The ‘Eco-Friendly’ Carrier Bag
Prior to the introduction of the plastic bag charge in 2015, single-use plastic bags dominated the retail arena. Free & handy, there was no reason for retailers not to offer these bags, as they enabled shoppers to purchase more items without consequence and they were relatively inexpensive.
Fast forward over a decade, and there’s few areas we’ve seen such drastic change in than carrier bags. With the introduction of the 10p charge for plastic bags, retailers were forced to charge consumers for their bags, or pivot to plastic alternatives. Many retailers opted for paper bags as an alternative to plastic – considered as more environmentally friendly as it is a more widely, and easily recyclable material.
Many consumers, familiar and content with the durability and ergonomics of plastic options, felt that switching to paper alternatives signalled a compromise or a downgrade. Concerns around carry weight, handle comfort, and durability (susceptibility to tearing & water damage) were primary contributors to this feeling.
There’s no doubt that the quality of paper bags has improved over time, but are paper bags a compromise, and should we be considering switching back to plastic?
The Good, and the Compromises
Paper bags provide a versatile and unique carrier bag option that has proved incredibly popular. The kraft paper rustic look and feel gives off natural vibes that resonate and complement a range of brands and messaging.
Paper bags provide a fantastic canvas for printing your branding, and styling in your brand colours. Paper bags are also great for food & catering brands, whether you’re using flat handle bags for a packed lunch, or counter bags for breads and cakes. Simple to print and colour, you can style your paper bag in your way. For twisted handle paper bags, there’s also the option of coloured paper handles that can complement or contrast your bag’s colour.
Paper bags also find a great, classy middle ground between the pricier quality of a luxury bag and the simplicity of a polythene option. It’s easy to create a bag that stands out from the crowd and is also an effective marketing tool.
There is a perception from consumers that paper bags can feel like a bit of a compromise. This can often stem from instances when retailers charge for their paper bags, despite not requiring to by law, as paper bags are exempt from the plastic bag charge introduced in 2015. Paper is much easier to store than bag types such as fabric or luxury, but compared with plastic, paper takes up more room and is much heavier, which may be the reason so many retailers choose to charge for their paper bags.
There’s also an argument that paper bags are less robust than other bag options. Paper is a material that is susceptible to tearing – a problem that is only partially mitigated through the use of thicker paper (thus, more material and cost). Paper bags do tend to be very strong, and very rarely is the material actually an issue for most day-to-day functions, however paper bags do have a lower carry weight capacity than other carrier bag types. Paper is also susceptible to water damage. While most paper bags can survive the odd British drizzle, prolonged exposure to water or other liquids will compromise the integrity of a paper bag.
The Environmental Credentials of Paper Bags
One of the main reasons we’ve seen a shift to paper, isn’t because it is recyclable, but because it’s easily recycled. Paper bags can be placed in any UK recycling bin, and its materials are easily recycled into new paper products. Many plastic products, in particular plastic bags, cannot be recycled in this way even though they’re completely recyclable.
This doesn’t mean to say that all paper gets recycled. In the UK, 80% of household waste is recyclable, but only 45% of it gets recycled, and it is estimated that around 5 million tonnes of paper ends up in landfill sites every year. Also, just over 70% of paper and cardboard waste that is sent for recycling ends up getting recycled, with this amounting to 3.8 million tonnes (so around 1.5 million ends up as general waste). Not all paper is recyclable, and paper can only be recycled so many times before it loses quality.
Paper bags are also biodegradable, though this can be a lengthy process (up to 6 months). This is a saving grace of paper when it goes to landfill, as it takes significantly less time to decompose than plastic. However, the process of creating carrier bags utilises chemical solutions that not only contribute to air pollution but also introduce potentially toxic and polluting substances into the soil when placed in landfill. Compared with plastic bags, paper bags produce 70% more air-pollutants and 50% more water pollutants.
Paper bags can be reusable, but their integrity can often be compromised through tear and water damage. In order to offset the environmental production of a paper bag, it needs to be reused 3 times. This can be achieved, however lower quality paper bags lack the durability to be reused 3 times, and consumers also often see paper bags as a single-use option that is disposed of before reaching this threshold.
Paper bags are made from renewable materials, which is often an environmental factor that is considered positive. In practice, the paper-making industry is actually incredibly harmful to the environment. 24 trees are required to make 1 tonne of paper, and the removal of trees means less greenhouse gases can be removed from the environment. Paper production globally causes significant damage to forests, consumes large amounts of water, and destroys important ecosystems.
Paper is also easily compromised by mess and therefore can become unrecyclable. Whereas plastic is easy to clean, paper is not. Therefore, if a paper bag (or any form of paper-based packaging) is compromised by food, it presents a challenge when attempting to recycle the material. Further, due to its lack of structural integrity, paper is often lined with a plastic lamination to enable its use for more stressful tasks, for example, containing beverages, or reinforcing a luxury gift bag.
Should I Choose Paper Carrier Bags?
When it comes to printed carrier bags, brands are blessed with a plethora of options. Each option has its benefits and drawbacks, and each brand will have its own requirements when deciding whether a certain bag type fits the bill.
Paper bags are a fantastic option for brands that care about showing an outward appearance of environmental consciousness. When you block out the wider picture, a paper bag is a really good choice for most businesses. There’s no plastic bag charge and they’re cheaper than fabric & luxury bags, meaning significant cost savings for both businesses and their consumers. They’re recyclable at home, making them convenient for consumers and conscientious brands. They also provide a fantastic option for a printed carrier bag, with no limits on customisation options regarding colour, size and printing.
For the most environmentally conscious businesses that want to move away from plastic, there are a range of alternatives to choose from. We discuss what makes an eco-friendly carrier bag in our recent article, which is incredibly useful for brands wanting to make informed decisions about their carrier bags based on a bag’s environmental impact from production to disposal. Options such as sugar cane bags, which are made from waste sugar cane polymer, can be a good alternative. These bags however don’t differ all that much from regular plastic bags which also often utilise waste material in their production. Biodegradable carrier bags such as potato starch bags are a good alternative, but also have their drawbacks when it comes to proper disposal.
When evaluating paper carrier bags, it’s important to recognise that there’s no perfect solution, and that every carrier bag has its merits and consequences. Choosing the bag that’s right for your brand is all about seeing which option ticks the boxes that you care about.
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