Trees absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and emit oxygen when they grow. Furthermore, as a wood product, paper continues to store carbon throughout its lifetime. This carbon sequestration time is extended when we recycle the paper. Thus, paper bags are effective against climate change.
When paper bags break down, they don’t leach chemicals like plastic bags.
Biodegrades in 2 to 6 weeks
Paper bags are made from a renewable resource and are biodegradable. In the U.S., over 10 billion paper bags are consumed each year, requiring the felling of 14 million trees.
Paper bags, with their biodegradable materials and recyclable disposal, are often considered to be the environmentally friendly choice when compared with their plastic counterparts.
Use them for compost
Collect kitchen scraps and other compost items in a paper bag and then when it's time to compost, dump out the food scraps and then tear up the bag to go directly into the compost pile. Use it as a recycling container.
Origins
The paper industry (and the paper recycling industry) creates lots of jobs for men and women around the world. Which is great for the economy worldwide. When paper is recycled, it saves a lot of trees that will not have to be cut down.
Renewable Resource
The pulp used to make paper grocery bags comes from quick growing trees that can be replanted to produce more pulp.
]]>They are increasingly being considered as the better alternative to plastic bags because they are manufactured from sustainable materials and can be disposed of easily and safely.
However, as you may already know, not all paper bags the same. Even though they are all made of paper, some other things are added during manufacturing to create different textures and designs. And though they can be recycled easily, this question remains; are brown paper bags compostable?
Almost all brown paper bags can be composted or recycled. They can be shredded, turned into pulp, and used to make new bags. But is it possible to collect all brown paper bags and return them to a manufacturing company to be reprocessed into new ones?
The answer is no! Hence the need for another disposal method like composting.
This is because they are made from natural materials that are easily compostable? The assumption here is that all brown paper bags are made from unadulterated natural materials like plain paper and cardboard.
And because composting is only done using natural ingredients, if you mix waste brown paper and other ingredients like kitchen waste and grass clippings, you get the perfect compost for your garden and flowers.
Brown paper bags are a type of packaging made from paper. They are commonly used as shopping bags and for storing consumer goods.
The most common type of paper bag you will see are brown paper bags, which are typically available at grocery stores. Most paper bags are made from kraft paper or recycled paper.
Although basic brown paper bags are safe to compost, there are a few exceptions. What makes some paper bags non-compostable are the ingredients or treatments added to them.
Composting paper bags is pretty easy to do. There are a few things for you to keep in mind before adding them to your compost pile.
Hello Bag helps with composting. A sturdy frame that keeps your paper grocery bag open so you can fill it to the top. When filled simply slide the frame out of your paper grocery bag and discard the bag into your composting pile.
]]>We recently spoke with Mentors about Hello Bag. Why not take a minute and learn a little bit more about the product, its origins and its founder?
What problem does the Hello Bag solve?
The initial problem I am trying to solve with this product is using Hello Bag to encourage people to use paper bags versus single-use plastic bags in the grocery store. That’s because single-use plastics have an adverse effect on the environment. I feel plastic bags are a priority over plastic bottles because plastic bottles float, but plastic bags sink and cannot be retrieved.
Secondly, the Hello Bag frame provides a rigid structure giving paper bags an extended life for waste bins, sorting devices, or whatever you use paper bags for.
We’ve included wheat fiber into our green frames to help the Hello Bag break down quicker. However, we are researching greener and more biodegradable materials for our future manufacturing.
Tell us about the founder. What is their background?
Founder Chris Blaul has been a custom painting contractor in Santa Barbara beautifying homes for 32 years. For the last four years, he has been focused on bringing our product concept into reality.
How did they come up with the idea?
The Hello Bag concept derives from a family idea that was created by a family member 50 years ago when Chris was a child. Chris remembered the concept as he grew up and has always felt plastic bags were going to have dire consequences on our planet.
How can this transform the world or our day-to-day lives?
For every single plastic bag that does not enter society, we are making great strides. Paper bags along with the Hello Bag frame gives people a clear alternative that can make a major impact on the single-use plastic issue.
What do customers love most about the product?
This google review says it all:
Petra Deluca
“The only regret I have about my Hello Bag purchase (I got two, both in blue) is that I didn’t do it sooner! I don’t know why it is but using these for recycling has made us switch our habits to literally Taking the recycling out the minute it’s full. No more recycling bins that are overflowing that no one wants to drag outside. I like this product so much, that I bought two for my parents.”
In addition to the above review, many people find the product to be a great eco-friendly solution and many find it to be a practical utilitarian device. Paper bags are biodegradable. Our bag frames are small, can be stored easily, are diverse, and are mobile. Our bag frames are also about 5% of the plastic over a standard waste bin people might use. They are dishwasher safe and easily can be cleaned.
