Paper Bags
Cotton Tote Bags
Mesh Bags
Biodegradable Plastic Bags
Invented in 1965, the modern-day plastic bag is a single-use product that has transformed the way we shop and carry things. It is also known as a polythene bag since it is made from polyethylene (extracted from natural gas or oil). Plastic bags are affordable to manufacture and disposable in nature, which makes them a preferable choice for commercial use. In fact, they are quite popular among household shoppers.
Due to their widespread popularity, plastic bags are now available at almost every other neighbourhood store and supermarket. These disposable products have such a presence in our everyday life that we often ignore their drawbacks, which is even more alarming. According to an estimate, 8 million tons of plastic waste gets into the ocean every year, causing irreversible damage to the marine environment.
So, it’s not about making a lifestyle choice, it’s about saving the planet.
The natural resources in our surroundings could be in grave danger and we need to play our part individually and collectively to help heal the wounds of our planet. The very first and most important step to take is quitting the use of plastic. To help you initiate your eco-friendly lifestyle, we have put together this piece that rounds up the best and most easily available alternatives to plastic bags in Pakistan.
Best Alternatives to Plastic Bags in Pakistan
Long before there was plastic, there were paper and cloth bags. The biggest advantage of switching to these nature-friendly alternatives is that they have a low environmental impact. Check out the list below to see the options you can go with instead of single-use plastic bags.
Paper Bags
Made purely from natural materials, paper bags are a very good and cheap alternative to polythene bags. They won’t take 500 years to decompose like plastic and can be easily recycled. Paper bags also easily decay in water, minimising the risk to the marine ecosystem.
However, it is better to opt for a recycled paper bag instead of a newly produced paper bag. According to a study, producing paper bags from scratch in large quantities may result in water wastage and deforestation, which doesn’t make them eco-friendly at all. On the other hand, using recycled paper is a way better and more sustainable option.
Tote Bags
Known for their thickness and strength, cotton tote bags are very useful when it comes to carrying heavy goods. Since they can be customised in a variety of ways and colours, they can also be used as a fashion accessory to complement your look. Tote bags are also good for the environment because they are made from natural fabric that is free from hazardous substances. Even if they are burnt, they don’t cause any harm to the environment or humans. Cotton bags also degrade without a trace in just a few months.
However, you should always use high-quality bags because low-quality ones could be made up of materials that may be harmful to your skin causing rashes and allergic reactions. Unlike paper bags that are suitable for one-time use only, cloth bags can be used multiple times. You can also wash them before reusing them to make them squeaky clean.
Mesh Shopping Bags
Fashionable, functional and reusable, mesh bags, also known as string bags, are among the best alternatives to plastic bags. Their origin dates back to the 1800s, long before the invention of plastic bags. In the early days, mesh bags were made from interlocking metal rings. However, to improve practicality and reduce weight, they are now based on net-like structures made from strands of nylon and other types of synthetic materials.
The flexible and stretchable nature of mesh bags makes them ideal for carrying fruits and vegetables. They can also be used to store different kinds of confectionery items and meat products. These recyclable shopping bags can be used multiple times, helping individuals and communities to reduce their carbon footprints. The growing trend of using nature-friendly products has resulted in the widespread popularity of mesh bags. You can easily find them in departmental stores in Pakistan, especially in sections selling fruits and vegetables.
Biodegradable Plastic Bags
Products made from plastic that is biodegradable are also nature-friendly. A biodegradable plastic decomposes in just three to six months, according to new research, which is quite faster than traditional plastic. For instance, if a bag made from bioplastic ends up in the ocean, it would disintegrate entirely in just a few months, leaving no harmful residues behind.
Biodegradable plastic bags are also known as compostable shopping bags. Other than incredible decomposition properties, they are much easier to recycle. Also, the characteristics of these bioplastic bags are quite similar to those of polythene bags, which is why people are more comfortable using them because they look and feel familiar.
Almost every other large hypermarket and supermarket chain now offers compostable environmentally friendly bags to shoppers. This is not only good for the environment but also helps large commercial organisations to fulfil their corporate social responsibility and promote their positive image.
These were the four most easily available alternatives to polythene bags in Pakistan. To adopt an eco-friendly lifestyle, we have to revamp our way of life by turning to nature-friendly solutions.
Keeping in view the staggering growth of the urban population in recent years, reducing the carbon footprint of our ever-growing cities is more crucial than ever before. If we want to survive and thrive on this planet, we need to learn to coexist with nature. And the best way to do that is by remapping our urban centres with eco-friendly designs and sustainable infrastructures.
Turning to nature to face such global environmental challenges is not only feasible but clever. To learn more about natural solutions for environmental sustainability, you should also check out our blogs on sponge cities and rainwater harvesting. They explain different ways of conserving and reusing fresh water — the most valuable natural resource on earth.
How do you think we can make our lifestyle and cities more sustainable and greener to save our planet’s natural ecosystem? We’d love to hear your thoughts at blog@zameen.com and try to get back to you as soon as possible.
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