Friday Follies - It's in the Bag

Takeaway

As of 1st July, stores are no longer able to provide single-use, thin plastic bags.  Well, hasn't this created a mighty uproar amongst the privileged Aussies?  Especially for those that shop at the two major grocery stores.

I have to say that I am all for helping the environment because we truly are killing it with our disposable lifestyle, and the whole 'if you can't see it and can ignore it, it's not a problem' attitude.  I'm the first one to put my hand up and say that I am a person of convenience, and could do so much more to help the environment.

Another victim

For the record, I make sure that my cosmetic and cleaning products are cruelty free where possible.  No animal should be tortured because I want thicker eyelashes or a shiny floor.  And to be honest, it's easy as there are a lot of products available at the big chain stores, and they are often the same price or cheaper than the big brand items.  They are also good quality, so I don't feel like I'm being deprived.

However I admit to giving little thought about what I'm putting in the landfill.  I conveniently put my rubbish into the bins, don't recycle as well as I could, and then once a week it all gets removed from my sight.

The change of rules for plastic bags has made me have a closer look at my habits and lifestyle and that's never a bad thing.  I am a firm believer that even small changes can make a difference.  I dutifully bought my canvas bags, placed them in the boot of my car, and have been using them successfully at my weekly grocery shop.  I was even really good and put in the special bag from the bottle shop that has nice little compartments for wine bottles.  Thumbs up, Christine.  I actually like these bags much better - I can fit a lot more in them and the handles don't dig into my hands.  The masses cry out - But you have to remember them!  Yes, you do.  But you remember to put your undies on in the morning (sometimes inside out, but they are on!) and you manage change in your life constantly, surely you can do this one little thing??

Thumbs Up!

However, I can't help but feel a bit cynical over this whole plastic bag ban.  I still see so much plastic packaging at the shops, and the stores just sell their plastic bags now....and they are thicker plastic than the previous ones.  I'm puzzled as to how this is actually helping.  There are still a lot of plastic carry bags leaving the shops.  If there was more effort by big conglomerates to reduce packaging (why do 6 tomatoes need to be in a plastic small crate covered in plastic?  And yes, I do buy the loose fruit and vegetables, not the pre-packaged ones.), I would be more convinced that they were doing this for the right reasons.   This change could also create employment opportunities.  It is harder for the check out person to pack the canvas bags and it is a slower process.  Do you remember the days of two people at the checkout?  One to process the item, the other to pack the grocery bags?  They'll never go for it though.  It's all about reducing staff - the largest cost to any business.  They fail to see that staff are their biggest asset.

I get confused.  We can make hybrid cars, we constantly create new and different brands of mascara and other potions and companies are continually spending billions on research and development.  Why, oh why, has someone not invented a 'plastic' that is compostable or not harmful to the environment.  Wait, they have (a quick Google search will bring up pages of hits), but it's not in the economy of big business.  It's so disappointing. 

No plastic for you.

I digress - back to the whinging Aussies.  My Facebook feeds, the local news, etc has been chock-a-block full of articles about the bag ban.  How dare they? is the overwhelming theme.  Other states in Australia imposed this ban years ago.  Surprisingly, they still exist, haven't gone into economic meltdown or fallen down into a big blob of what was once flesh and bone, never to function again.  Get over yourselves.  I have seem more outcry over this than I have about the woeful and inadequate jail sentences given to murders, drug dealers, child molesters and animal abusers.  If people put the same amount of effort into the real injustices that exist in our world, the world would indeed be a better place.  And if people put the same effort into demanding a real recycling effort from business, they could really accomplish something wonderful.

We have the technology...



I think my Grandma and her generation had it right.  She always could produce a little fold up fabric bag from her handbag (something that folded and zipped down to the size of a wallet) or a string bag that I remember her using at the green grocers. 

There is hope - I see so many more companies springing up that really do care about the environment and provide cost-friendly items such as produce bags, bamboo or stainless steel straws that can be ordered online and mailed to your house. (Flora and Fauna https://www.floraandfauna.com.au/ and Biome https://www.biome.com.au/ ...just two examples.)

For those whinging about convenience - does it get more convenient than that?