Opting for “green” and “eco-friendly” products like large burlap bags is popular these days instead of eco canvas bags. However, there is some debate about what it means to be environmentally friendly. For some, it means using things that do not pollute the oceans, rivers, and landfills. For others, it extends to manufacturing processes; they prefer things that use water, fossil fuels and other resources sustainably.

Proponents of this definition of sustainability argue that it takes the resources of 400 plastic bags to produce a single tote bag. Some research supports this.

They also found that organic cotton shopping bags are even more environmentally damaging. They need to be used 20,000 times to be more environmentally friendly than plastic bags. Paper bags fare no better, needing to be used three times or more to be as environmentally friendly as plastic bags.

Although these statistics are concerning, neither study looked at the impact of plastic on our oceans.

The impact of plastic waste on our oceans

According to the United Nations, more than 800 types of marine debris are affected. About 80 percent of this rubbish is plastic waste. Every year, we dump 13 million tons of plastic into the oceans. That’s the equivalent of one truckload of rubbish per minute.

Some plastics end up on the ocean floor, others wash up on beaches, and still others are mistaken for food by marine life. A single plastic bag takes ten to 1,000 years to decompose, and a plastic bottle about 500 years. These items end up in ocean eddies, are ground up, and end up in the seafood that humans eat.

How to make cargo eco canvas bags truly eco-friendly

Cotton is unmatched in its versatility. You can quickly make canvas and eco canvas bags from this material. However, the manufacturing process is very water intensive and has a negative impact on availability.

It takes 20,000 litres of fresh water to make a single garment – a cotton T-shirt and jeans. In developing countries with substandard irrigation methods and a lack of environmental education, cotton production takes up a significant portion of already scarce freshwater.

IKEA, for example, launched a program in 2005 to teach farmers how to strategically grow cotton. By 2011, they had reduced water use for cotton production in the region to 37 percent.

foldable eco canvas bags from Abc Ideal Partners
Image courtesy from ABC Ideal Partners’s website

What we conclude, get the best eco canvas supplier in Malaysia

There is no magic formula that will make our global supply chain green and sustainable. With much of the world based on overproduction, there are many things we need to relearn before we can say we are truly green. However, initiatives like IKEA’s and BCI’s are a step in the right direction.

If you are looking for sustainable and ethical bags, look no further than ABC Ideal Partners. We make eco-friendly accessories like canvas boat bags and city shopper bags that are suitable for all types of events. Our socially responsible manufacturing processes show that we care about more than just the bottom line. Contact us to learn more!

Share this