Using paper bags in supermarkets
By anne25penn
@anne25penn (3305)
Philippines
March 12, 2012 8:33am CST
I live in a province here in the Philippines where there is a city ordinance that supermarkets can no longer use plastic shopping bags. Instead, they are using brown paper bags for your grocery goods. They also don't sell the plastic shopping bags anymore so even if you want to use a plastic shopping bag, they don't have any except for the reusable bags.
Now I have been using reusable cloth bags for shopping at supermarkets for the past four years. Not only did it reduce the plastic bags that I have lying around the house, I feel that I have contributed in my own little way in reducing the plastic wastes that are becoming a problem when the heavy rains come in my country.
But does this really help? I mean, it's not as simple as replacing the plastic shopping bag with paper bags. You as a consumer have to choose the least plastics in terms of the packaging of the groceries you buy. I had to shake my head as I saw the lady ahead of me in as she laid down her groceries on the counter. The amount of plastic from the small packages of junk food in my estimation is equal to three big shopping bags. So, even if you replace the big shopping bag with paper, there is still a lot of plastic waste from the small plastic packets of junk food.
I guess that our government has to focus more on educating people on choosing products with less plastic packaging. But I know that this will be very hard because our country is a land of retail and love those small packets because people feel that they are saving by just buying a sachet of shampoo, a sachet of toothpaste, etc. Are you aware of how much plastic you are still using from the food packaging that you buy and not just the shopping bag?
12 responses
@Ghajini (776)
• Philippines
12 Mar 12
I guess even though many of the products being sold in supermarkets still use plastic packaging, replacing shopping bags with paper bags still help in reducing the amount plastic waste that we produce. Furthermore, SM and Robinson's supermarkets are already offering those cheap reusable eco-friendly bags made of durable material, the small ones sell for 10 pesos.
However, in small markets and convenience stores where in these eco-bags are not available, you may experience one of the major drawbacks of using paper bags especially when you bought something a little bit wet like bottled drinks, because the paper bags tend to get wet and broken easily.
@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
12 Mar 12
SM in Laguna has to teach their staff (baggers) how to bag groceries using paper bags. I know the ordinance started just this March and it is evident on how they bag groceries. I remember the stress I had and I had to direct the cashier on how to bag my groceries because I don't have a car and I don't have any intention of grasping three small paper bags of groceries. I had to take pity on the guy ahead of me because he had to juggle eight paper bags of groceries because the cashier bagged the groceries in the manner that they did when they were using plastic bags, meaning that they would place four or five items in a small bag or separate soap from food. The paper bags that they were using were also small, so you are really stuck with a ton of paper bags if you don't have your reusable bag with you.
@Ghajini (776)
• Philippines
13 Mar 12
I also remember one time, I bought something that was a bit wet and the big paper bag got ruined, it was a big hassle for me. I had no choice but to put some of my groceries inside my school bag lol. However, there are times when I do buy a lot of groceries or some bulky ones, the baggers would opt to use boxes which is more convenient. Oh well this is really inconvenient for the majority of the people.
@yahnee (1243)
• Philippines
13 Mar 12
This recent banning of plastic bags in many cities has not been given proper research before it was ordered. While their idea is good for the environment, it is the people who should be taught on the proper disposal of these plastic bags and packages. While cities are controlling the use of plastic bags, what happens to those sachets and tetra packs that we see in the trash? How about the candy wrappers? Did we look into the lost jobs of the employees working for companies manufacturing the plastic products? How about the inconvenience of putting fish in paper bags or cloth bags? Did they realize how many trees need to be cut in order to produce all those paper bags? We are trying to promote a paperless society to limit the cutting of tress for the purpose of making paper. We need to be taught responsibility. Plastic bags can be recycled instead of being thrown into the landfills. The plastics would not find itself in the waterways were it not for the irresponsibility of the majority of the population. Nobody cares even the government and more often it is too late to make a viable solution.
@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
13 Mar 12
Exactly my point. It seems like a band aid solution for me which will not even make a dent in the number of plastic wastes we throw in our sewers and rivers. It's more than just replacing the bags that are being used at supermarkets to resolve the plastic wastes polluting our waterways.
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
13 Mar 12
that is true, there are still plastics wrapped by the chips, the candies and so on. even labels are made of plastics and softdrinks are in plastic containers, i think that this however is next on the line. but for us to be able to contribute on the lessening of the plastic bags... it goes a long way already.
