A new survey report released today by the Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF), based on tests taken by Frontier Global Sciences located in Seattle, found that many reusable bags sold today by major U.S. retailers are unsafe lead.
CCF works as a force against “the nanny state” and for “consumer freedom”. They also seem to argue that food, beverage, and foodservice companies should be able to act, sell and give what they want, regardless of environmental or social impacts. Frontier Global Sciences is a private company that provides environmental analysis and sampling services.
In a press release, CCF senior research analyst J. Justin Wilson said: “environmentalists are putting pressure on retailers to sell these bags.” It should also be noted that prohibiting store delivery and allowing widespread use of non-biodegradable single-use plastic bags will inevitably result in stores selling cheap and dangerous reusable products.
However, it is hard to believe that banning plastic bags from China and Italy to various American cities does more harm than good.
Consider the amount of MyWegmansConnect waste that single-use plastic bags have had in recent years: According to estimates by the Green Blog Environmental Leader, 100 billion single-use plastic bags are used each year in Europe. Meanwhile, San Jose Mercury News reports that only 13% of recyclable and non-biodegradable plastic bags in the United States are recycled each year.
Until innovators or design and MyWegmansConnect technology groups like PopTech’s Eco materials Innovation Lab and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition can develop a unique, impact-free bag, environmentally conscious buyers should probably pick their own free, reusable lead.
It’s also possible to make one of the old-school disposable plastic items or buy them in safe recycled materials at a specialized online store like ReuseIt.com or One Bag (tip: Ecosalon).