Textiles Plastic Bag Research

 What is plastic bags?

A plastic bag, poly bag, is a type of container made of thin, flexible, plastic film, Non-woven fabric, or plastic textile.  Plastic bags are used for containing and transporting goods such as foods, produce, powders, ice, magazines, chemicals, and waste. It is a common form of packaging. 

Origins

Plastic bags are from the same source as all plastic; crude oil. Like everything else manufactured fro this non-renewable resource, it has two major drawbacks: manufacturing it emits considerable amounts of pollution, and the product is not biodegrade-able. Inn other words, it is difficult to produce, and nearly impossible to get rid of once produced. 

Why are plastic bags bad?

Plastic bags are a convenient way to carry our purchased goods when we go shopping. They are a part of our modern lives, and we don't tend to think much about them.

#1 Plastic Bags pollute our land and water

Plastic bags are everywhere. Tangled in trees and fences along roads, floating in water, lying on the ground in parks and forests, surrounding garbage bins, washed off on beaches... Because they are so lightweight, plastic bags got easily picked up by wind and travel long distances by wind and water to pollute the nature. Plastic bag litter has even caused great problems in some areas. For example, millions of discarded plastic. bags clog water drainage channels and sewers in urban areas of Bangladesh. 

#2 Plastic Bags never break down

Petroleum, based plastic bags are composed of very resistant synthetic polymers that may take up to 1,000 years or never until they completely degrade in natural environments. 

What is the connection between plastic bags and climate change?

Plastic Bags and climate change are linked in a variety of ways. From air quality to ocean toxicity, plastic bags contribute to eco-system disruption. As it does, sunlight and heat cause the plastic to release powerful greenhouse gases, leading to an alarming feedback loop. As our climate changes, the planet gets hotter, the plastic breaks down into more methane and ethylene, increasing the rate of climate change, and so perpetuating the cycle.