wrote in message ...
:::Jerry:::: wrote:

"Mary Fisher" wrote in message
et...
"Mike Hibbert" wrote in message
news:tnQhd.12589
snip

Actually Homebase do this now, they are actually pretty sturdy, we
easily
carried 4 * 1litre time of paint in it with no problem.

They've been providing the stout brown paper bags for many years.

But their effect on the environment is only lessened if the customer
either
re-cycles them or puts them in the recycle bin or whatever device is
available.


Bollox ! Paper degrades.

It's not just the matter of degrading or not, it's the energy and
materials used to make the bag(s).

If a paper bag uses more energy and raw materials to make it than
a plastic bag then it's going to do more damage to the environment
than a plastic bag even if it degrades into compost or whatever.

er - I didn't say that they were preferable to plastic, just that HB had
been using them for years ...

If they are put into landfill they degrade more swiftly than plastic bags
and, it has been opined, that their degradation is carbon neutral. That's
not true of plastic even in thousands of years.

If plastic bags are re-used (several times preferably) I wouldn't be a
bit surprised if they cause less damage to the environment than paper
ones.

As you suggested, it depends on the Ifs :-)

If paper bags are composted it's largely done by life forms, they don't cost
energy. The resulting composted material contributes - in our case - to our
food. If we grow our own vegetables (and eggs) we are saving energy in terms
of food miles, shoe leather, carrier bags of any kind ...

It's certainly not a simple problem.

Mary
--
Chris Green