Plastic bags are a major source of pollution. They are often used once and then tossed, creating a lot of waste. This has led many businesses to look for more sustainable solutions, like encouraging customers to swap single-use plastic bags for branded cloth totes. But some environmental experts assert that even reusable bags have a downside.
Businesses—from local museums to big corporations—give out or sell tote bags printed with their logos. The bags provide free, mobile advertising for companies and organizations. Today, many people carry these bags as a fashion accessory. Some bags featuring popular brands have become trendy ways for individuals to display their personal style and identity. The totes can also give people the sense that they’re doing something good for the planet.
But some experts note that reusable bags, particularly cotton ones, require a lot of energy and resources, like water, to produce. The Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark reported in a 2018 study that a cotton tote needs to be used 7,100 times—that’s once a day for 19 years—before it has less of a negative impact on the environment than a plastic bag. Laura Balmond, a manager at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Make Fashion Circular campaign, says cotton totes are “a really good example of unintended consequences of people trying to make positive choices.”
Some companies are finding new ways to produce tote bags and continue promoting their brands. They’ve started making bags out of less resource-intensive materials, like recycled cotton or water bottles. This way, customers don’t have to give up an expressive fashion accessory, and brands can still benefit from the free advertising.