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Dr. Mercola
February 16 2008
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Whole Foods to Stop Use of Plastic Bags

plastic bags, shopping bags, paper bags, reusable bags, biodegradable, poop bags, pollution, environmental hazards, environmental toxinsThe Whole Foods grocery chain plans to stop offering customers plastic grocery bags, and instead use only recycled paper or reusable bags.

A rising number of governments and retailers are banning plastic bags, or discouraging their use, due to concerns about their environmental impact.

Whole Foods had previously tried to get customers to buy reusable bags, but the concept did not catch on until they began offering them for 99 cents.

Whole Foods officials estimate that the store currently distributes 150 million plastic bags a year.

Plastic bags are typically thrown away after one use, do not break down easily in the environment, fill landfills, and float into trees, rooftops, roadways and oceans.



Dr. MercolaDr. Mercola's Comments:

Plastic pollution causes more than 1 million seabirds, 100,000 marine mammals, and even more fish to die in the North Pacific alone, every year.

The problem is so bad that a plastic “stew,” twice the size of Texas has formed on the Pacific Ocean. Scientists have dubbed the mass of floating plastic trash the “Eastern Garbage Patch,” and its volume is growing at an alarming pace. Even more shocking: when researchers tested the water of the Pacific Ocean, they found it contained six times as much plastic as plankton, by weight!  

It’s not just marine animals that are poisoned by all these stray plastic bags. You too (and your breast fed baby) are ingesting plastics every day through the food chain. It’s a hazardous mix of chemicals and additives, such as:

  • Cancer-causing PFOAs
  • PBDEs, which cause reproductive problems
  • Phthalates; another group of reproductive toxins
  • BPA, which disrupts the endocrine system by mimicking the female hormone estrogen

The end result of breathing, eating, drinking and absorbing all of this plastic includes obesity, declining fertility rates and other reproductive problems, and cancer, just to name a few.

Sobering Statistics on Our Use of Plastic

The statistics on our use of plastic bags world-wide are truly staggering. For example, did you know that:

  • Between 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide annually. That’s more than one million bags PER MINUTE!!
  • U.S. consumers use more than 380 billion plastic bags annually
  • Taiwan consumes about 20 billion bags a year, or 900 per person annually
  • Australians consume 6.9 billion plastic bags each year, or 326 per person
  • Ireland consumes about 1.2 billion plastic bags, or 316 per person 

Of these billions of plastic bags: 

  • Only 1 to 7 percent are recycled
  • It takes 1,000 years for polyethylene bags to break down
  • During that 1,000 years of photodegradation, toxic substances leach into the soil and enter the food chain 

According to the BBC, windblown plastic bags are so prevalent in Africa that cottage industry groups are now harvesting about 30,000 bags each per month, which they use to weave bags and hats. 

And, plastic bag litter can now be found as far north as Spitsbergen (78° North latitude), and as far south as the Falklands (51° South latitude). 

Why Switching to Paper is FAR From the Best Solution

While switching to paper might appear to be better than sticking with plastic, paper also, unfortunately, comes at a very high price to your environment, and your health. In fact, they’re roughly equal in their number of pros and cons. For example:

    1. Producing a paper bag requires more than four times as much energy than it does to produce a plastic bag.

      A plastic bag uses 594 BTUs, compared to a paper bag, which uses 2511 BTUs during the manufacturing process.
      (Source: 1989 Plastic Recycling Directory, Society of Plastics Industry.)

    2. The majority of paper comes from tree pulp, so naturally the impact in the form of deforestation is enormous. In 1999, 14 million trees were cut to produce the 10 billion paper grocery bags used by Americans that year alone.

      In fact, paper bag production delivers a detrimental double-whammy as forests (major absorbers of greenhouse gases) are cut down, combined with the actual manufacturing process of the bags, which produces toxic greenhouse gases, acid rain, and water pollution.

