“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”
-Mahatma Gandhi

When it comes to the environment, we believe that everyone wants to do the right thing. However, many people are not aware that their behavior may be destructive. Ignorance is no longer bliss. Many times it is just more convenient not to know.

In reality, something as trivial as a paper or plastic bag contributes to the destruction, pollution and green house effect of our planet (not just the United States).

“They clutter landfills. They flap from trees. They float in the breeze. They clog roadside drains. They drift on the high seas. They fill sea turtle bellies.”  ¹

Similar to candy wrappers, chewing gum, cigarette butts, and thousands of other pieces of junk, millions of the plastic bags end up as litter. Once in the environment, it takes months to hundreds of years for plastic bags to breakdown. As they decompose, tiny toxic bits seep into soils, lakes, rivers, and the oceans. ²

Conventional plastic bags are not readily biodegradable, they photodegrade – breaking down into smaller toxic bits contaminating soil, waterways and the food supply of many animals including our own. They are commonly made of polyethylene and can take up to 1,000 years to break down in landfills and eventually emit harmful greenhouse gases.  ³

Plastic bags have gone “from being rare in the late 80s and early 90s to being almost everywhere from Spitsbergen 78° North [latitude] to Falklands 51° South [latitude], and will be washing up in Antarctica within the decade.”  ⁴

Likewise, paper bags are not any better as they take more energy than plastic bags to produce, therefore maintaining and promoting a waste culture while adding to the litter and overfill of our landfills. Beyond enormous energy costs, 14 million trees in 1999 alone were cut down to manufacture the 10 billion grocery bags used by Americans.  ⁵

Nearly 4 billion trees worldwide are cut down each year for paper, representing about 35% of all harvested trees. Fortunately, many of the trees used for paper come from tree farms which are planted and replenished for that purpose (it only takes 20–30 years for those trees to grow, that’s all!).  ⁶

According to a 2000 report by PaperCom Alliance the demand for paper worldwide has grown 30% in the past 6 years and is projected to grow even more.  ⁷

According to the U.S. Toxic Release Inventory report published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), pulp and paper mills are among the worst polluters to air, water and land of any industry in the country. The Worldwatch Institute offers similar statistics for the rest of the world. Each year millions of pounds of highly toxic chemicals such as toluene, methanol, chlorine dioxide, hydrochloric acid, and formaldehyde are released into the air and water from paper making plants around the world.  ⁸

Most paper and plastic bags go unrecycled (less than 3%). These easy convenient bags are inconvenient to our environment – and people, governments and organizations are finally acting. It’s time for a change. Although many countries already have government-mandated policies towards reducing the use of single-use bag consumption, the United States is behind in enacting such legislation.

However, a change is coming soon. For example, on March 27, 2007 the City and County of San Francisco became the first U.S. city to ban common plastic bags. Beginning December 1, 2007, San Francisco will begin their enforcement of this law and fine noncompliant stores. Stores will also be required to offer reusable bags made of canvas or other such materials for sale.  ⁹

Therefore, it is time for us all to make a slight change in our lifestyle. If the convenient bag is the paper or plastic bag received in the store, “The Inconvenient Bag” is the one people bring to the store – and we believe that the slight inconvenience is worth the hassle.

There’s a good feeling in doing what’s best for all of us, and soon grocery and/or retail stores will either start charging extra per single-use paper or plastic bag, or will give people a discount for bringing in a bag. Thus, people will save money and also gain the fringe benefit of satisfaction knowing they are doing their part.

It is our goal to make a bag that is fashionable, stylish and “hip” enough that people would want to use it, even if they do not care or do not know of the environmental issues involved (maybe we can drag them into our cause!). We make our bags totally environmentally friendly in every aspect of the bag, but also want it to be designer-friendly as well.

We think it can be “cool” to be environmentally-correct, and want consumers to know they do not have to sacrifice style in their effort to help save our planet.

