Did you know that it can take up to 240 years for one plastic bag to decompose? Or that when plastic bags are incinerated there are claims that the substances given off include carbon dioxide which is a major culprit in the greenhouse effect and global warming? The first step to “Going Green” can start with your everyday shopping. We should all be using recycled material canvas, net, cloth, or hemp bags.

It is so important for every single one of us to do what we can to go green and help save our planet, and it is easier than you think. Just by changing the way we shop will make a huge impact on the planet and bring us closer to saving our earth. Before you go green, here are some simple facts to consider:

Plastic is made of polyethylene, a derivative of petroleum or, during oil crunches, natural gas, according to Dick Paplinsky, vice president of sales at American Western Corporation, a leading manufacturer of plastic products including bags. Since no standards have been established for the biodegradability of polyethylene, decomposition rates vary but always involve a “long, long time,” Paplinsky admits. The answers I came across in terms of the time frames for a plastic bag to fully decompose range from as short as one year to as long as 240 years. Complete incineration of plastic bags is possible, some claim, but the substances given off include carbon dioxide, which is a major culprit in the much-publicized greenhouse effect and global warming.

Now, it’s time to do something about it. It is becoming easier and easier to make the right choice to use recycled bags to shop with and you can find them anywhere! You can find them at your local grocery store, or your favorite fashion boutique. Everyone is waking up to the fact that we have to act now and this is the easiest way to make a difference. So, the next time you are out shopping for your next pair of summer sandals or fabulous earrings to complete the perfect outfit for a girls night out, just grab your shopping bag before you leave the house so not only will you look great, but you will be saving the planet in the process!

Here are some of our favorite sites to help you get started finding the perfect recycled bag to shop with, and also give back to help save our beautiful planet. Happy Earth Day!

Find 1000’s of Earth Day Tote Bags on CafePress

www.reusablebags.com
www.treehugger.com
www.thedailygreen.com

Want to shop green online? Save 10%off with $$ Double Drugstore.com Dollars!

Popularity: 4%

Share It