    3. Although paper bags have a higher recycling rate than plastic, only 10 to 15 percent of paper bags are recycled. And, making matters even less attractive, it takes 91 percent LESS energy to recycle a pound of plastic than it takes to recycle a pound of paper.

    4. Last but not least, current research indicates that paper does not degrade at a substantially faster rate than plastic once it’s in a landfill. This is because virtually nothing degrades completely in modern landfills due to lack of water, light, oxygen and other factors necessary for successful degradation.

What’s the Answer?

At the end of the day, your best option to ensure a cleaner environment and better health for both man and beast is to use reusable, cloth shopping bags.

I read an article a few weeks ago about how one country, I believe Ireland, put a 35 cent fee on ALL plastic bags.  They did not ban or make them illegal, anyone could still purchase them, BUT this simple act done six years ago virtually eliminated the use of plastic bags in their country.

A few of my readers have commented on the dilemma of what to do about their pet waste as they’re trying to reduce their dependence on plastic bags.

For this situation, a good alternative is to buy biodegradable doggie bags, which you can find online on sites like www.poopbags.com and www.ecoanimal.com. They sell bags made from 100 percent biodegradable corn and other renewable sources.

Plastic bags may seem like an insignificant issue but they certainly add up over time and this is clearly one area where you can have a dramatic impact if you encourage your friends, family and neighbors to follow your lead.
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Community Comments ( 175 )
 Comment on this Article
  
  
LORENLSMITH
 [ Joined on 03/07 ] [ Posted on February 16, 2008 ]
23 Points        
   
 
Novice User

The answer my friend is blowing in the wind .....how can we ignore the reality that the real fakers are in Washington (who allow laws that limit solutions).  Hemp is more practical and renewable than forests for paper.  Hemp improves the soil rather than deplete it.  Hemp is a superior source of vegetable protein.  Hemp cloth lasts and looks better than cotton, uses less chemicals for cleaning and is better for the human body for health.  Hemp seed oilis a wonderful salad oil....tastes better than fish oil, olive oil, or even coconut oil.  We the people are supposed to be the government and they the bureaucrats the governed.  We must retake our country or lose it.  We will suffocate in our chemicals, drown in our plastic, and rot in our fungus.  Together we can do it!!!!

 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
carol
 		[ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on February 19, 2008]
       
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Please explain the "rot in our fungus."  What is the source or cause of growth of the fungus?

Mercola
  
hannah4nat
 		[ Joined on 02/08 ]  [ Posted on April 17, 2008]
       
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Amen.  There are so many things that if everybody does life would be so much better.  Not to mention cleaner.

  
  
PatriSpain
 [ Joined on 07/07 ] [ Posted on February 16, 2008 ]
17 Points        
   
 
Novice User

Ever wonder how your grandparents (adressing baby boomers here) got their groceries home?  I remember my grandmother (in Germany) always had a few net bags in her pocket or or cloth bag when she went grocery shopping at the open air market a few times a week.  The net bags roll up into almost nothing and she made her cloth bags.  Vegetables were weighed and given to you in paper cones of recycled paper...meats in butchers paper first then wrapped up in newspaper then given to the customer.  There were no plastic bags...these were introduced to Germany by the Americans at one point...I think 70's?

For normal shopping, she always had a net bag tucked into her purse.  Those things hold huge amounts and you could buy them anywhere cheaply.  I wish they were available again.

I like to to use canvas bags when I can.  Re the comments about all the water and soap wasted to wash them...oh come on!  They just get thrown into whatever is washing anyway whenever they get too dirty!  When is that, every few weeks/months??  :>D

 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
tracyguyer
 		[ Joined on 12/06 ]  [ Posted on February 16, 2008]
8 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

I agree, PatriSpain.  Washing canvas bags does not waste water or soap.  I have quite a few canvas bags, but I don't wash them that often.  I certainly don't have enough bags to fill a whole load of laundry.  When I do wash the bags, I just throw a few in with a load of laundry that I'm already planning to wash.  No waste there.

