On June 1, 2008, China took aim at “white pollution” by banning the production of ultra-thin plastic bags and ordered supermarkets to stop giving away free plastic and Styrofoam carriers.
One year later, plastic bag use in China has dropped by two thirds (40 billion fewer plastic bags than in previous years), more people are carrying their own reusable bags, and the China Chain Store and Franchise Association reports that the nation has saved the equivalent of 1.6 million tons of oil during the first year of the ban with no adverse effect on retail sales.
It is an admittedly small step for China, which produces a million tons of trash and garbage daily and continues to struggle with severe air and water pollution. Yet, these early results of China’s ban clearly show that there are good reasons—both environmental and economic—to stop using plastic bags.
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