Plastic bags are inexpensive, strong, and efficient; however, plastic bags have several negative effects on the environment. Whether it's ordering takeout from your favorite restaurant or doing your weekly shopping, plastic bags are the primary source of packaging. There are many comforts of everyday life that are pushed upon consumers because they are the least expensive option, but the long-term costs, such as the impact plastic has on the environment, weren't taken into consideration. Here are some of the disadvantages of plastic bags and the advantages of biodegradable bags.

Disadvantages of Plastic Bags

One of the most discouraging disadvantages of plastic bags is the effects they have on wildlife. Plastic bags and plastic packaging are notorious for harming wildlife, especially in and near the ocean. Plastic bags have been found floating on the oceans, washing up on shorelines, and landing in the forests. Marine life often mistake the bags as food and end up entangled in the bag, or they end up dying from the plastic entering their digestive system. Other disadvantages of plastic bags include the following:

1. Grocery bags and restaurant takeout bags are made from polyethylene; they are photodegradable, but not biodegradable. Photodegradable means the bags require sunlight to break down, so putting them in landfills only hides them from the sunlight. It takes years for plastic bags to break down.
2. Packaging products, such as glass, cardboard, and plastic, do not dissolve in water. Instead, the particles of this type of waste are collected and carried away by runoff water, which ultimately ends up in sewage systems. The accumulation of plastic, glass, and cardboard waste in the sewage system can cause clogs, unpleasant odors, and some types of hygienic problems.

The Advantages of Biodegradable Bags

Biodegradable grocery bags and biodegradable takeout bags are made from polymers that are produced from farmed products. They do not contain synthetic materials that have been manufactured in a laboratory. So, instead of using petroleum-based polyester, biodegradable bag manufacturers use a combination of cornstarch and natural and synthetic materials when making their products. The actual production and breakdown of biodegradable bags are not bad for the environment. Whether your business is a grocery chain or a neighborhood restaurant, choosing to use biodegradable grocery bags or biodegradable takeout bags has a number of advantages, including the following:

• Takes less time to break down in the environment and gets absorbed into the earth
• Requires less energy to produce
• Easy to recycle
• Non-toxic
• Releases very little greenhouse gas and harmful carbon emissions, so there is less pollution to the environment

If you are a business owner, consider using biodegradable grocery bags or biodegradable takeout bags. Offering these products to your customers will not only allow you to do your part in reducing your carbon footprint and protecting wildlife and marine life but will also allow you to have a hand in your customers' ability to do the same.