Reply to: Guilt trip to the supermarket

[EqualOpportunities]

Co-op use biodegradable bags which disintegrate in < 1 year

before you get your shopping to the firkin' car, and you end up smashing your eggs on the floor; IYKWIM.

[NickFitz]

Co-op use biodegradable bags which disintegrate in < 1 year

Unfortunately, they disintegrate into radioactive dioxin.

...or something.

The real problem is that the bags are biodegradable, but the plastic isn't

The "biodegradable" plastic bags are made of a mixture of plastic particles and a biodegradable substance (cellulose, I think). When the cellulose degrades, the physical bag is gone, but the particles of plastic remain.

Although "out of sight, out of mind" to such majestic beings as ourselves and the Co-op, these particles then end up being ingested by smaller organisms such as earthworms and insects, and even unicellular beings such as amoebae, with undetermined consequences for the ecosphere

[Turion]

I love all these plastic bags. They are so useful. For instance I never buy bin liners, as was the case when I have worked in plastic bag averse countries. In Ireland bin liner usage has increased 4 fold since the ban.

Be brave stick up for plastic bags

[Platypus]

In my local Sainsburys yesterday they decided they would hide the free carrier bags in some kind of attempt to preach to the customers on global warming.

The patronising little cow on the till asked if I wanted to "buy a bag for life?"
No thanks I said as the shopping was pilling up, "can I have some carrier bags please?"

By the look of distain on her face you think I'd said "can I have a tulip on the conveyor belt?"

The patronising barstewards

Alleviate your guilt by reading what DEFRA says about this:

We don't think a ban or a levy is the right way to go," said a Defra spokeswoman.

Ireland introduced a "plastax" of about 30 cents (20p) on each bag in 2002 and there has been a 90% reduction in use.

But the Defra spokeswoman said the tax had led to people buying more plastic bin liners, which were even worse than carrier bags.

Interestingly, since the budget, the (very good) article on the DEFRA site criticising a levy on plastic bags is harder to find than newer articles saying what a great idea it is.

My conscience is clear, e.g.
http://www.brc.org.uk/details04.asp?...t=Retail+Myths
http://www.carrierbagtax.com

[AtW]

If the bugs are so bad, they should be buying them back and then recycling.

[tim123]

Many years ago in Hungary, people used to bring their own bags to do shopping as quite simply, shops couldn't afford any plastic ones.

Now that Tesco have invaded, everyone expects all shops to have free plastic bags.

Funny old world...

Supermarkets in Germany/Sweden/Denmark don't give bags away, why do they do so in Hungary?

tim

[Spartacus]

I would have said: "Buy one? I tuliping married one, why would want to buy one?"

[PAH]

No you don't. You just do as a sop to your conscience. Or possibly, no you don't, the planet isn't endangered by non-reuse of plastic bags.

[NotAllThere]

I do my bit to save the planet by re-using the bags ...

No you don't. You just do as a sop to your conscience. Or possibly, no you don't, the planet isn't endangered by non-reuse of plastic bags.

[hyperD]

Many years ago in Hungary, people used to bring their own bags to do shopping as quite simply, shops couldn't afford any plastic ones.

Now that Tesco have invaded, everyone expects all shops to have free plastic bags.

Funny old world...

[PAH]

Why's it so difficult to make them out of recyclable plastic? There would be no issue then.

Unless the supermarkets are using it as an excuse to make some money charging for them. You only need to look at the amount of overpackaging supermarkets already supply to see their green intentions are ultimately driven by profit.

[SueEllen]

In my local Sainsburys yesterday they decided they would hide the free carrier bags in some kind of attempt to preach to the customers on global warming.

Nope it's nothing to do with that.

Supermarkets have been warned the if they don't get the number of bags they give away down, then Gordon Brown will introduce a new law to ensure they do in the next budget.

Hence M&S are giving away free bags during this month with your shopping and will start charging for them next month.

[PAH]

I do my bit to save the planet by re-using the bags next time I go shopping. Would be more effective though if I remembered to take them more often.

Other than that I give them to friends who are obsessed with doing car boots at the weekend, so they can bag up their tat for their customers.

[hyperD]

The patronising little cow on the till asked if I wanted to "buy a bag for life?"

I would have said: "Buy one? I tuliping married one, why would want to buy one?"

[Lucifer Box]

Unfortunately, they disintegrate into radioactive dioxin.

...or something.

They disintegrate into Co-Op meat and potato pies, except nicer tasting.