Did you know...
A bag coming from Asia that calls itself "green" ultimately generates large amounts of greenhouse gases from international transportation (bringing the bags to us). Not to mention that some asian countries are also the biggest polluters of the planet. A bag produced in Quebec generates employment here and is safer ecologically. Find out with your grocer the provenance of his reusable bags!
A reusable bag is "green" when ...
1. The raw material and the bag itself are made closer to home.
2. It is robust and durable (to be reused as long as possible).
3. It can be recycled at the end of life.
Surprisingly, reusable bags made of natural fibers (cotton, paper, etc.) are often not an ecological and a socialy responsible choice. Cotton transported from Asia, Africa or Latin America generate important greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the amount of water needed and the pesticides used for its culture, have significant impacts on the environment. Also the wear and tear of cotton makes its life span shorter than the ecolo-sacTM. In addition, In Quebec, we recycle very little cotton. Thus, at the end of life, bags made of cotton end up finding their way with other waste in landfills. Finally, less than envious working conditions of cotton pickers make this alternative even less attractive in terms of social responsibility.
A reusable bag made of sturdy plastic and fiber produced in Quebec has much less environmental impact and, in most cases is a socially responsible alternative.
On a purely environmental comparative degree (which does not take into account the social, equitable or economic aspect of the manufacturing) the three bag options were made by an Australian Life cycle analysis. In the table chart below, you will find the synthesized information.
Excerpt from the Life Cycle Analysis: « Plastics Shopping Bags – Analysis of Levies and Environmental Impacts: Final Report, 2002.
Department of Environment and Heritage. Environment Autralia »
21 000
The number of workers in the textile industry in Quebec who lost their jobs between 2002 and 2005 primarily to the Asian market.
100
The number of jobs created in Quebec since the beginning of the project of the ecolo-sacTM.
6 régions
The number of regions in Quebec where the ecolo-sacTM is made: Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Mauricie, Quebec, Chaudière-Appalaches, Center-du-Quebec and Eastern Townships.
850 $ per tonne
Is the average price of the fabric used (HDPE) to manufacture the ecolo-sacTM on the recycling market. This plastic, high-density polyethylene, is highly sought by the recycling companies because of its value.
It becomes more interesting to recycle this material than sending it to the landfill.
20 minutes
Is the average life span of traditional plastic shopping bags.
400 years
Is the average time it takes for a plastic grocery bag to degrade in the environment!
5 200 sacs
Is the average number of conventional plastic bag that a family can save when using a reusable bag with a lifetime of 10 years!
17%
Is the actual current recycling rate in Quebec!
65%
Is the goal for recycling rate by 2008! (Quebec Policy Waste Management).