Where can people get this product?
The Hello Bag can be purchased at Hello Bag LLC (hello-bag.com) or at select grocery stores along the central coast.
]]>Use a Hello bag frame to create a dry wastebasket. You will find your dry trash biodegrades within two to six weeks. Great for use in the garden, camping, and in the car. The compact design easily travels with you wherever you go. Between uses just pop the Hello Bag frame into the dishwasher.
Our company prides itself on supporting environmentally friendly garbage can options. By reusing your paper grocery bags you are shrinking your carbon footprint. We all can do our part to reduce global warming.
]]>Hello bag is your grocery bag partner. A new American invention that gives your grocery bag purpose with an easy-to-use, sturdy frame that allows for convenient reuse. Now small cleanups, sorting, storage tasks, and easy recycling can be a joy.
Hello bag the product everyone didn't know they needed so they could reuse paper bags. The Hello bag frame conveniently holds paper bags open, making use easy and without the frustration!
]]>I decided to recreate the small frame my family always used for paper bags, and cut plastic bags out of my life. I began giving the frames to my friends and the idea spread. Today, this small frame is known as a “hello bag” and it made its way to you.
Until this moment we were strangers, but now we are connected by our shared belief that small choices can add up to big changes for the planet. Together we are wasting less and saving more. Thank you for being here, it’s great to know you!
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With current COVID-19 prevention measures, many of us have found ourselves bringing home a lot more paper grocery bags. Here are 5 ways creative ways our customers have used hello bag to put those paper grocery bags to (RE)use!
1. Recycling container.
Paper bags are recyclable, so to make paper recycling easy, simply put all of your paper recycling in a paper bag, and then toss the whole thing into your recycling bin!
2. Compost.
Collect kitchen scraps and other compost items in a paper bag and then when it’s time to compost, dump out the food scraps and then tear up the bag to go directly into the compost pile. Check out our blog on composting!
3. Moving or Traveling containers.
Don’t want to pay for extra boxes when moving or traveling? No problem! Fill up your paper bags with clothes, books, and more to make moving easier or to pack the car for trips and travel.
4. Ripen Fruit
You can ripen avocados, bananas, tomatoes, or peaches by sticking them inside a brown paper bag.
5. Homemade Filler Material
If you have a paper shredder, you can put a few paper bags through to create your own filler or packing material. These little paper shreds can be used as paper confetti, an alterantive to tissue paper for gifts or as packing material. You can also use as a cushion when packing away fragile items for storage.
Plastic Free July is a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution. By making small changes together, we can make a tremedous impact that results in cleaner streets, oceans, and communities. In July 2019 alone, an estimated 250 million people across the globe took part in the challenge to say no to single-use plastics for the month of July. You making a small change will collectively make a massive difference.
So how do you get started? You can start out small, or really challenge yourself!
We’ve pulled 10 of our favourite tips from the Plastic Free Foundation below:
Bring a reusable coffee cup or dine-in at your local café.
Find plastic-free alternatives when buying fruit & veggies.
Refuse plastic straws when buying a drink & BYO reusable alternative!
BYO reusable water bottle instead of buying plastic ones.
Plan ahead & avoid pre-packed bread, rolls & baked goods.
Avoid the plastic trays used for meat, fish and deli items.
The three R’s for a better planet – reduce, reuse, recycle.
Swap liquid soap for bar soaps and avoid single-use plastic.
Celebrate in style with plastic-free decorations.
Avoiding pre-packaged foods by choosing bulk or loose food.
Avoiding disposable products and packaging has a huge impact.
Want to do more? View more ideas from Plastic Free Foundation.
Take the challenge, let your participation be known and get weekly emails during July to stay motivated by registering for the challenge.
Composting is an excellent way to reduce waste and improve the health of your flowers or vegetable garden. If you don’t want the chore of composting with a large compost pile, or simply don’t have the space, you can still easily reap the benefits of composting with some help from a paper bag, and some support from hello bag.
Here’s our suggested method:
Take a paper bag (perhaps one you brought back from the grocery store) along with you when you do your weeding, deadheading and other garden chores. Drop the weeds and other yard waste into the bag.
*pro tip: using the hellobag frame will help keep your bag from toppling over and help you to maximize the space of the bag
When the bag is full, dig a hole in your garden large enough for the bag and drop it right in. Remove the hello bag frame and the waste and bag will turn into compost right on the spot over time and feed your plant.
You can do the same thing with kitchen waste. Place it in a paper bag. Dig the hole and plant it in your garden bed. Your plants will love you for it.
