Paper, Plastic, or Reusable? The Truth About Green Grocery Bags

It seems like a simple question with a straightforward answer, but when you look at the total environmental impact of each type of bag, things start to get a little complicated.

Hosted by: Hank Green

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Sources:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/life-cycle-assessment-of-supermarket-carrierbags-a-review-of-the-bags-available-in-2006
https://www2.mst.dk/Udgiv/publications/2018/02/978-87-93614-73-4.pdf
https://wedocs.unep.org/xmlui/handle/20.500.11822/31932
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0956053X17306335
https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/~/media/EPA/Corporate%20Site/resources/waste/160143-plastic-shopping-bags-options.ashx
https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/pol.20150261
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0956053X19300960?via%3Dihub
https://theconversation.com/how-life-cycle-assessments-can-be-mis-used-to-justify-more-single-use-plastic-packaging-147672
https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/textiles-material-specific-data
https://science.sciencemag.org/content/347/6223/768
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.8b06984
https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/understanding-global-warming-potentials
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11270-014-2184-6

Images:
https://www.istockphoto.com/vector/brown-paper-texture-background-gm1223542237-359437972
https://www.istockphoto.com/vector/set-of-recycle-symbol-vector-illustration-isolated-on-white-background-gm1163514230-319508364
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/use-plastic-bags-gm999802822-270379266
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/green-bag-full-of-gorceries-gm176129887-10580251
https://www.istockphoto.com/vector/fresh-groceries-in-assorted-bags-and-baskets-gm1224396734-360004166
https://www.istockphoto.com/vector/set-of-shopping-and-grocery-bags-natural-farm-healthy-food-organic-fresh-fruits-and-gm1286199280-382781960
https://www.storyblocks.com/video/stock/equipment-on-a-factory-4ijttrwqlikdrt5gl
https://www.storyblocks.com/video/stock/close-up-of-seller-putting-grape-in-plastic-bag-seller-selling-fruits-at-fruits-market-people-food-shopping-and-consumerism-concept-se0cgobguklgw5hqx
https://www.storyblocks.com/video/stock/dumped-on-the-grass-plastic-bag-flapping-by-the-wind-scattered-trash-on-the-ground-b-3ibg6llk8bt2gne
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Greenhouse-effect-t2.svg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Facial_wash_gel_bottle_made_of_LDPE.jpg
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/potato-starch-compostable-wrapper-gm1134191168-301293840
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/irrigation-in-field-of-growing-potatoes-gm480284727-36410078
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/paper-factory-with-smog-gm161335746-23062040
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/polypropylene-tote-bag-gm1285008061-381974633
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/aerial-view-of-a-cotton-picker-working-in-a-field-gm1066048706-285076624
https://www.istockphoto.com/vector/fresh-groceries-in-assorted-bags-and-baskets-gm1224396734-360004166
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/plastic-grocery-bags-gm1134594827-301537418
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/the-store-that-keeps-my-cupboards-stocked-gm1210530753-350723516
https://www.istockphoto.com/vector/robot-and-human-pushing-trolley-carts-full-of-groceries-robotic-character-vs-man-gm1202169675-345025762
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/garbage-dump-with-flock-of-birds-gm1180639577-330833525
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/office-recycling-gm181880902-24657029
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/pollution-gm1280810625-379026431
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/landfill-garbage-gm184868014-18426110
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/underwater-global-problem-with-plastic-rubbish-gm1141999585-306181883
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/garbage-and-seagulls-gm178415548-24571213
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/small-bin-gm507329159-45304564
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/woman-carry-bag-on-nature-background-in-save-earth-concept-or-say-no-plastic-bag-gm1205275036-347135142
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/food-delivery-during-quarantine-gm1217134622-355160629