Compostable Produce Bags. Not Biodegradable (harmful). Trader Joe's uses compostable.

Lara

Lara

Friend of the Arts
Location
Mid-Atlantic Coast
Biodegradable bags actually harm the environment because they decompose at a slower rate than the trash inside would be able to if exposed to the air, boosting methane gas emissions. But Compostable bags are regulated by the gov't and actually decompose, capturing greenhouse emissions in the soil.

Whole Foods needs to get with it! As well as other supermarkets! For the past few months Trader Joes has been using compostable grocery bags instead of plastic ones. They're great! I think this is a major breakthrough! I wonder why it is taking so long for stores to get on board? Money?

"The study showed that if typical household compost were applied to just 5 percent of California’s grazing lands, “the soil could capture a year’s worth of greenhouse gas emissions from California’s farm and forestry industries.”
Think about that. That’s a heck of a lot better than throwing your food scraps in a biodegradable bag, only to later learn that they’re boosting methane gas emissions." https://www.plasticplace.com/blog/5-surprising-secrets-of-biodegradable-plastic-bags


 

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Many stores in the Uk use biodegradable carrier bags..but not all..so now we pay a minimum of 10p for any ''single use'' plastic carrier bag provided by the store.. However , even the biodegradable bags still aren't free

The use of plastic carrier bags since the charge came in to force has been reduced by a massive 85% .

When I was a child, every mother used a pull along wheelie shopping trolley...as they still do on the continent., but unlike on the continent where every town and village have food markets within walking distance, most of us in the UK and particularly the USA, Canada and Australia , often have a long drive to our nearest stores, so the reason wheelie shoppers haven't had a resurgence from our mothers' day, ( which btw would be so much better for our backs) is simply I believe, because once they are full, they are very heavy and just too difficult to lift in and out of cars..so we continue to struggle with shopping bags..
 
But what I'm saying is that biodegradable bags are not good for the environment.
Do any of your stores use Compostable bags for produce yet?
That's the way to go. The reason is in the opening post.
 

Just get rid of the plastic bags. Hawaii did this a few years ago (2012??) and we all carried reusable bags in the trunk of the car. If we forgot to take them in, we just bought more reusable bags in the store. I ended up with about 2 dozen before I was able to make it a habit. One grocer - Safeway - used paper bags if you forgot you reusable ones.

Now that I'm in AZ, plastic bags are everywhere, but I still carry in my reusable bags.

p.s. - you do have to wash those reusable ones on occasion. I've seen some nasty ones while on the island.
 
I always use to carry reusable bags in my car but would always forget them.
There's even a sign in the parking lot saying "Don't Forget Your Reusable Bags :rolleyes:

Have you seen these Compostable bags in Hawaii yet? They're different. Kind of rubbery like soft lightweight latex gloves
 
Those are great! I think I've seen those around. I read the link you posted. It's interesting that biodegradable actually hurts the environment when it sounds so environmentally friendly.

These compostable bags I was referring to in the thread title are meant to replace the small plastic bags on on those rolls hanging above the produce. I edited my title to clarify that (sorry). They also have them at checkout for meats that may leak. Then they put everything in paper bag.
 
Yes we have those for the meat and fish... but not as carrier bags..yet, well not any store of which I'm aware..
 

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