Plastic bags traditionally used by major supermarkets are often used once and then thrown away. These plastic bags can take up to 1000 years to decompose naturally (Adane & Muleta 2011) and so bags that find their way into the environment have the potential to cause harm over this 1000-year period. The negative effects of these single-use plastic bags are widespread, with major effects including wildlife harm as animals mistake these plastics for food, soil quality erosion from the chemical leakage as plastic bags decompose, and human health impacts (Northern Te
itory Environment Protection Authority XXXXXXXXXXAs sustainable development considers natural capital and social development as well as economic development (Ha
is & Roach 2018), it is clear that these plastic bags have the potential to halter sustainable development through reducing both natural and social capital.
Seeking to reduce the potential harm of single-use plastic bags, state governments have placed a ban on the single-use bags and large retailers have voluntarily removed them from their business models. In 2002, some 6.9 billion single-use plastic bags were used in Australia (Australian Government 2002, p.9). Since implementing bans on these bags there have been significant reductions in their use. For instance, in the first 3 months of voluntarily removing the bags from Australian supermarkets, there was a 1.5 billion decline in the number of bags used in the economy (Khalil XXXXXXXXXXIt is indisputable the policy has resulted in dramatic decreases in single-use plastic bags. Which arguably provides sustainability benefits as natural capital is no longer depleted to the extent it was by such items. However, consideration must also be given to the re-usable plastic bags that have taken the place of single-use bags, as well as alternative options such as cotton bags. Edwards and Fry XXXXXXXXXXfor example, find to reduce environmental impact, reusable plastic bags offered by supermarkets must be used at least 4 times, paper bags 3 times, and cotton bags 131 times. Therefore, if there is to be a net benefit to sustainable development, there must be substantially less sales of these replacement bags than of the previously provided single-use bags.
From researching this issue, it is clear the major supermarket chains are unwilling to disclose sales numbers for their reusable and supposably environmentally friendly bags. It is therefore difficult to argue whether the ban has worked or not. However, from personal experience, I would say the ban is failing. If I were to look in my cupboard right now, I would find at very least 30 reusable bags as I forget or just do not bother to take them each time I go to the supermarket. I note this is the same situation for many of my friends and family, leading to the assumption that it is quite common. Furthermore, whilst at the supermarket, I notice many others follow the same pattern, to the point where the checkout supervisor ca
ies the reusable bags to hand out to customers, obviously realising that most will require a bag. Also noteworthy, I no longer receive any secondary uses from these bags, for instance as bin liners. Instead, I now purchase plastic bin liners which no doubt contributes to environmental degradation. Based on this, it is hard to conclude that the ban on single-use bags is providing sustainable development, rather it seems to be a cash grab for the supermarket chains whilst environmental issues are likely to remain.
References:
Adane, L & Muleta, D 2011, ‘Survey on the usage of plastic bags, their disposal and adverse impacts on environment: A case study in Jimma City, Southwestern Ethiopia’, Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health Sciences’, Vol. 3, No. 8, pp XXXXXXXXXX.
Australian Government 2002, Plastic shopping bags in Australia, National Packaging Covenant Council, Canbe
a.
Edwards, C & Fry, J 2011, Life cycle assessment of supermarket ca
ier bags: a review of the bags available in 2006, Report No. SC030148, Environmental Agency, U.K.
Ha
is, J & Roach, B 2018, Environmental and Natural Resource Economics: A contemporary approach, 4th edn, Routledge, New York.
Khalil, S 2018, ’Australia-wide bag ban leads to 1.5 billion fewer plastic bags in the environment’, news.com.au, December 3rd 2018, viewed 22nd September 2019,
www.news.com.au/lifestyle
eal-life/news-life/australiawide-bag-ban-leads-to-15-billion-fewer-plastic-bags-in-the-environment/news-story/678f21eb838fb6706baa370bc3b3ec29>.
Northern Te
itory Environment Protection Authority 2019, Environmental impacts, NTEPA, N.T, viewed 22nd September 2019,
ntepa.nt.gov.au/waste-pollution/plastic-bag-ban/environmental-impacts>.
Re: discussion
y Alice Davies - Friday, 27 September 2019, 5:17 PM
Hi Michael, thanks for kicking off the discussion. It was interesting to hear that you still use plastic bags with the extra cost. I came across an article which talked about the potential profit to big retailers like Coles and Woolworths through the sale of multi-use bags. It was “…estimated that Coles and Woolworths previously gave away a combined 5.7 billion bags a year at 3 cents per bag, working out to a total cost of $171 million. Under the new scheme, Dr Mortimer predicts they will use just 1.18 billion of the heavier bags at a cost of $106.1 million.” (Chung 2018).
