International Plastic Bag Free Day – reducing plastic waste with caution
In commemoration of International Plastic Bag Free Day, we discover how the alternatives to plastic bags are not always the answer.
INTERNATIONAL Plastic Bag Free Day, celebrated on July 3, is aimed to raise awareness of the harmful effects of plastic pollution on the planet. The day is to motivate people and institutions to embrace sustainable alternatives and combat the detrimental effects of plastic pollution.
In the fight against plastic, several alternatives have been created. At the moment, there is a trend on social media to have a cute, cotton tote bag adorned with environmentally friendly puns. However, the impact of these so-called plastic alternatives is debatable.
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Dr Lize Barclay, senior lecturer in Futures Studies and Systems Thinking at Stellenbosch University Business School, says it is projected that you must use a cotton tote 7 100 times before you equal the ‘footprint’ of one plastic bag.
“Cotton is a resource-intensive crop that requires water, pesticides and fertilisers which add to the negative effects of pollution and climate change. While many shops have removed plastic bags, requiring us to purchase their branded bag, these alternative bags have become an unsustainable pile of shame in the boot, entryway or kitchen.”
“Like most so-called green energy solutions, from a system’s perspective, nothing is truly green, and everything has some systemic environmental price. True innovation and vigilance are needed to find real and lasting solutions that are near-truly green and are not green-wishing and green-washing.”
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The initial design of the plastic bag was made by the Swedish designer Sten Gustaf Thulin in 1965 to save trees and to be reused. According to his son, he always kept one folded (which was part of the principle behind the design) in his pocket to use and reuse.
“Although the initial design of plastic, including that of plastic bags, was also intended to protect the environment and counteract deforestation, as well as the use of horn, ivory and hooves for creating containers and products – we have since realised the dangers of plastic, especially disposable plastic,” says Dr Barclay.
“All the plastic ever created is still in the environment although not necessarily in its visible form. Plastic breaks down into micro and nano-plastics which eventually find their way into our water, soil and food.”
Recently, plastic has been found in the blood of animals and humans, including in the brain and placenta. Research shows that it could be detrimental to human health, ranging from increased risks of cancer and heart disease to hormonal disruption and gut-microbiome disruption.
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“As plastic bags degrade, various toxic substances are released into the soil, air and water and clump together, blocking drainage, which intensifies flooding and the breakout of mosquitoes and disease. Plastic harms wildlife and disrupts ecosystems, threatening all life on Earth, including humans.”
Dr Barclay says engineers and industrial designers are exploring circular design to keep redesigning, reusing and refurbishing products to keep them and their components in circulation and out of landfills.
“As consumers, it is essential that we support these initiatives and products to ensure they become the design norm and not the design exception.”
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