So be inconvenient (and cool) –

“#24: Just say no to plastic bags.” – TIME, April 9, 2007 The Global Warming Survival Guide, 51 Things You Can Do to Make a Difference

Not only do reality shows begin in foreign countries/markets before they become American Idol, but also fashion, lifestyle and political issues originate abroad before the United States decides such things are worthy of our own society. In Ireland, just about everyone carries around a reusable bag and plastic bags that once blighted the verdant Irish countryside are now merely an occasional eyesore. ¹⁰

From South Africa to France to the tiny island of Zanzibar, plastic bags are now being banned or taxed, mandated by governments or voluntarily done by companies such as IKEA. In fact, IKEA UK has decided not to use plastic bags all together,  ¹¹ while IKEA USA became the first USA retail company to charge consumers per plastic bag.  ¹²

Furthermore, domestic cities such as Oakland and San Francisco have already began to move in the same direction. On March 27, 2007 the City and County of San Francisco became the first U.S. city to ban common plastic bags. With San Francisco being so close and with the positive results the city has seen, it is only inevitable before not only Los Angeles, but all major cities in the United States begin to follow.

Below is a short list of US cities and foreign countries that are taking steps or already have measures in place to ban, reduce or charge for single-use bag consumption.

U.S. Cities:

• Oakland, CA: The Bay Area movement against plastic grocery bags that started with a ban passed in San Francisco continues to gather momentum, with Oakland joining the still-short list of cities poised to outlaw the environmentally unfriendly sacks.  ¹³

• Philadelphia, PA: IKEA will charge U.S. customers five cents for disposable plastic shopping bags in what the international furniture giant said on Wednesday was a first step to ending their use altogether.  ¹⁴

• Portland, OR: Portland is next to ban Plastic bags according to Thanh Tan of news Channel KATU. Currently Trellis Earth Products of Portland Oregon is one of the only manufacturers of corn based Bio bags. ¹⁵

• San Francisco, CA: The San Francisco Commission on the Environment unanimously approved a proposal (January 25, 2007) asking the city to charge grocery shoppers 17 cents for every paper or plastic bag they take home. On March 27,2007 the City and County of San Francisco became the first U.S. city to ban common plastic bags.

U.S. States:

• Alaska: Plastic shopping bags are banned in at least 30 villages and towns in Alaska, including the towns of Emmonak, Galena, and Kotlik. ¹⁶

• California: Starting July 2007, all large supermarkets in the State of California will be required, by law, to take back and recycle plastic shopping bags.  ¹⁷

• New York: New York City entertained the idea of a plastic bag fee in 2005.  ¹⁸

*As discussed, other countries are ahead of the United States in the banning, taxing or curbing the use of plastic bag consumption:

• Australia: South Australians lead the nation in their support for a ban on plastic bags, a Newspoll survey says. Nine out of 10 people surveyed (91%) said they were in favor of a ban on plastic bags to help reduce landfill, damage to marine life and greenhouse pollution. Legislation is being developed and there will be a consultation process.  ¹⁹

• Australia Non-Supermarket Retail Outlets: Australia has gone one step further in proposing a plastic bag ban in retail stores and not just supermarkets. ²⁰

• South Australia: The South Australian Government is committed to a phase-out of single use plastic shopping bags. While the Environment Protection and Heritage Council is considering a range of options, South Australia is urging the Council to ban these bags from  January 1, 2009.  ²¹

• Taiwan: Plastic shopping bags are banned in Taiwan.  ²²

• Bangladesh: Plastic shopping bags are banned in Bangladesh, where they are thought to cause flooding during monsoons by clogging drains. ²³

• Canada:The northern Manitoba town of Leaf Rapids became the first municipality in Canada to ban plastic shopping bags. ²⁴

• China: The theme of China’s 2007 Earth Day was to cut consumption of plastic bags by 50%. Many stores and universities joined in the effort. The mantra used was “Bye-bye throw away culture week.”  ²⁵

• Ireland: On March 4, 2002, Ireland introduced a 15 cent levy on every plastic shopping bag. This led to a 95% reduction in use and increased use of reusable bags. The money gathered by the levy was used to raise money for environmental initiatives. Many retailers in Ireland switched to supplying (untaxed) paper bags, or simply stopped supplying bags. The charge was increased to 22 cents on July 1, 2007.  ²⁶ Reusable bags are now a way of life in Ireland.

