Advantages of Plastic Bags for Consumers

Just like retailers have found plastic bags a much better option than reusable or paper bags, so have consumers. A survey by the US Environmental Protection Agency indicates more than 100 billion plastic bags are used by Americans annually while only 10 billion paper bags were used according to the estimates of the American Forest and Paper Association.

Though pressure from environmental groups has somewhat affected this preference and increased the usage of reusable bags, there are still a two benefits offered by plastic bags:

1. Plastic bags can be reused for several purposes, such as for the storage of miscellaneous items or lining of trashcans. They can even be repurposed and rinsed out, and last significantly longer than paper bags.

2. In comparison to paper bags, plastic bags are more durable, making them easier to carry, useful in the rain and less prone to tearing.