Reduce, Sustainability, Sustainability
6 Reasons the Paper Bag Deserves a Comeback.
Here’s our proposal; now is the time to completely put a stop to plastic bags in at least convenience stores and support and market the return to the brown paper bag or reusable bags. Check out why the time is now >
1. Supplying plastic bags means consumers use plastic bags
Clearly the best way to prevent the use of plastic bags is not to supply them in the first place, right? But, let’s say an all-out blanket ban was placed on plastic bags and REPLACED with brown paper bags, would it likely result in a large proportion of consumers choosing to not shop?
No, we doubt it. Rather consumers would adapt using the paper alternatives or decide to bring their own.
2. Purchase sizes are small
ASC claims the average basket size of convenience store shoppers to be only 2.31 items! Before I go on yes, items size and weight may vary, but if you ask me a bag that fails to hold at least 3 items fails in its basic function as a bag. Brown paper bags can surely easily handle this.
3. Face Masks are a great example of how we easily adapt
In many cases it’s become a requirement to carry a face mask to access stores or public transport. This hasn’t stopped us shopping, rather we’ve taken this in our stride and quickly adapted to make sure we’ve got one ready in our pocket or handbag for that occasion. It’s not a chore rather it’s quickly become a habit.
Now what’s to say the same can’t happen to the reusable bag? If the consumer finds the brown bags to be insufficient for their needs then they’ll create a habit to bring one that does.
4. We’re shopping more locally and more often
It’s true, and this behaviour has been happening for years with many consumers choosing to shop at convenience stores often closer to home or work. ASC report also claims 80% of convenience store shoppers only have to travel less than 1 mile, with 55% less than 1/4 of a mile! During the coronovirus this use expanded, where 2/3s of consumers interviewed stating that the local store sourced the majority of the products which they needed.
The point being, even if some consumers considered plastic bags to be more functional or carry more, they’ll be home fast enough to worry about how bag the paper bag was, and hopefully bring their own bag next time 
.
5. Paper bags are not necessarily expensive
A quick online search and I can buy a brown paper bag for pennies, begging the question why paper bags are rarely provided as an option even if shops still choose to keep plastic in place (please stop!). Now if I was given the option of paying for a paper bag, even with a profit margin taken by the supermarkets I would still opt for this over its plastic counterpart.
6. We already use paper bags for non-groceries
Paper bags are not hard to come by, in fact when shopping for non-grocery products on high streets up and down the country you’re quite likely to come out with a paper bag. Yes, some might have handles (of which could be plastic grrr), but it’s not like we’re not using them already. In some ways the supermarkets need to catch up.
But what about my frozen veggies you ask, won’t the bag get wet? Well there’s a variety of different paper bags, some stronger than others. But, if you only have one option and concerned about strength, this is why the concept of double bagging started!
Basket RETURN programs are a great idea!
If all the above fails why not let us borrow that basket, take it home and bring it back next time? It could be as basic or electronic as you like. Perhaps using an online registration form and a quick scan of a baskets QR code to identify which cheeky customer has kept that basket for too long!
Surely, there must be enough ideas there to at least give it a go?
