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Review of Plastic vs. Paper Bag LCA Studies <br />Page 4 <br />2. Plastic bags consume less than 6% of the water needed to make paper bags. It <br />takes 1004 gallons of water to produce 1000 paper bags and 58 gallons of water <br />to produce 1500 plastic bags.° <br />3. Plastic grocery bags consume 71% less energy during production than paper <br />bags.s Significantly, even though traditional disposable plastic bags are <br />produced from fossil fuels, the total non-renewable energy consumed during <br />their lifecycle is up to 36% less than the non-renewable energy consumed <br />during the lifecycle of paper bags and up to 64% less than that consumed by <br />biodegradable plastic bags.b <br />4. Using paper sacks generates almost five times more solid waste than using <br />plastic bags.' <br />5. After four or more uses, reusable plastic bags are superior to all types of <br />disposable bags --paper, polyethylene and compostable plastic -- across all <br />significant environmental indicators.e <br />~ :rre. <br />1. The manufacture of paper bags consumes twice as much water and emits about <br />60% more greenhouse gases than the production of plastic bags.' <br />2. Compared to disposable plastic bags, biodegradable plastic bags generate <br />higher levels of greenhouse gas emissions, atmospheric acidification and <br />eutrophification (a process whereby bodies of water receive excess nutrients <br />that stimulate excessive plant growth, such as algae blooms).10 <br />D-ACTIONS -- <br />more items in fewer bags, avoiding double bagging, switching to durable tote bags, <br />and reusing and recycling disposable bags, significant reductions in material and non- <br />renewable energy consumption, pollution, solid waste, greenhouse gas emissions, and <br />titter, will occur. <br />And, while recycling can help save resources, its. real value lies in the reduction of <br />greenhouse gas emissions, and the minimization of waste going to landfills. Also, <br />recycling helps reduce litter, as bags are contained and stored. Containment reduces <br />the potential for them to be left in open spaces, where they become eyesores. <br />28 March 2008 <br />