Comments on: Plastic grocery bag shortage in Spain????

By: absurdflaneur

absurdflaneur — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 22:38:39 +0000

Reusing plastic bags for your garbage is ok, but I find that gives people the excuse to constantly forget their cotton bags and end up using more plastic than is necessary….if you really want to be serious about helping the environment, skip plastic altogether and for your garbage use biodegradeable bags made from potato. They look and feel just like plastic, you can buy them at good eco stores.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:03:49 +0000

@Brad – You do have a good point there… the reusable bags last a long time and are quite durable. I have to admit it.

By: Brad

Brad — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:39:19 +0000

Reusable bags are €1 each at Carrefour (£1 at Morrisons in Gib). They’ve been slow to catch on, but they’ve been around for a few years here in Spain. It’s only now that they’ve made plastic bag illegal (about time really) that people have been forced to change.

The reusable webbing and ripstop bags kick ass on any plastic sack. They hold their shape, they’re easier to pack, they hold more, they are easier to carry, and they fit in the trunk of the car better without tipping over and squashing everything. They are almost indestructible. You can rinse them out and they last forever.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 23:46:26 +0000

@bbrian017 – Using them for your lunch is another good idea… I’ve done that as well.

By: bbrian017

bbrian017 — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 22:54:56 +0000

@Chris I use the the re usable bags all the time. In Canada it’s a must and you see people rarely using the plastic again.

@matt I use them also for my lunch it works pretty good! I’m starting to run out hahah!

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:55:58 +0000

@Matt – You’re right… the whole “reusable bag” trend hasn’t really caught on much here.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:37:19 +0000

@Dana – Thanks for the links, they do open your eyes… I suppose you’re right, the “rationing” of bags is probably due to an increased consciousness.

@bbrian017 – I use the plastic bags in my garbage all the time as well… that’s what I like most about them, and by using them in this way I feel like I’m at least not “directly discarding” them without at least a little bit of recycling going on.

By: bbrian017

bbrian017 — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:21:11 +0000

I use the re usable bags and I swear by them.

I do miss having the plastic bags to use in my garbage when I’m done with them but apparently it’s better for the environment.

I like your attitude and agree they shoudl be banned!

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 09:01:39 +0000

So I’m guessing Spaniards haven’t gotten onto the reusable shopping bag trend yet?

By: Dana

Dana — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:09:47 +0000

Hi Chris,

Personally I think plastic bags should NOT be given out to customers in stores anywhere in the world. I could go on and on about how destructive plastic bags are for the environment but I think you should check out this website to understand just how serious their impacts are:

http://www.reusablebags.com/facts.php

Cotton or mesh shopping bags are an excellent alternative to single use plastic shopping bags and are WAY more DURABLE and effective as shopping bags. All you have to do is get in the habit of bringing a few with you when you shop! I don´t know about you but every time I carry groceries in a plastic bag I´m always worried it´s going to break (even if it´s double bagged) and with reusable bags you never have this problem. Many grocery stores in the US now sell cotton or mesh bags for a few dollars so that people will begin using them instead of plastic which is great but the situation has been slow to improve.

When I studied abroad in Valencia last spring I didn´t notice any bag rationing going on but I think the bag rationing you are seeing is a sign of the growing consciousness surrounding plastic bags.
Check out these websites for info about the US and China in regards to plastic bags:

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/05/plastic-bags-ban-and-tax.php?daylife=1&dcitc=daylife-article
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2009-05/26/content_7944466.htm