLUTIONS

Household bags have become an inseparable part of daily life. As society advances, a growing variety of bag types has been produced to meet people’s needs—plastic bags, paper bags, fabric bags, and more. Beyond their convenience, these bags also conceal darker aspects that many remain unaware of.

1. Plastic bags

Regarded as one of humanity’s greatest inventions, plastic bags were first developed in 1935 and only became widespread from the 1980s onward. Today, they remain deeply ingrained in daily routines. However, alongside their convenience lie serious threats to both the environment and human health.

The primary raw materials for plastic bags are synthetic polymer pellets derived from petroleum and natural gas. As a result, their production generates significant CO₂ emissions, thereby intensifying the greenhouse effect.

Alarmingly, between 1,000 and 5,000 billion plastic bags are consumed and discarded into the environment each year. Since these bags require roughly 500 to 1,000 years to decompose, they persist in soil and waterways, devastating ecosystems. Thus, while plastic bags offer short-term convenience, they impose profound, long-term harm.

2. Paper bags

Amid the onslaught of plastic waste “invading” our environment, there has been a growing push to eliminate plastic bags by replacing them with more sustainable alternatives, and paper bags have emerged as one of the ideal options for tackling plastic pollution.

Made from wood pulp, paper bags are fully biodegradable and safe for human health. As a result, many companies have swapped plastic for paper as an eco-friendly measure.

However, paper bags only become truly environmentally friendly if they’re reused at least 43 times—and that’s often impractical, since they tear easily. When used just once and then discarded, paper bags can inflict environmental damage that, in some respects, exceeds that of plastic bags.

Research shows that paper production consumes far more resources and can produce up to 80% more greenhouse gas emissions than plastic bag production. Furthermore, making paper requires cutting down trees, which accelerates deforestation and contributes to global climate change.

3. Fabric bags

To eliminate plastic bags from everyday life, people have turned to products made from more environmentally friendly materials that still meet convenience criteria. Fabric bags have emerged as an ideal option in this effort.

As we know, fabric bags can be reused many times, helping conserve resources and reduce plastic waste, thereby lessening environmental impact. Because they biodegrade naturally, they’re often viewed as the top substitute for conventional plastic bags.

However, using fabric bags does not automatically equate to environmental protection. Scientific studies indicate that a single fabric bag must be reused some 20,000 times—about fifty years’ worth of shopping trips—to offset the environmental cost of its production. Yet many companies now mass-produce fabric bags emblazoned with slogans like “Reduce Plastic Waste,” inadvertently creating a surplus that undermines their original eco-friendly purpose.

If fabric bags aren’t reused extensively, they can harm the environment much like plastic bags. Although they do biodegrade, it still takes roughly five to seven years in soil for them to break down. Moreover, their production consumes substantial resources and energy, and can itself pollute air and water.

Paper and fabric bags aren’t automatically the perfect replacements for plastic. We must consider the full production process, raw materials, and product life cycle. Above all, shifting our habits—prioritizing reuse, recycling, and cutting back on single-use plastics—remains the most effective way to protect the environment.

With advances in technology, biodegradable bags have steadily gained popularity among consumers. Composed primarily of virgin polymers and biodegradable additives that accelerate decomposition, these bags offer a notably short breakdown time, on average between six months and two years, depending on environmental conditions. For this reason, biodegradable bags have emerged as the preferred choice compared to conventional alternatives.

As a pioneer in bioplastic packaging, Alta’s products are certified by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to fully biodegrade in nature, remain environmentally friendly, and ensure consumer health safety. Furthermore, Alta Plastics’ biodegradable bags are available in a diverse array of styles, colors, and sizes, satisfying every consumer’s needs.

Our small actions today contribute to building a cleaner world tomorrow.