All types of carrier bags, whether made from plastic, paper or jute, will have some impact on the environment during the manufacturing process, transportation and ultimate disposal.
So the best way to reduce their carbon footprint is to simply re-use them as many times as possible and then recycle them at the end of their useful life.

Why cutting down on plastic bags is good for you
- Improve your environmental credentials - demonstrate to consumers that your business plan also cares for the environment.
Why cutting down on plastic bags is good for the environment
- Made from a non-renewable source - plastic bags these days use 70% less plastic than they did 20 years ago, however they are made from polyethylene (PE) which is derived from non-renewable oil and require energy to manufacture.
- Remain in the environment - the majority of plastic bags end up in landfill where they could take hundreds of years to break down.
In 2008 alone, 9.9 billion carrier bags were distributed - enough to fill 188 Olympic swimming pools, and if laid end to end they would reach to the moon and back seven times.
- Help the environment - With your help, however, UK shops reduced the amount of bags they handed out by 26% over the last three years. They also cut the quantity of virgin plastic used in those bags by 40%.