Its use has grown in recent years as people find its use as an alternative to plastic bags commendable. But what is non-woven bags, and are they safe for environments and people’s health? Here is brief and clear pros and cons summary.
What Are Non-Woven Bags?
That is why non-woven bags are made from polypropylene, which is a kind of plastic. Non-woven fabric is categorized by its manufacturing technique – the fibers are not woven or knitted but fused together with heat and pressure. This makes non-woven bags possess a fabric like look or feel or texture as it were.
Non-woven bags are easily portable, relatively cheap and can last longer than any other bags. They are stronger in support of weight compared to the plastic bags. They are also thicker and more rigid in structure, which makes them rather more suitable for use in vehicle construction. They are reusable for grocery and other marketing, by virtue of these characteristics that accompany them.
Because non- woven bags are fabricated from plastic, some individuals are under the impression that these sacks constitute a similar threat to the environment as single-use sacks. There are however some differences which are as follows:
Differences from Plastic Bags
While both non-woven and plastic bags come from plastic, non-woven bags have a few advantages:While both non-woven and plastic bags come from plastic, non-woven bags have a few advantages:
- They are reusable plastics as they can be used more than once while plastic bags are normally used for only one occasion. This implies that their lifespan is comparatively shorter hence fewer bags can be manufactured in the long run.
- It has elements of recycled material therein. Non-woven bags consist of at least 30-50% recycled plastic in their production, and are non-reusable.
- They are recyclable. Despite the fact that not all recycling programmes claim to accept them, the material is recyclable.
- It is then suggested that reuse of non-woven bags still solve the problem of waste in as much as single-use plastic bags are concerned.
That is why non-woven is considered by many as a better solution compared to the single-use plastic bag and more sustainable than the reusable bag.
Are Non-Woven Bags Harmful?
Taking into consideration that the base material in these bags is plastic, one has to ask — are these bags still dangerous to the environment and/or health? Here is a brief look at some of the most common issues one is likely to encounter.
Environmental Impact
Based on the LCA, reusable non-woven bags have a lower GWP comparing to the normal plastic bags. In addition, the non-woven bags production process also requires less energy and water compared to methods of other bags’ production.
However, there is one particular problem that has not been resolved at all – littering. Non-woven bags take longer time to decompose than plastic because of the thickness of the material hence when they get out of the waste collection systems, they can be equally UGLY litter.
Altogether, they are nearly care-free for the environment, but their fate is in the hands of consumers: reuse and disposal. The environmental benefits are maximum if they are used only once or twice, they are still worse than single-use plastic bags. It should be recycled in the way they were meant to be used.
Human Health Concerns
Some sources claim non-woven bags may contain harmful chemicals and substances, such as:Some sources claim non-woven bags may contain harmful chemicals and substances, such as:
- Phthalates: Phthalates are endocrine disruptors which means that they can interrupt normal hormones in the body and were used in plastics to make them flexible.
- Lead and cadmium: Lead and cadmium, which are detected in non-woven bags in trace quantities, are regarded as toxic heavy metals. It bears risks to human health as those exposed to a certain chemical suffer consequences.
However, today, many reputable non-woven bag brands still conduct chemical testing, and many of them limit such substances. Appearance inspections are standard. As of now, no current research indicates the presence of hazardous chemicals from non-woven bags which are currently being used in the market.
Another concern to be raised is bacterial growth. Any mark of a food or liquid, and even dirt can produce bacteria that might grow on the fabric of a reusable bag over time. Yet, the above concern is reduced to the barest level when one washes non-woven bags.
In all, there is no prominent health body that has raised eyebrows on non-woven bags as a source of exposure hazard till this moment. They can be reused as normal with the same safety measures being taken as normally would be done.
The Bottom Line
Non-woven bags are only a step above the conventional plastic bags and far removed from the ‘green’ reusable bags. In this sense, they are not completely free from environmental effects; however, they mark a step forward because they allow for a sustainable use of reusable bags at a large scale.
As long as consumers practice good sense of hygiene by washing the bags and properly disposing of the materials, the use of non-woven bags can be beneficial to the environment as compared to the use of single-use plastic bags. However there are still doubts as to whether they have standalone environmental merits according to some studies on lifecycle.
Similarly, for human health, contrary to what some groups may contend, there is no evidence that non-woven bags are a major worry at the moment. However, another study to evaluate any possible side effects, which could take longer to manifest themselves, would go a long way into establishing the same.
Non-woven bags are examples of change that can be applied when trying to strive towards achieving the green economy. Yet, management remains on individuals and institutions to ensure that they are utilized and recycled in the right manner. When used properly, non-woven bags can be a good transition towards the phase out of plastic bags as has been identified.