• France: Growing awareness of the ecological impact of plastic bags have lead supermarkets (like Carrefour) and retailers to force customers to buy reusable plastic or nonwoven bags. In Paris, a ban on plastic bags will take effect in late 2007; a nationwide ban is scheduled to rake effect on January 1, 2010. ²⁷

• Germany: Generally, most German supermarkets charge between 5 and 25 cents per single-use bag, depending on the type of bag. Most shops also offer cloth bags or sturdier, woven plastic bags for about €1, encouraging shoppers to re-use them. ²⁸

• Japan: Similar to the United States, almost any store you visit in Japan, from convenience stores to street vendors, will also net you a free plastic bag for your purchase. Although there are some supermarkets (like Kyoto Co-op) which charge for plastic bags, this is by no means the norm. Many supermarkets (like Izumiya) will give you extra points on your point-card if you bring your own bag. ²⁹

• Pakistan: Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) Director General Asif Shuja Khan says the situation is “grim”. “We need a mass awareness campaign and cooperation of the people to control the use of polythene bags.”  ³⁰

• New Zealand: In recent years cloth bags have been promoted and sold by some supermarkets as an alternative to plastic bags. In August 2006, the Collingwood community in Golden Bay declared itself shopping bag free by a group of local residents who promoted the idea. In early 2007, a nationwide campaign was kicked off with the aim of introducing a shopping bag levy similar to Ireland's.

• South Africa: Mohammed Valli Moosa, the Environment and Tourism Minister of South Africa, jokingly named plastic bags the "national flower" of that country, and worked to introduce a minimum legal thickness of 30 micrometres to increase their cost, reusability, and recyclability. They may not be legally given away to shoppers, and must instead be sold, however this rule is not always enforced strictly. The South African government collects a 3cents per shopping bag environmental levy on all shopping bags. ³¹

• United Kingdom: Growing awareness in the UK of the problems caused by indiscriminate use of plastic bags is encouraging some large retailers to reward customers who bring their own bags or who reuse or recycle existing bags. This has been adopted by Tesco, who call it the ‘Green Bag Scheme’. This scheme gives the customer a “Green Clubcard Point” (see Tesco Clubcard), which has the monetary value of 1p, for every bag they reuse (or indeed if they use any bag that is not taken from the Tesco bag holders, such as a backpack they own). Retailers in Modbury have voluntarily eliminated usage of plastic bags, the first town in the country to do so. ³²

• Zanzibar: The Island of Zanzibar banned the import and use of plastic shopping bags in November of 2006. The bags had been responsible for a significant litter problem, and government officials enacted the ban to protect tourism, an economic mainstay for the island. ³³

***Plastic bag litter has become such an environmental nuisance and eyesore that Ireland, Taiwan, South Africa, Australia, and Bangladesh have heavily taxed the totes or banned their use outright. Several other regions, including England and some U.S. cities, are considering similar actions.  ³⁴

As we can see, foreign countries have implemented measures to decrease single-use bag consumption. Whether it is a tax, or a surcharge, or incentive program, these countries have managed to curb their population’s reliance on such bags (and to break bad habits). It would be ignorant to think that the USA will not soon follow in this direction. Lobbyists, corporations, will fight to keep this environmental issue out of the mainstream, but legislation is already in place in nearby San Francisco.

Los Angeles, CA: On April 10, 2007 the Los Angeles County (LAC) Board of Supervisors, passed a resolution that the chief administrative officer work with the Internal Services Department (ISD), and the Department of Public Works (DPW), to solicit input from outside environmental protection organizations, and investigate the issue of polyethylene plastic and paper sack consumption in Los Angeles County. This would include the pros and cons of adopting a policy similar to that of San Francisco, and reporting back to the Board with findings and recommendations to reduce grocery sack waste….   ³⁵

While San Francisco has a population of 700,000, what Los Angeles County does, which has 10 million constituents, including four million in the City of Los Angeles, could have a more significant impact on the nation. ⁶

There are certain products that change people’s lives. For example, many people will not leave their house without their bottle of water, and their ipod. Soon, people will not be going to the grocery store without The Inconvenient Bag.

Be a leader and be inconvenient –

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