Natural Environment Blog

China has officially released its new standards for plastic bags. The standards, which will be implemented in June, are an attempt to help eliminate the devastating impact that plastic bags are having on the environment.

The new standards prevent supermarkets and other retailers from handing out colorized plastic bags. These bags are usually made from wasted plastics, which pollute the environment.

The standards also ban plastic bags less than 0.025 millimeters thick. The theory behind this is that, by having thicker bags, people are more likely to reuse their plastic bags. Many bags in China are currently only 0.001 to 0.020 millimeters thick.

As encouraging as it is to hear this news, it would be better if China could encourage larger eco-friendly shopping bags - such as reusable jute bags. Reusable bags like these can hold much more than plastic bags, and they can last for many years.

Further to my article about eco-friendly shopping bags, here’s a list of six websites that offer reusable/eco-friendly shopping bags.

By using any of these reusable bags instead of plastic bags or paper bags, you will be doing your bit to reduce the devastating impact of plastic/paper bags on the natural environment.

Here’s the list:

• GreenHemp.com - Provides hemp shopping bags and other hemp products.
• JuteBags.com - Jute carry bags and various jute products.
• ReusableBags.com - Various reusable shopping bags and other bags etc.
• FairGoTrading.com.au - Hemp bags and packs.
• CleangreenBags.com - Various reusable grocery bags.
  
• Amazon.com - View the search results for reusable shopping bags.

Note that you may need to check some of these sites for availability/deliveries in your area.

Purchasing a reusable bag has more benefits than you might realize.

First of all, reusable bags are usually much larger than the plastic bags or paper bags that supermarkets supply you with - you don’t need as many.

Secondly, every time you reuse your bag, think how many plastic bags you’re preventing from entering the environment. I’ve been using the same reusable bag for years and it feels great every time I do my shopping!

Plastic bags are particularly nasty to our oceans and marine life. Read about the environmental impact of plastic bags on our oceans.

According to the Khaleej Times, supermarket stores in the United Arab Emirates may soon be plastic bag free.

Some stores in Sharjah have already agreed to use biodegradable plastic bags, and now many supermarkets in the UAE are also looking for alternatives to normal plastic bags.

The LuLu supermarket chain has indicated that they are looking for alternatives to plastic bags. Although they haven’t yet decided on their preferred option, they will decide by May. They are keen on the idea of Jute bags.