Mercola
  
dccdmom
 		[ Joined on 08/07 ]  [ Posted on February 16, 2008]
3 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

www.reusablebags.com has string bags. I always amazed at how much I can fit i one of those bags.

Mercola
  
Carol M
 		[ Joined on 10/06 ]  [ Posted on February 26, 2008]
       
   
Novice User
  Mercola

PatriSpain - check here for net bags - www.malmoexports.com/Stringbags.htm - I am in no way affiliated with this site, just something I use myself.

Mercola
  
DRK
 		[ Joined on 07/07 ]  [ Posted on February 26, 2008]
       
   
Novice User
  Mercola

This post brings back memories.  When I was a little girl, my Mother (who is German) carried one of those net bags in her purse; my grandmother (Oma) had crocheted it for her and it even had a shell that folded around the netting when it was rolled up (to about the same size as a 8 year old's fist).  My mother gave up trying to use it here in the U.S. because back then using your own bags was just not done <sigh>.  Wish my Mom still had the bag.

  
  
isabelle
 [ Joined on 12/06 ] [ Posted on February 16, 2008 ]
13 Points        
   
 
Apprentice User

Frankly I'm not impressed. America is lagging far behind the rest of the world.

When I moved to Germany in 1976 they had been recycling ALL bottles for years already & continue to do so. In addition, you had to PAY for plastic bags (which you still have to do) so most people brought their own bags. France switched to recyclable bags about 3 or 4 yrs ago....America always thinks it's so smart - a front runner. The reality is that it is the most wasteful society on the planet.....I am glad that Whole Foods, of all companies is waking up and I guess late is better than never although they of all people should have thought of it whenthey went into business.

Isabelle

 [ Reply ]
  
  
Ninja
 [ Joined on 07/07 ] [ Posted on February 16, 2008 ]
12 Points        
   
 
Novice User

Great. Now all they need to do is remove the following ubiquitous ingredients from their food products, and maybe I'll care about their silly plastic bag stunt:

Corn syrup

High fructose corn syrup

Crystalline fructose

Fructose

Canola oil

White flour

White sugar

Table salt (sodium chloride)

Copra

Autolyzed yeast extract (MSG)

Hydrolyzed vegetable protein (MSG)

Yeast extract (MSG)

Autolyzed yeast (MSG)

Cooked honey

Mono- and di-glycerides

Artificial food colorings

Silicon dioxide and other flow agents

Dried milk powder

Cooked honey

Pasteurized/homogenized milk

I have a list that I've been collecting for months, but I don't have it in front of me. Those are just the ones from memory, as if that isn't enough!

WFM is a sham and is destroying the American public's ability to get truly healthy food by putting smaller, more health-conscious stores out of business.

 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
eatreal
 		[ Joined on 02/08 ]  [ Posted on February 16, 2008]
6 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Right on Ninja!!!! I was starting to get worried that I was the only person who noticed that they FLAT OUT LIE about their "prohibited ingredients" as well as misleading people into thinking all the seafood they sell is sustainably harvested - WHICH IT IS NOT. Most of their meat isn't even from the U.S. - ask them - it's from Canada and South America. And they don't put the country of origin on their bulk foods because MOST OF THEM ARE FROM CHINA. And the same is true of the ingredients in their 365 foods. Ask them - they will scuttle around for 15 minutes to get a manager's okay who will then finally tell you flat out that they have confidence in the ingredients they are getting from China - because they're Whole Foods.

While our Natural Foods Co-op carries a small handful of products that contain some not so great ingredients (namely they have a local BBQ sauce that has HFCS and local tortillas that have calcium propionate and a few vegan items with HVP/Autolyzed yeast), it's nowhere near as bad as what I find at Whole Foods and at least at the Co-op they TELL YOU THEY DO and put little warnings on the products and they ALWAYS point out excellent clean alternatives.  Plus, they are all about getting their customers to buy fresh organic local produce and bulk foods that aren't from China and encourage people to make their own meals. And they ONLY sell sustainable seafoods and meats raised in the Midwest that are either organic or raised without antibiotics,hormones, animal by product in the feed. GMO's in the feed, and under humane farming practices on PASTURES.

