Plastic Bags
As part of our commitment to the 5R’s of packaging; Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover and Remove, Organic Garage is constantly checking out new and unique packaging alternatives that are better for the environment.
Our biodegradable plastic bags biodegrade into CO2 (carbon dioxide), H2O (water), biomass with no residues left over and are made with Non GMO renewable plant starch. High five to that!
WHY DO WE CHARGE FOR BAGS?
It’s simple! We don’t want you buying new bags every time you shop…we want you reusing them instead! We aren’t just pocketing the money for the bags you do purchase though. We’ve partnered up with 4 awesome charities that we feel align with our beliefs and philosophies and are donating a portion of the proceeds. They are:
TREE CANADA (TC) is a charitable not-for-profit organization which develops and delivers programs, in partnership with corporations and communities, to help grow and maintain a healthy environment through sustaining urban and rural forests.
THE ALZHEIMER ASSOCIATION is the leading not-for-profit health organization working nationwide to improve the quality of life for Canadians affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and advance the search for the cause and cure.
THE CANADIAN CELIAC ASSOCIATION is the national voice for people who are adversely affected by gluten, and is dedicated to improving diagnosis and quality of life.
COTA’s mission is to promote and protect the growth of organic trade to benefit the environment, farmers, the public and the economy.
Top 10 Reasons why we switched to plastic bags:
10) It takes 9 truckloads of paper bags to deliver the same amount as one truckload of plastic bags.
9) It takes 91% less energy to recycle one pound of plastic than it takes to recycle one pound of paper.
8) Plastic bags consume less than 4 percent of the water needed to make paper bags.
7) Plastic bags are easier and lighter for our cashiers to use.
6) Approximately 2000 plastic bags weigh 30lbs, 2000 paper bags weigh 280lbs. Therefore, paper bags are more expensive to transport.
5) Our plastic bags are stronger and easier for customers to carry versus our paper bags.
4) The waste on paper bags versus plastic during production is almost 5 to 1. This accounts for bags not produced properly leading to the bags having to be thrown out.
3) Paper bags take 40% more energy to manufacture than plastic.
2) We have to produce our paper bags in the US versus we can produce our biodegradable plastic bags here in Canada.
1) We are able to reduce the price on bags to 5 cents for our customers… YAY!
FAQ’s about our plastic bags:
Q) So why did it take Organic Garage so long to make the switch from paper to biodegradable plastic?
A) Simply put, we had to wait for the technology to evolve so we could have a recyclable and biodegradable plastic bag made with Non-GMO renewable plant starch. It simply didn’t exist in the past.
Q) Are your bags like regular plastic bags?
A) NO! We took a lot of time researching our new bags. Regular plastic bags are made from 100% petroleum sources and are not biodegradable. Our bags are biodegradable and made with Non-GMO renewable plant starch. They cost considerably more than regular plastic bags but we felt it is important to offer our customers the best alternatives on packaging materials all the time.
Q) Why are you still charging for bags?
A) Simply put, we don’t want people to continue to use new bags. It is still in everyone’s best interest to use re-useable bags versus new bags each time they shop. We have 4 fun, unique re-useable bags that you can purchase; just ask the cashiers and they will help you out.
Q) Is organic garage still donating a portion of the proceeds from the bags to a charity?
A) Yes, we have actually selected 4 charities we will be donating to. They are: Tree Canada, The Canadian Organic Trade Association (COTA), The Canadian Celiac Association, and The Alzheimer Society of Canada
Q) When the bag biodegrades, what does it biodegrade into?
A) Our bags biodegrade into CO2 (carbon dioxide), H2O (water) and biomass with no residues left over.
Q) How long does it take for the bag to biodegrade?
A) Our bags will take 3-6 months to biodegrade depending on the environment the bag is disposed in.
Q) Can your bags be used in the municipal green bin program?
A) No, they cannot. Our bags are not compostable but are degradable. You need to use special bags for the municipal green bin program. Please check with your local garbage provider for a list of the approved bags that can be used in the green bins.