Typical plastic bags don't biodegrade, they photodegrade - breaking down into smaller and smaller toxic bits contaminating soil and waterways and entering the food web when animals accidentally ingest. As part of Clean Up Australia Day, in one day nearly 500,000 plastic bags were collected. Windblown plastic bags are so prevalent in Africa that a cottage industry has sprung up harvesting bags and using them to weave hats, and even bags. According to the BBC, one group harvests 30,000 per month. According to the EPA, over 380 billion plastic bags, sacks and wraps are consumed in the U.S. each year.

Every ton of recycled paper bags purchased saves 2.5 barrels of oil, 4,100 kilowatt hours of electricity, 7,000 gallons of water, 3 cubic yards of landfill space & 17 trees. Find out more about our commitment to the environment >