My town is full of people who think Whole Foods is perfect and they CLAIM the prices are better than the co-op but THEY ARE SO WRONG.I have price compared many many times and yes on a couple of things Whole Foods is less, but when you look at your total bill, you will always spend LESS at the co-op and get better quality foods. And you won't be lied to. I wish people would WAKE UP!!!

Mercola
  
Beccadog
 		[ Joined on 10/07 ]  [ Posted on February 16, 2008]
7 Points        
   
Apprentice User
  Mercola

Whole Foods stores let you know very clearly what foods are grown by the organic method and which are conventional.  They carry both.  They are not lying to people.  If people chose to select produce with their eyes closed, that is not the problem of the stores --it is the problem of the client.  READ LABELS. USE YOUR BRAIN.  If you don't like what you see, don't buy and go elsewhere.

However, buying food grown by the organic method is proven to be healthier and safer for families' health. Additionally, when I could walk, prior to my surgeries, I either walked to the store or rode my bicycle, and carried my cloth bags full of groceries (which did not break unlike plastic bags) home.

The U.K. has always been more advanced compared to the U.S.A. on many items. Paying more taxes to support sustainable policies is definitely better than letting corporations dictate policy, as is done in this country.  In fact, environmentally, especially under the dictatorshop of the petrochemical industry, the USA is just about last in environmental protection and public health concern.

Mercola
  
MuleMarm
 		[ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on February 16, 2008]
7 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola

NINJA! You GO! The most sane comment so far! I'm copying your LIST!

I challenge Joe Mercola and all who get into this assanine discussion to:

Enter any Wal-Mart or similar store, and JUST count those IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN WITHOUT A CHAIN SAW plastic packaging... Less chance of cutting oneself with the chainsaw, than any other method of opening those abominable packs... AND FAR more plastic is used in those, than that carousel of plastic bags at the checkout!

YES! "They" would like to see great outfits like Whole Foods, and all the little  HealthFood guys go under...

Blessings, MuleMarm

Mercola
  
Ninja
 		[ Joined on 07/07 ]  [ Posted on February 18, 2008]
5 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Thanks, Eatreal and MuleMarm! I just found two more crappy ingredients last night. They had a cranberry cheese that had propylene glycol(a type of antifreeze) in it, and some frozen ravioli had(I wasn't looking to buy it - pasta is bad - but it looked like it would have bad ingredients...get this...sodium bisulphite. Add two more ingredients that have no business being in our food to the list.

Now, to address Beccadog, who seems to be an apologist for WFM, yes, WFM is indeed labeling their food. Some of it. Many of their own prepared foods do not have ingredients listed. And they are lying to people because they're claiming to be a health food store. Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but no true health food store would carry so many foods with such bad ingredients, and have half the store devoted to breads, candy, crappy "nutrition bars" and other junk. They do indeed lie about MSG, as they claim not to carry products that contain it, when they clearly do (it's not listed as MSG, but rather autolyzed yeast extract and others). It's not a matter of shopping with your eyes closed, it's a matter of not being able to eat anything in the damned store because it's all crap!

Most of their produce comes from out of state or worse yet overseas and is conventional, not organic. I recall entire summers in Chicago when there were not organic watermelons or limes anywhere at WFM in Chicago.

As for your comment about "go buy elsewhere", that is precisely what I'd LIKE to do, but cannot do. WFM brutally crushes small health food stores using underhanded, semi-legal (if not outright illegal) tactics. Sherwyn's used to carry ONLY organic produce, and WFM put them out of business. Likewise, they screwed Sunflower Market and others out. WFM is about the only so-called health food store in the Chicagoland area anymore. They deserve to be put out of business forever, which is hard to accomplish when they have a monopoly. Power corrputs. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Mercola
  
Smacky
 		[ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on February 18, 2008]
1 Points