Mostly and Sometimes

Mostly and Sometimes are two Bag Pals. They will tell you all about why and how to replace plastic bags whenever you go shopping.

On this day, they met at a grocery store self-check out.

What is Plastic Made from?

MOSTLY: Did you know that most plastics are made from oil and gas?
SOMETIMES: I haven’t thought about it. So you’re saying plastic bags are made from oil and gas.

MOSTLY: When people consume less at home and in cars, the industry sells more plastic to make up for it. Plastic makes people sick. 

SOMETIMES: Oh, you mean they should use us instead, because we’re cotton. 
MOSTLY: Cotton bags can be reused hundreds of times. People can keep us by the door ot leave us in the car, so they remember to take us shopping.
SOMETIMES: That’s my problem. I’m often left in the car. But sometimes they bring their items back in their shopping cart to put in me.

The Cost of Bags

SOMETIMES: I overheard the plastic bags talking about how they’re only 7 cents or 10 cents in some towns, and we’re $1.50. We are so much more expensive. 

MOSTLY: They are not thinking of the real cost of single-use plastic bags. Those bags are only used once. So every time the people go shopping without us, they have to pay 7 or 10 cents. 

SOMETIMES: In most towns, plastic bags are free. People think that stores that don’t provide free plastic bags are not providing good service.

MOSTLY: Even if the bags are free, the cost is hidden in the things they buy, and the taxes they pay to the government to dispose of the bags in the landfill. Stores that stop providing plastic bags are actually helping their customers save on hidden costs. 

SOMETIMES: I like to last longer.

How Plastic Gets into Your Body

MOSTLY: Did I tell you about the healthcare cost they save by using us. People are sick from all that plastic they breathe in and eat. Plastic is linked to infertility, obesity, diabetes, cancer, and other health problems. People spend a lot on the medical bills. 

SOMETIMES: So many people have all those sicknesses you mentioned. But they don’t really breathe in and eat plastic bags, do they?

MOSTLY: They just don’t realize it. Plastic doesn’t break down and become dirt. It sheds tiny pieces of microplastics every time they use it. It’s in the air they breathe in. It gets in the water when they wash the plastic. It’s in the soil and all the food they eat. I heard it’s even in their blood and placentas.

SOMETIMES: You mean people not only have microplastics in them, they pass the microplastics to their babies.

MOSTLY: Exactly. That’s why they should stay away from the plastic bags.