The history of plastic bags in the United States began in 1979, and by the 1990s, plastic bags had taken over the world. The obvious advantage for retailers was that they were much cheaper than paper bags. Buyers preferred them because durable, weather-resistant plastic proved to be relatively easier to transport. Starting in the mid-1980s, plastic bags became common to carry everyday shopping from the store to vehicles and homes all over the developed world.
As plastic bags increasingly replaced paper bags, and other plastic materials and products replaced glass, metal, stone, wood and other materials, a war of packaging materials broke out, with plastic shopping bags at the center of much publicized disputes. Plastic bags made their debut in the United States in the early 1970s. Introduced as an alternative to paper bags, they were initially met with skepticism by both retailers and consumers. However, its benefits, such as durability and profitability, were gradually conquering to people.
In the 1980s, companies like Safeway and Kroger, two of the largest grocery chains in the United States, began to switch to plastic bags, leading to their widespread adoption. This era marked a significant change in retail, as it answered questions such as “when did grocery stores start using plastic bags? with a clear schedule. The end of the 20th century consolidated the place of plastic bags in American consumer culture, setting the stage for debates about sustainability and environmental impact that would emerge in the following years. However, as plastic bags invented for convenience became synonymous with garbage and environmental degradation, a change in perception became evident.
Plastic bags have gained ground because of the need for a cheap and useful way to transport goods. At the end of the decade, the once prized plastic bag became the center of a global debate on sustainability, waste management and consumer responsibility. Plastic companies are starting to aggressively market their single-use products, considering them to be better than paper and reusable bags. According to Recyc-Quebec, a Canadian recycling agency, the conventional plastic bag has several environmental advantages and economic.
Due to environmental and garbage issues, some places are working to phase out lightweight plastic bags. Other innovations emerged, such as insulating bags, which not only reduced the need for plastic bags, but also kept food at the desired temperature, merging utility with environmental awareness. A large number of cities and counties have banned the use of plastic bags in grocery stores or have introduced a minimum charge. However, its introduction represented an essential change in the industry's approach to the problem of plastic bags. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the plastic bag went from being a symbol of convenience to one of controversy.
Plastic is a breeding ground for algae, so seabirds mistakenly eat the bag instead of fish, which normally ingests algae. As more details became known about the longevity of plastic bags and their negative environmental impact, many began to question their continued use. When plastic shopping bags are not disposed of properly, they can end up in streams and, in turn, in the open ocean.
