Even if single-use plastic is banned, replacements—like paper sacks or synthetic “reusable” totes—can still cost a lot. To match the climate impact of a single plastic bag, paper takes more energy to make and needs to be reused multiple times.
“Reusable” bags at the grocery might be plastic-laced “fabric,” creating waste when stocked and barely used. They’ll leave a big carbon footprint if we don’t bring cotton totes along frequently and reliably. Ultimately, the best bag is the one you will use repeatedly, so habits matter more than labels.
