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ekkidee t1_j511zjl wrote

The entire supply chain packaging is due for redesign. It's appalling the amount of waste packaging that goes into the simplest of shipments. Plastic in all forms is very convenient and reliable, but with single use is very wasteful and unsustainable. I absolutely fucking hate plastic grocery bags for so many reasons, yet billions are made (and wasted) every year. Political leaders refuse to step up and are cowed by the loudest of constituencies.

In DC steps were taken to charge consumers 5c or 10c for plastic bags at checkout, and the howls of people who swore they'd never pay and take their business to nearby Maryland were deafening.

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dhc710 t1_j523ky9 wrote

The Governor in NJ just banned plastic bags, which I'm thrilled about.

Unfortunately, he didn't take the extra step to mandate paper bags, likely because they're more expensive to make and stores didn't want to foot the bill.

So the effects were:

  • No one remembered to bring reusable bags
  • All the shopping baskets were stolen
  • Reusable plastic/polyester/whatever bags were made available for sale cheap
  • Everyone just buys them at checkout and likely throws them away after they've accumulated too many

It's a shitshow.

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milkfiend t1_j52cnh7 wrote

I genuinely don't understand why this is hard. I haven't used a store bag at the grocery store in years.

I bought a bunch to start, put two in every bag I use regularly, then the rest in our car. We always have enough bags. Why does everyone else seem to have a problem with this?

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NoodlerFrom20XX t1_j52lk33 wrote

Bags were banned in Washington but stores just use the fake plastic that is supposedly better.

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ekkidee t1_j52gvwg wrote

>So the effects were:
>
>No one remembered to bring reusable bagsAll the shopping baskets were stolenReusable plastic/polyester/whatever bags were made available for sale cheapEveryone just buys them at checkout and likely throws them away after they've accumulated too many

That is awesome about the Gov, but my sister lives in N NJ and I can totally see this happening. When I visit I go to Bottle King there in Bloomfield and they insist on at purchasing at least 4 six-packs before you can grab a box from their wall of boxes.

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SIGMA920 t1_j52c448 wrote

> So the effects were: - No one remembered to bring reusable bags - All the shopping baskets were stolen - Reusable plastic/polyester/whatever bags were made available for sale cheap - Everyone just buys them at checkout and likely throws them away after they've accumulated too many

The biggest issue with that is even when you do bring your own bag in, you sometimes still have to get an extra bag anyway because you didn't bring enough bags.

It'd be cheaper and better for everyone if they would just eliminate the waste at the manufacturer, shipping, and retail level. There's no need to put plastic air bags in a cardboard box with something that isn't fragile or is going to matter if it moves around short of there being complete destruction.

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RowLow8834 t1_j53y434 wrote

I'm currently working in a stock room of a retail store; while in school, my job creates so much waste there are about five layers of plastic for every single piece of merchandise, not including the packaging on the product. I brought it up with some coworkers they agreed it seemed outrageous, but they didn't notice it till I said it. We as a culture have become too desensitized to the plastic waste, and I think nothing will change, at least anytime soon.

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