As Australia imposes a plastic ban, some point out that supermarket alternatives may not be much better.
Research has shown that reusable bags such as green bags sold by Coles and Woolworths must be used 104 times (equivalent to once a week for two years) before they can be said to be greener than gray disposable bags.
This is because the production of green bags requires more materials and energy. It is also worth noting that these bags are actually made of plastic.
Other non-plastic alternatives also have problems.
A new state environmental protection agency report in 2016 found that cotton bags must be used 131 times in order to be greener than disposable plastic bags.
Clean Up Australia, an environmental group, recommends jute bags because they are made of a sustainable fiber that doesn't take too much water to produce.
A spokeswoman for the organization told news: that jute doesn't need as much water to produce as cotton. It grows fast and the harvest is fast. Jute is not edible, so it is not our source of food. The most sustainable material for making shopping bags is jute or bamboo. "
But one problem with these bags is that jute is mainly grown overseas, so transporting them to Australia costs carbon.
Clearly, there is no perfect alternative, and many seem to be using it to suggest that the plastic bag ban is pointless, or even a way for supermarkets to make money.
Whether supermarkets save money is another question, because the reality is that plastic bags are not free. Someone has to pay for them, whether at checkout or in the future when we have serious landfill problems or we have to spend money to clean up the ocean.
Pricing plastic bags is an important step, changing the perception that plastic bags are a "free" resource.
But when deciding to use other shopping bags, I think people need to choose the bags that suit them, because it's clear that you have to use them regularly to make them valuable.
As a person who has been trying to reduce the use of plastic for many years, I don't like those eco-bags because they are also made of plastic, and they are so big that they are not easy to clean.
I also tried to use a sack, and I liked it until liquid detergent spilled on it and I had to wash it. It wasn't easy. The bag looked terrible.
I prefer cotton bags because I can put them in my handbag so I can carry them more easily when I need them. And I can throw them into the washing machine with other clothes.
I would also use a LOQI bag made of polyester fiber (commonly known as "polyester"), which is also a plastic, but very strong and lightweight. It's easier to clean because you can wipe it off with a rag. Although it is also plastic, this is not ideal, but if it allows me to avoid using other disposable shopping bags, I think it can be used.
If you have to use a bag at least 100 times in order to equate the environmental impact of using disposable plastic bags, it is important to choose a bag that is useful to you.
I've been using my bag, on average, more than once a week, so I believe I've made it environmentally friendly.
If you don't use it, it's pointless to worry about choosing the best eco-bag. As a saying goes, don't miss a good result by demanding perfection.