That’s a massive $71 million dollar profit. This is definitely concerning – makes you question is a total ban the most effective way? I personally believe it’s a great start, as it encourages mindful consumption, not only because of the cost but because of the message behind the ban. However, I wonder if there is any environmental gain in a scheme similar to ‘containers for change’ where there is direct savings to the environment? I'm not suggesting a return scheme as single-use plastic bags are a completely different product, but the underlying idea of people making money out of good behaviours may be a better incentive to change their behaviours and work towards Australia's sustainability goals.
Chung, F. (2018). ‘Good business sense’. [online] NewsComAu. Available at: https:
www.news.com.au/finance
usiness
etail/good-business-sense-coles-and-woolworths-to-rake-in-71m-profit-from-plastic-bag-ban/news-story/873158aa67b7c8bfd4490c60c0efac68 [Accessed 27 Sep. 2019].
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Re: discussion
y Afroz Keramat - Saturday, 28 September 2019, 7:46 PM
Dear Alice,
Thank you very much for your constructive feedback.
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Re: discussion
y Rebekah Parikh - Thursday, 17 October 2019, 12:19 PM
Hi Michael
I really enjoyed your response particularly because it made me consider your points over a number of days. First I went and had a look at the figures available regarding the costs of plastic and renewable bags from the supermarkets. I hadn't considered the windfall that the supermarkets have more than likely made. I agree with the bin liners being an additional cost and impact.
I then thought about what I do when I forget my bags (which I do often). I don't buy new bags but pack everything into my trolley and then put it all into my car. I then observed what others did when they had forgotten their bags when next at the supermarket. They bought more bags.
It also made me think about the quality of alternate bags that were generally sold and their impact on sustainability. I think these are potentially low in quality and require replacement relatively quickly. I then thought what I could do to replace my bags with something more durable.
This then made me think about the starting of a new shopping norm. Perhaps banning, either voluntarily by businesses or by legislative measure, is just the start. It may be that real and long term change requires the individual to take responsibility for moving towards sustainability.
So in the end, thank you Michael for such a thought-provoking response.
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Re: discussion
y Tristan Collocott - Friday, 18 October 2019, 10:05 AM
i agree alot with the statement of how the ban isnt really being effective to a degree however some shopping centre like aldi dont use plastic bags at all, which shows that the ban may be taking some effect, most of the groceries in my household come form aldi cus its cheaper and the quality is generally the same, so we tend to have very few if any palstic bags, however the point on bin liners i couldnt agree more with through the use of these bin liners we have actually managed to reduce the amount of ways to reuse the 'single use' plastic bags from the supermarkets that still use them, fo example im aware that foodworks doesnt offer reusable bags like aldi does isntead they charge u for the palstic bags which is as you mentioned jsut a money grab for super markets as opposed to a help for the environment because everyone needs a abg once they have more than they can ca
y in their hands. personally though i beleive the ban is making a difference its just not at the level that everyone was hoping when the ban wa sput in place, larger supermarkets like woolworths and coles should be offering reusable bags like aldi does i dont know if they are the only option or if palstic bags are still offered but in my opinion that atleast shows that the ban has had some effect on our plastic waste.
Assessment 1
Online participation
This assessment item is different from forum discussions conducted via the StudyDesk. Details including the specific due dates for each discussion topic are provided via the StudyDesk.
TOPIC FOR THIS ONLINE PARTICIPATION:
Critically argue whether a nation-wide ban on single-use plastic shopping bags is helping Australia attain sustainable development goals.
Top of Form
Bottom of Form
Assessment: Online participation
Description
Marks out of
Wtg (%)
Online participation
100
10
One posting is to be a response or answers to the topics outlined above and one is to be a thoughtful reply to your fellow students’ posts. That means, two posts
Your postings or contributions do not need to be long. Quality in postings is more important than quantity. Quality is judged by your ability to demonstrate knowledge of the readings or topics. Each posting is expected to be limited within 250 words.
Marking criteria
You will be assessed on the following criteria:
1. completing a minimum 1 new posts and three 1 reply to fellow students;
2. actively encouraging and participating in discussions;
3. demonstrating knowledge of the topics through coherent discussion and critical arguments;
4. displaying a productive engagement with course materials (Textbook, Study Guide and readings);
5. using a co
ect referencing system where appropriate;
6. using co
ect grammar, spelling and syntax.
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