Little-known Plastic Bag Facts

Submitted by M.P. Crawford

While perusing the Fall 2008 issue of "Chesupioc", the newsletter of ther Chespeake Audobon Society, I happened upon these share-worthy facts researched by Kathy Woods, a Wildlife Rehabilitator, regarding plastic bags and the impact upon OUR environment. Are you ready?

Four seemingly unlikely allies, Rwanda, China, Bangladesh and Ireland, have all banned free plastic bags at the grocery store. Plastic bags are manufactured from polyethylene- a thermoplastic derived from oil. Wishing to decrease their foreign oil dependency (what a great idea!), China expects to SAVE 37 million barrels of crude oil by adhering to the bag ban. Ireland now taxes the bags and therefore has reduced usage by 90%.

As we know, these bags find their way into every imaginable airspace, water space and landscape on OUR Earth. Two-hundred species of sea life have been victimized by either consuming, choking on, or becoming entangled in plastic bags carelessly discarded. Don't think that recycling gets rid of the problem: less than one percent of plastic bags are recycled, and the cost is enormous.

So, if you think that switching from paper or plastic and carrying cloth bags (preferably of the 100% organic derivative) isn't helping much, then consider this: according to a report from National Geographic, worldwide dependence on plastic bags is set at 500 billion to 1 trillion. In one lifetime, we could save over 25,000 bags! Now that's a fact to get choked up about.

Living like Locals

Marhaba from the Middle East! I have recently moved to a region where food choices are quite limited, and environmental constraints on agricultural productions are obvious. Here, I don't have to worry that I might be buying something out of season--the only produce really available is local. But for those of you in the States, there are important decisions to be made regarding what you purchase from supermarkets and stands. Food travels thousands of miles to arrive in your area grocery store, and has used tons of energy in the packaging and transportation process. Part of the quest for sustainable living involves choosing to buy and cook things that have the least impact on the environment. This adventure can be an enjoyable and educational process, as one begins to learn what fruits and vegetables are naturally available nearby and at what times. Sure, we all know that pumpkins arrive in the fall--but these days, canned pumpkin is in the store year round, and heavy cans take a toll in production and transport. How about broccoli or tomatoes? Or oranges and peppers? I'm not saying that you must give up all food that can't be grown next door at a certain time, but you can make a significant difference in consciously buying your groceries with the Earth in mind! Besides cutting fossil fuel consumption, buying from local cooperatives and farmers builds great relationships and helps the economy. The trend towards local and organic food is definitely on the rise, and there are lots of great resources to introduce people to this concept. So don't just trust me--check it out!

For a more in depth discussion of the facts of how food affects the environment see The Sustainable Table

If you doubt that tasty, nutritious meals could be created from what is in season, check out my favorite cookbook "Simply in Season."

Lastly, Barbara Kingsolver has written a hilarious memoir of her adventure in living locally in the book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. It is definitely worth a read and has some helpful resources and recipes inside!

Have fun living locally!