Plastic bags and the consumer: The search for another way to shop

What’s more, the creator of the ‘I’m Not a Plastic Bag’ designer bags for life, Anya Hindmarch, was given an MBE in last month’s New Year’s Honours list.

But while national sentiment seems to be set against the plastic bag, the packaging industry has been arguing for years that, in environmental terms, it is the least of society’s problems. After all, plastic carrier bags account for just 0.2% of waste in the average dustbin, according to the Packaging and Films Association (PAFA).

They are also light, waterproof and cheap to produce – especially with the oil price falling. What’s more, PAFA has argued that Ireland’s decision to charge a levy on single-use carriers has backfired, leading to a net increase in imports of all plastic bags into the country.

So why are people still moving away from single-use carriers? We spoke to some of their biggest detractors to find out.

Christine Jeavans
BBC journalist who lived without plastic for a month

Living without plastic was challenging. There was more to it than I thought, because when you start looking into it, there’s plastic in almost everything. Although I wasn’t trying to get rid of the plastic that I already had, it was still difficult. Some of the things that I missed were bin bags and disposable nappies for my son. It’s not a nightmare to switch, but it took a lot of organising. I think the level of planning ahead was one of the most challenging aspects.

Prior to the experiment, I was an average consumer of plastic bags. I was aware that there were campaigns to get people to use fewer plastic bags and was an armchair supporter. I didn’t start from the view that plastic is bad, and from speaking to lots of experts it seems a very complex area – for instance you can say glass and metal are better because they are recyclable, but they are also heavier.

Doing the project has raised my awareness of all sorts of issues, of disposable and reusable packaging, not just plastic. It’s made me think about the whole chain of packaging. I do try to keep reusable bags with me, but there are times when I will forget. Reducing your use of disposable plastic can even save you a bit of money, for example by refilling a water bottle instead of buying a new one.

I think it’s possible to live with a lot less disposable plastic. It’s something that gets people going as it’s very visible in the environment and ends up as very durable litter. There are lots of ways to look at it, but it’s not that difficult to bring your own bag with you.

Janet Jones
Leader of the Women’s Institute campaign against plastic bags

Three years ago, taking free single-use plastic bags was not an issue for me. I always reused them to line my kitchen rubbish bin and for general use in the garden and thought I was being virtuous by using them more than once. What inspired me to change my attitude? Two things.

Firstly, a newspaper article I read by a wildlife camerawoman, Rebecca Hoskins. She was appalled at the suffering and destruction of marine life in the Pacific Ocean caused by our throwaway society. The cause of all this suffering? Plastic bags.

Secondly, I arranged for Pontypridd Women’s Institute to visit the local council’s recycling facility. The mountains of waste, and in particular single-use plastic bags, changed my attitude to recycling. I started to say no to free plastic bags, bought a kitchen bin with a removable inner bin and put all my compostable refuse directly into it. When emptied, it gets washed with soap and water – simple and hygienic.

We are fortunate in our borough – every household is now able to recycle food waste and other refuse, so there is very little actual waste. When shopping, I always carry a cotton shopping bag in my handbag and use hessian bags for the supermarket. I have recently launched a campaign in my home town of Pontypridd. The aim is to become the biggest town in Wales to be plastic bag free.

Dan Brousson
Co-founder, Onya bags

My brother and I set up Onya Bags in 2005. The idea came while visiting my brother in Australia, where we were inspired by the country’s plastic bag-free culture. He was sitting in a hammock made from parachute material, which could be folded away into a pouch, and we took the inspiration for Onya from that.

At first, people couldn’t understand why they should spend £6.50 on a bag. Now there’s been a huge change. The plastic bag has had a hard time and I think it will be the paper bag’s turn this year. The paper versus plastic debate is already starting to gather steam and I think that will move to the next level as people realise the carbon footprint of paper bags is quite high.

We are pretty much plastic bag free in my house. Humans are clever enough to change their behaviour so I don’t see the need for plastic bags.

Catherine Conway
Unpackaged grocery store in Islington, London

Unpackaged began as a market stall, before we were given a social enterprise grant and moved into a property in Islington. In 2006, the whole packaging debate wasn’t as big as it is now, so we did lots of information cards to explain how it worked. I think people identified with the common sense idea of it.

It usually takes people two to three goes before they remember to bring their own container. We have got to offer something for people who haven’t been in before so we have refillable ziplocked bags and you can buy Tupperware. We sell soup and salad for lunch and people in the offices around here will happily go back to get their containers if they’ve forgotten them.

I take a cloth bag when I go shopping. I think plastic bags are totally unsuitable and I would support anything that would lead to a total ban.

I’m not anti all types of packaging, but I’m anti-unnecessary packaging. Using plastic bags as bin liners is actually a bad thing, as they will go into landfill and will not biodegrade for a long time. I try to challenge that.

Alex Brownsell
Marketing journalist

Occasionally, I do use a cloth bag, but most of the time I don’t. If I’ve not got anything else with me, then of course I’m going to use plastic bags. There’s a convenience factor with plastic bags and I reuse them in the house for bins etc – it’s not like I just use them once and throw them away.

You can’t always be prepared. There are going to be times when you don’t have anything else. Perhaps you have to pop in to buy some stuff and you don’t have anything to hand.

Personally, I’ve always used plastic bags, but I’ve tried to be a little bit better in the past few years, for example when they give away bags for life I do take one, but sometimes I’ll use it for something else and then it’ll break or I’ll lose it.

I think it’s slightly ridiculous how people get on their high horse about plastic bags. In the grand scheme of the environment there are other issues that pose a far greater threat – for example food waste. Maybe we should focus on that before we tackle plastic bags.

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