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
12 Mar 12
Hello Anne, It's been happening almost everywhere and soon more will implement the use of plastic bags. I first heard about this where my brother lives in Las Pinas City, recently when my mom brought a KFC take out, it was with a paper bag. maybe it's a good thing but we have to be vigilant and not being blind on how many trees that's going to be cost.
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
13 Mar 12
yes Las Pina, that is my small city, we are learning to adjust to the ordinance right now, my brother had some stuff fall down he's motor bike, but we can cope especially if it's for our environment, maybe we should use something that's gonna be used over and over again like a bamboo basket, now for those who pack, I think we should create tree farms to get the raw products there insted of cutting down trees from the wild to make these paper bags
, everything can be cultured including trees, if we can do it with prawn or bangus, then why not with paper trees same thing other countries do with their pine trees that are used for Christmas.
, everything can be cultured including trees, if we can do it with prawn or bangus, then why not with paper trees same thing other countries do with their pine trees that are used for Christmas.
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
13 Mar 12
I am glad that some supermarkets and places in Metro Manila are already implementing that.
Here in our province, an ordinance about the non-usage of plastics is in process. Though, they say that big and thick plastic bags can still be used. I am confused, because it should be that it should already be eradicated too. 
@angelgee14 (462)
• Philippines
13 Mar 12
There is always advantages and disadvantages with everything.Eliminating the plastic bag is good to avoid these problems our country encountered during rainy days- clogged drainage and also rivers. But, paper bags means, more cutting of tress as well. Which means, we will lose a lot of trees in due time.
@mimiang (3760)
• Philippines
12 Mar 12
I am glad that some med reps give us shopping bags as give away so that I need not buy bags for my shopping. For me it is better than plastic or usage of paper that will go to waste bins and become a source of pollution. I guess that it is a good practice to use the reusable bags
@06MLam (620)
•
12 Mar 12
Agree with you. I think people have to change their attitude so as to change their behaviour. I think they have to learn how to save the energy on the Earth, knowing what is necessary and what is not. For example, it doesn't really help much to use paper bags, especially when you are buying something like meat, seafood, paper bags just don't work at tall. However, things like snacks or any other thing with packaging which is not wet can be put into reusable shopping bags.
@dynzdolina (381)
• Philippines
12 Mar 12
A simple yet very popular and practical way to lessen plastic usage. When we entirely live with a lot of plastics around then throw it simultaneously in a sewerage, clogging and flooding comes as a vengeance. Garbage thrown is rubbish to us back.
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
12 Mar 12
Use of plastic bags is already banned in our city effective January 1, 2012. It's a typical kind of plastic that they call "sando" and the same holds true with styrofoam. When I was young. I happened to live in our country where such type of plastics were unknown and we managed, and I would attest that it was a cleaner environment back then, I remember mom using a bamboo woven basket to go to the market and the same basket was used over and over again. If your concern is the smaller packet of plastics used to repack or for snacks, think that belongs to a different class of plastic, even if it's not then it would be in a lesser quantity to block water ways and could not be used as garbage disposal bags that people hang on gates waiting for a dump truck. I know it would take time but at least we are starting and the day will not be far when we would be using biodegradable, bio plastic is really easy , it's just starch, glycerin, an acid like vinegar and heat, now to produce it in large commercial quantities or if government has the political will to enforce it is another thing.
@doggydimon (1369)
• Philippines
12 Mar 12
I guess you are right, 99 percent of the packaging now is made of plastic. I think the only way to help save the environment is to teach proper recycling techniques and disposal. One key factor here is segregation. If one community is keen on segregating every waste we have, we can take away the plastic and recycle them or re-use them. I have seen one in a province where the locals and expats are carrying hand made bags as shopping bags that were made of junk food wrappers and tetra packs. Even one noontime show entices its viewer to collect all the plastic bottles and recycle them so that they are made into plastic school chairs which they will donate to schools in the province or in the slum areas. So far, these are some of the ways where we can reduce the waste caused by plastics and thus helping in protecting mother earth...
@TheIrishClog (985)
• Ireland
12 Mar 12
Here in Ireland, we are charged €0.22 per plastic bag that we wish to use. I always bring my own, even before we were charged. Personally I agree with the charge.
