From 2022, the regular plastic bags in the supermarket will be banned. This does not apply to the small carrying aids for fruit and vegetables – also known as shirt bags. Nevertheless, they can be replaced.
There are no longer any plastic bags in many shops. The offering of models with a wall thickness of 15 to 50 micrometers is also prohibited from the beginning of 2022. But the alternatives offered are not always a good solution – as the example of the carrying aid for fruit and vegetables at the supermarket counter shows.
The supermarkets are allowed to continue to offer their customers these thin plastic bags for carrying unpackaged fruit – and they are not as bad as you might think. Because the alternative disposable paper bag has a worse ecological balance than the disposable plastic bag because the paper weighs eight times as much, explains the Naturschutzbund Deutschland (Nabu).
Why are paper bags worse?
The extra material is necessary to make the paper bags stable. This is why long, chemically treated fibers are used, according to Nabu. And there is another reason against the paper bag: The production of cellulose is extremely energy and water consuming.
It is estimated that a conventional one-way bag made from fresh paper fibers would have to be used at least three times as often as a petroleum-based plastic bag in order for the climate balance to be balanced out, according to the environmental experts. And unfortunately, paper bags are almost always made of fresh fiber, there are only a few waste paper products.
It also depends on whether the paper bag really only consists of paper. According to Nabu, plastic or aluminum foil is glued on the inside of many packaging, for example to prevent the paper from tearing when it comes into contact with moisture or to prevent the printing inks from getting into the food. These papers processed in this way can hardly be recycled.
The Federal Environment Ministry also rates paper bags as “not really better than single-use plastic bags”. However, paper bags are more likely to be recycled and they rarely end up in the environment. And even if they did, they wouldn’t stay there for long because the paper fibers rot quickly. If you want to use paper bags, you should still make sure that they are used several times, according to the ministry’s advice.
What about the cotton or polyester nets?
When comparing the alternatives, fruit and vegetable nets made of reusable polyester come first in a ranking – based on a study by the ifeu Institute on behalf of Nabu. The analysis assumed that the network would be used at least 50 times.
Many supermarkets offer these variants for purchase as a more permanent alternative to the disposable bags. The variants with recycled polyester are ecologically best, so the tip from Nabu. But fresh polyester also trumps the other options.
Cotton nets come in second if they are used at least 100 times. However, one should make sure that it is organic cotton, otherwise the production of the plants is very harmful to the environment, among other things because of their high water consumption. By the way: In this comparison, the single-use plastic bags come in third, the paper bags in fourth.
Can you use compostable bags with a clear conscience?
The plastic bags made from corn or potato starch, which are advertised as “compostable”, are no alternative for the Nabu. Because it is important for the material cycle to recycle packaging. The organization therefore considers composting to be a waste of resources after only one use. Anyone who buys them anyway should be able to put the bags in industrial composting plants to rot. The substance does not degrade on your own compost heap or in a biogas plant.
Why are the plastic fruit bags actually allowed?
According to the old federal government, there are several reasons for this. In February 2021, when the first amendment to the Packaging Act was promulgated, she argued that these bags were used for the hygienic handling of purchased fruit and vegetables and to prevent food waste. Because with this transport aid you can take as many individual fruits as you need instead of a pre-packed large pack.
There were also fears that a ban on these small bags could motivate manufacturers to package even more products in plastic as standard. And, according to the old federal government, there is a lack of sufficient environmentally friendly alternatives.
By the way: It is also still allowed to dispense plastic carrier bags with a wall thickness of 50 micrometers or more. They are considered to be comparatively stable and, according to the Federal Environment Ministry, are typically used as reusable bags.