If you go shopping, then you’ll need a bag to hold all of your purchases. While shopping bags are available in a wide array of materials, plastic shopping bags are one of the most viable options. Here are some of the key benefits of using such bags:
1. They’re cost-effective
This is definitely one of the biggest benefits that plastic shopping bags can provide. And the low cost benefits both retailers and their customers. The inexpensive manufacturing cost allows various types of retailers to pass on the savings their customers. In fact, the cost of plastic bags purchased in bulk is often less than one cent per piece. Compare that cost to the cost of paper bags, which often cost five cents or more each. How about cloth bags that are reusable? They’ve gained popularity due to their benefit to Earth’s environment. The main drawback of such bags is that they can cost up to a few dollars each. So each reusable cloth bag can have the same price tag as hundreds of plastic bags!
2. They’re easy to use
This is another crucial benefit of plastic shopping bags. They take little time to open. They take little time to fill. And they take little time to double up. In the hustle and bustle of today’s world, saving a few seconds can be crucial for a company that needs to process customers in checkout lines, as quickly as possible. Speeding up the process can reduce the operating costs of a retail store, and thus increase its profits. Can paper bags and cloth bags also be easy to use? Yes, but the extra time they require to open and close can accumulate quickly.
3. They’re lightweight and compact
This is yet another crucial benefit of plastic shopping bags. Retail stores typically look for ways to make their establishments more efficient. While several methods are available, reducing the weight and mass of their shopping bags is definitely one of the most viable options. Plastic shopping bags take up much less space than shopping bags made of paper or cloth. That’s true for bags at the checkout lines, and those in storage. Cloth bags in particular tend to have weights and masses that are significantly greater than those of plastic bags. While paper bags are lighter and less compact, storing them is much less efficient than storing plastic bags.
4. They’re durable
Both retailers and customers can benefit from the durability of plastic bags. Yes, reusable cloth bags are much more durable than plastic bags are. But plastic bags are significantly more durable than paper bags are. When it’s raining, plastic bags stay waterproof. On the other hand, paper bags can easily get soggy. This causes the bags to become weaker and the contents of the bags to become wet or even damaged. Plastic bags are also significantly less prone to tear than paper bags are. While paper bags are a cinch to replace, the contents that could drop out of the bag due their deterioration might not be. Plastic bags are also less likely to tear than paper bags are, which reduces the likelihood that objects will become damaged while carrying the bags.
5. They’re reusable
Many people reuse plastic bags for storing odds and ends, as trash liners, and so on. While plastic bags aren’t the most durable bags on planet Earth, it’s feasible to use them multiple times after obtaining them from a retail store.
6. They can be rinsed
This is another noteworthy benefit of plastic bags. Unlike paper bags, you can rinse plastic bags before reusing them. The amount of water needed to clean them is marginal, making it more practical than using a new plastic bag. In fact, the reusability of plastic bags allows them to pay for themselves quickly.
7. They’re recyclable
One of the biggest trends in the world of shopping bags is the use of reusable cloth bags. But plastic bags create a practical alternative. Currently, people only recycle about 1% of the trillions of plastic bags that companies manufacture on a yearly basis. Since plastic bags need about a thousand years to decompose, you should consider recycling them. Increasingly more local recycling programs and supermarkets are accepting plastic shopping bags for recycling.