In a recent life-cycle assessment (LCA) study by National Environment Agency (NEA) in Singapore, it was revealed that using one non-woven bag over a year can replace the use of 125 single-use plastic bags or 52 single-use paper bags. Such is the impact of non-woven bags on the environment.
At a time where plastic shopping bags are the most common type of litter and are known to block drainage systems, the above statistics can play a major role in educating people. The floods of 1998 in Bangladesh were also partly caused by the blocking of drainage systems.
Another major havoc being caused by plastic bags on a regular basis is the inclusion of toxins in the food cycle. Leaching chemicals into the water supply, they are slowly poisoning it.
Not only humans but the lives of animals and birds are also at stake. Midway in the North Pacific Ocean, which is home to the biggest albatross colony, away and isolated from any human contact, these birds have been found dead.
A further study revealed that the reason for their death is the accumulation of plastic wastes in their stomach, which mostly included plastic bags. It is when these birds migrate away from the ocean to find food for their young that they consume plastic.
A major part of the wildlife on Earth is in the seas and oceans. Thus, not only albatross but various other species are at the risk of injury or death. Marine animals mistake floating plastic bags as jellyfish and consume them. Sea turtles are one of the species, which face extinction partly because of their plastic consumption.
An autopsy report of a beached whale revealed 20 square feet of plastic in its stomach, leaving no room for anything else. The problem started only after the inclusion of plastic bags in the mainstream market a few decades ago.
It is high time we understand the gravity of the situation. An answer to this, as mentioned above, are non-woven bags. With increasing awareness, people have started using them instead of their plastic and paper counterparts. However, a complete transition is still far away.
A major role in this is being played by brands, which are manufacturing non-woven bags and understanding the need of the hour. Zedpack is one such name producing non-woven shopping bags and packaging bags. With a wide variety of bagging options to choose from, not only end users, but companies and retail stores can also opt for bags to package their products.
The list of benefits when it comes to non-woven bags is endless. They are recyclable and hence, do not pollute the environment. Also, these bags are durable and last for at least 5 years. Furthermore, they are cost-effective, burn without ash or soot and most importantly, are not hazardous for animals, humans or the environment.
