Inspiro Bags UK
Inspiro useable bags UK
Reusable bags are the sustainable alternative to single use bags
On the 19th November 2007 Gordon Brown announced plans to reduce the use of lightweight plastic bags "…we can eliminate single-use disposable bags altogether in favour of long-lasting and more sustainable alternatives."
Why single use plastic bags are harmful to the environment....
WRAP, the Waste and Resources Action Programme estimate that, in the UK, we get through 10 billion plastic bags every year (1). This roughly equates to 165 bags for each person in the country and represents 60-90,000 tonnes of plastic. Plastic bags can cause immense damage to wildlife, especially in the marine environment where ingestion can result in blockages, internal infections, starvation and death. A minke whale, washed ashore in Normandy in 2002 had 800g of plastic in its gut including several recognisable UK plastic shopping bags (2). Apart from the potential damage to wildlife, plastic bags litter the environment we live in. According to the last litter survey by the Marine Conservation Society Beachwatch, the average density of plastic bags on our beaches is 39.9 plastic bags/km (2).
These are the reasons why Gordon Brown, along with many local councils, London boroughs, the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly all support the policy to tax or ban single-use plastic bags. The alternative is the ‘bag for life’ or re-usable bag that is now heavily promoted by most large supermarkets.
Re-usable bag fabrics
Inspiro Bags supply re-usable bags in three different fabrics – non woven fabric cotton and jute. The non woven fabric is a synthetic material which is fully recyclable, hardwearing, lightweight and extremely versatile. Cotton and jute are natural alternatives to the non woven fabric although this does not mean they are more environmentally friendly (see below).
Non woven fabric
The full name for this fabric is non woven polypropylene, it is the same material as that used for many of the supermarket re-usable bags. It is a thermoplastic polymer that can be melted down and recycled in the same way as recyclable plastic bottles and made into things like garden stakes, garden furniture and flower pots. The Greenpeace ‘pyramid of plastics’(4) classifies non woven polypropylene as one of the less hazardous plastics in circulation.
Non woven fabric has a very good strength to weight ratio so the bags are light and durable. As they can be re-used over a long period of time their ecological footprint is relatively small. When bags finally give up they can be recycled in domestic recycling wheelie bins that take polypropylene and are provided by many local councils. If this facility isn’t provided in your area then Inspiro will recycle your bags for you.
Cotton & Jute fabric
Cotton and jute are natural alternatives to non woven fabric but they are not necessarily more environmentally friendly. The production and manufacture of cotton bags generates higher levels of green house gas (3) and uses approximately 20 times more water (5) than the production of non woven fabric. There is less published information relating to jute as a fabric for re-usable bags but growth of the crop certainly requires a lower input of fertilizer and pesticide than is required for cotton production. As a result the level of green house gas emission is likely to be lower for jute production compared with cotton production. The jute crop does require a plentiful water supply but it is generally grown in countries that have a monsoon, so water is supplied naturally rather than through irrigation, which is often the case in cotton production.
There is insufficient information available in the literature to provide a full analysis and comparison of the environmental impacts of the three different fabrics. All re-usable bags contribute to waste reduction and the movement away from single-use products, so whichever fabric you choose you will be helping the environment.
Manufacture and delivery
Our bags are all manufactured in China and shipped to the UK in bulk containers. This form of transport has one of the lowest levels of carbon emission per tonne kilometer (approximately 7gms of CO2/tonne/km). Although we can air freight bags for express delivery this does have an environmental cost (approximately 800gms of CO2/tonne/km) so we are keen to encourage our customers to take the most environmental route, even if it takes a little bit longer.
