How plastic bags were supposed to help the planet - BBC News

The plastic carrier bag has become something of a symbol for the problems caused by plastic pollution.

But according to the family of the man who created it, Sten Gustaf Thulin, his design was supposed to help the planet and he'd be shocked and upset to see what it's become.

The Thulin family make no money from the sale of the bags.

BBC Environment Reporter Laura Foster explains what was supposed to happen and why paper and cotton bags can actually be worse for the environment than plastic ones that are recycled.

[BuddyL]

The problem isn't so much the material, but the fact that we keep treating *everything* disposable. ♻️

[siopao]

It ain’t the material, it be the user.

[ritataylor]

If cotton/canvas bags are environmentally unfriendly, then try hemp bc it's cheaper to grow and sturdier than plastic. I keep a nylon bag in my purse that I've used for 10 years, and a trolley for bigger hauls.🎈

[mutofwemwila]

I only like the part where she said, "use it again and again, and when it breaks, mend it!!!". Indeed that's the way to go.

[Robman]

Wait, plastic bags were invented here in Sweden? Woah

[nofacee]

What about plastic wrapped food, especially a plastic wrapped set of individually wrapped in plastic items. That is not single use, you have to buy it every time you want to eat. We can use biodegradable materials, but they cost more in terms of money (and energy?) to make. It's not just plastic bags that are the problem.

[megatron]

Why doesn’t this research get done before they implement these “brilliant” ideas and then complain after a couple of months

[Jamest]

Plastic bags are so weak these days, I've had shopping tear them and handles stretch and fall off

[chectimi]

I put my groceries in my kangaroo. I always have one in my pocket.

[mistery-ed]

We actually have cotton bags we got in the 90's! And we still use them at the grocery store. Just wash them once or twice a year.

[johnnyls]

All these discoveries/inventions aren't the problem, we human are the problem!

[billylardner]

It’s so stupid. At my college (Farnborough 6th form) we have a wall for our ‘environmental pledge’ and I can’t even tell you how many people have written “stop using plastic bags”. I wrote “keep using plastic bags - REUSE them”, which didn’t get a lot of love.

It’s become a trend to show you’re “standing up for the planet” but barely anyone my age can be bothered to look into this and learn more about it, they seem to assume that just because McDonald’s has switched to paper straws, paper is indefinitely better than plastic.

[JamesTheFoxeArt]

Plastic isn’t bad, it’s how the person uses it

[dionnaly]

My teacher told me that “95% of a household “waste” are recyclable. Unfortunately many do not try to change their style due to their mindset as in depression, stress, or laziness.”

[robertbridle]

I don’t think the paper vs plastic argument is that simple.

[mushman]

"Strong bag"








Sure...

[micable]

But we don't throw cotton bags away.... do we? Be honest.

[galiar]

"Recycle it" when most of those bags are not made of plastic you can recycle, or even worse, when you can't recycle it (we don't have recycling program in Russia).

[Alex_Plante]

Finally some common sense. The main problem with plastic bags is when people do not dispose of them properly. They do not occupy much space in landfills, and recycling or burying them is probably the best way to dispose of them. Biodegradable bags are a terrible idea because you are releasing toxins into the environment. About solid wast dumps, people forget they are part of a cycle such that abandoned or non-economic quarries are turned into solid waste dumps. Well engineered dumps have systems to collect and treat leachate and vent or burn off methane. When dumps are filled, they are typically turned into parks. Many beloved urban parks began as quarries, then were solid waste dumps before being turned into parks.

[tvaoot]

i think weather you think plastic bags or cotton/paper bags are worse, we can all agree it would sure help if we just reused bags