I am not one to usually be someone to sit around and think deeply about the world and my impact on it. I do the usual, recycle, turn off the lights, turn down the heat, not make too many trips into town and garden organically. But I do have 5kids so how environmentally friendly can I be really?
Seriously if you have ever teenage boys eat you would know that they could deplete the planet's food supply all by themselves!
So here is my dilemma.
When I was cleaning my pantry I returned these to their usual spot where I can easily grab them on the way out the door...
Aren't they fun? My handy dandy reusable grocery bags!
Now when I use these bags I feel like I'm doing my small part for the enviorment, but should I?????
When I turned one of my bags over to put it away my eyes were drawn to this...
Now this all begs the question, am I really doing the environment or my community any good using them?
It is not like I've ever used plastic bags when grocery shopping. I always have in the past requested paper. You see we live in a town that is somewhat timber based. In fact hubby works at a plant that makes newsprint paper. Next door is a plant that makes paper for milk cartons, copy machines and the like. So using paper instead of plastic was always a given.
Then came my reusable bags, the ones that made me feel good about saving a tree...
Except that I used my old paper bags to hold recycling. I used them to kill grass before starting a new garden spot, they were in many ways quite useful and reusable. My paper bags were made locally, harvested from tree farms locally and in the making of them local people were employed and could provided for their families.
Then consider my made in China bags. How much energy does it take to make one of these reusable bags? What about the chemicals emitted by the plant using petroleum to make the plastic? How about all the fuel needed to ship it here from China? We won't even touch on the subject of working conditions in China...
So I want to know...do you look to see where something is made before you decided to buy? Do you consider the environmental impact of your purchase? What about the impact on the local economy?
Are my made in China, reusable bags just a way of deluding myself?
Update: After much research, talking to a store manager, then cooperate, and finally contacting the manufacturer of the paper bags. I have found out the following.
Yes they are manufactured locally, thus supporting the local economy. The trees are all from the Pacific Northwest although no necessarily from my immediate area. Now I think the reason for the local origins of the bags is that I shop at a locally owned store. If it was a big chain like say Walmart I am sure the same would not apply.
So in conclusion I am going back to paper bags. I will still use my made in China bags for other things since I already own them. But you can bet I will look to see where something is made next time before I consider either the environmental or the economical impact of my purchase.
Now for the rest of the day I'm going to go do something completely mindless...like haul manure or something, heaven knows I've done enough thinking for today...actually for the whole week!!!
