Projects

why are plastic bags an issue?

• A person uses a plastic carrier bag on average for just 12 minutesWorldwide over 1.2 trillion plastic bags are used a year, an average of 300 bags for per person. That’s over 1 million bags being used every minute
• Scientists estimate each plastic item could last in the environment anywhere between 400 to 1000 years (New Scientist)
• Excess packaging is not just bad for the environment, its bad for your pocket. 2007 studies show that excess packaging costs the average UK family about £470 a year (London.gov.uk) (BBC News)
• When a plastic enters the ocean it becomes a harmful litter. Marine animals mistake plastic bags for food and swallow them, with painful, often fatal consequences
• Plastic bags as with all forms of plastic do not biodegrade, they photodegrade – breaking down into smaller toxic bits contaminating soil, waterways, oceans and entering the food chain when ingested by animals
• Nearly 90% of floating marine litter is plastic (Algalita) (MSC)
• Plastic production uses 8% of all the world's oil production. At the current rate the world produces 200 million tons of plastic a year (waste online) Less the 3.5% is recycled (Algalita) (Greenpeace Ocean defenders)
• Since the 1950’s almost every piece of plastic we’ve ever made, owned, used and thrown away is still here on the planet in one form or another, whether it’s in our homes, landfill or in the environment. It will still be here for centuries to come.

Have a look at this PDF PDF 

You can now watch Message In The Waves online - the film that started the whole plastic bag thing...

by Algalita Marine Research Foundation for more detailed information.

Here is a great short film about the problem with plastic bags:
 PLASTIC PLANET: THE CURSE OF THE CARRIER BAG  

where to get your bags

The Bin Company
Biodegradable cornstarch rubbish bags, shopping bags, foodwaste bags, nappy bags, dog waste bags and much, much more …
They provide convenient and environmentally beneficial products for the disposal of rubbish either at home or in the work place.

The Garden Shop
Compostable refuse sacks and more ...

Anglo Packaging Ltd
branded biodegradable bags and soon to supply cornstarch bags
Silverdale Industrial Estate
Meadow Road
Worthing
BN11 2RZ
Tel: 0845 644 8186
Email: info@anglopackaging.co.uk

GoGreenpak
GoGreenpak is an eco-friendly carrier bag manufacturer and supplier. The only printed carrier bag company in the UK that is 100% dedicated to the environment.
6 Holly Meadows
Winchester
SO22 5FQ
Tel : 01962 852182
Email: gogreenpak@blueyonder.co.uk

Bags2Keep
POBox 55
Torpoint
Cornwall
PL11 3WY
UK
Tel : +44 1503 250865
Mob : +44 7802 386384
Email: rod.baker@btconnect.com

Tshirt and sons
11 Washington Road
West Wilts Trading Est
Westbury
BA13 4JP
Tel: 01373 301 645
Fax: 01373 301 647

Biobag Limited
Comet Road
MOSS SIDE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
LEYLAND
LANCASHIRE
PR26 7PF
UK
Tel: +44 1772 641 348
Fax: +44 1772 621 065
Email: biobag@btconnect.com

Carrier Bag Shop
Unit C18,
Hastingwood Trading Estate,
Harbet Road,
London,
N18 3HU,
UK
Tel: +44 870-777-7673
Email: info@carrierbagshop.co.uk

Turtle Bags
1, Hardcastle Villas
Worcester Road
Stourport on Severn
Worcestershire
DY13 9PA.
UK
Tel: +44 1299 827092/ +44 1299 827092
Email: turtle.bags@yahoo.co.uk

London Bio Packing
Unit 42, Pall Mall Deposit
124-128 Barlby Road
London W10 6BL
Tel: +44 20 8969 8086
Email: info@londonbiopackaging.com

Biobags (Scotland) Ltd
4 St. Ninians
Monymusk
Inverurie
Aberdeenshire
AB51 7HF
Scotland, UK
Sales contact: Karen Mackenzie
Phone: 01467 651 247
Fax: 01467 651 247
Email: info@biobags.co.uk

other stuff

100% compostable cups

The Paper Cup Company
Units 13-19
Moorside Farm,
Worston,
Clitheroe,
Lancashire,
BB7 1QB
Tel: +44 (0) 1200 441969
Fax: +44 (0) 1200 440909
Email: sales@thepapercupcompany.co.uk

links

information about plastic bags
Modbury
Planet Ark
The Global Marine Litter Information Gateway
Friends of the Earth
The Green options
The Marine Conservation Society
Fighting the plastic bag plague (checkout the “bags used this year” counter)

thanks to plastic bag free Brightonfor help with this information