Concerned that composting food scraps may create an undesirable smell? Adding paper bags to your compost can actually help eliminate odor! The right mix of brown and green in your compost bin is the trick to sweet smelling success. There’s an easy, color-coded formula to make sure this happens:
Add two or three parts carbon-heavy “browns” for every one part nitrogen-centric “greens.“ The “browns” include shredded paper, dead leaves, and food-soiled paper napkins. For “greens,“ toss in fruit and vegetable bits, breads and grains, coffee grounds and filters, and grass clippings.
With current events, a great deal of racial injustice has been brought to the forefront of our news and media. As we think about the ways in which we want to do good for our planet earth, we also must acknowledge our responsibility to take care of eachother.
When striving to become more eco-friendly stewards of our planet, it’s also important to consider what communities are likely to be most impacted by to the consequences of waste, pollution, and climate change. It’s similarly important to consider which communities are already struggling to be protected by environmental laws so they can have equal access to a safe and healthy environment.
Clean air, water, and natural spaces are less accessible to people of color. Statistics show that minority and low-income communities are more likely to live in neighborhoods exposed to toxic waste, landfills, and other environmental hazards.
Intersectional Environmentalism, as currently defined by thought leaders like Leah Thomas, is “an inclusive version of environmentalism that advocates for both the protection of people and the planet”. It is intersection of both social justice and environmentalism— and it's essential for a truly sustainable future. Injustices such as the Flint Water Crisis, along with other similar issues are included in the Environmental Protection Agency’s goals for justice and advocacy in 2020.
As we seek to protect our planet so it can be preserved and enjoyed, we should also seek to make sure it can be justly enjoyed by all of its inhabitants.
To learn more about Environmental Justice and what action you can take, you can start by visiting the websites for these organizations who focus on environmental, economic, and environmental equity:
Follow @greengirlleah, or check out her website for a more in-depth look at intersectional environmentalism
Save money, conserve resources, & get help with chores around the house all while providing games & activities for the kids that help them to develop eco-friendly habits? Is that even possible? You bet.
Here’s three ideas for making chores and sustainability fun by adding crafts, challenges and special recognition into your existing efforts.
1. Turn a paper bag into a personalized cleaning caddy. Let your kids get crafty with markers or crayons to write their name on their bag and decorate it with other drawings. Add in hello bag to give it some structure and viola!: a personalized and custom storage bin for supplies like dust rags, gloves, or paper towels or whatever they can use to help clean up around the house.
2. Conserve water at bath time by creating a challenge. The average family of 4 uses 400 gallons of water per day, so show your young child what a gallon of water looks like and tell him or her that a bath uses 70 gallons, on average. Draw on the side of the tub with a washable crayon to visualize how much water was used then try and beat that amount by using less at the next bath.
3. Give them a cup of water to use when brushing their teeth instead of leaving the faucet on. Having a special cup of their own will help them to conserve water and make brushing more fun - You can even “toast” to celebrate clean teeth as part of their routine. Any cup will do, but we’re a fan of these biodegradable, dishwasher safe kid’s cups from Jack N' Jill. Made from bamboo & rice husks, they’re naturally BPA & PVC and perfect for rinsing after brushing.
With billions of people around the world under stay-at-home measures, we at Hello-Bag have been focusing on the unexpected silver linings for the environment. Traffic-free roads, plane-free skies and widespread brick-and-mortar closings have made the planet a beneficiary of the coronavirus pandemic. The air is cleaner and wild animals are reclaiming their natural habitats — at least in the short term.
As we endure the necessary challenges to fight this virus, we are being given clear signs for the planet's request for consideration, consciousness, and awareness.
It’s especially important to consider that while our world is currently operating under strict coronavirus safety measures, this won't be the case forever. We look forward to the day when our children can return to schools, parents can return to work, and social interaction can once again take place “offline”. However we also hope that we won't forget the apparent message that the planet is trying to send us. It remains as important as ever to do our part by making small lifestyle choices that help protect our planet.
Whatever quarantine pastime brings you joy - cooking, gardening, home improvement, impulse shopping - can be reassessed to have a positive impact on the planet.
1. Plan To Shop Sustainably
Buying locally sourced food helps reduce the carbon footprint of your diet. Small farms contribute far less CO2 than comparable levels of production from megafarms and massive feedlots so aim to shop local whenever you can.
When purchasing items that aren’t available locally, aim to choose recycled, or minimized packaging options such as Amazon’s Certified Frustration-Free Packaging option. Through the program, Amazon.com works with manufacturers to box products in “Certified Frustration-Free Packaging”, which reduces the overall amount of packing materials used. The product inside is the same, but the packaging is recyclable and comes without excess packaging materials.
If you go into a store, plan to go to the store at most once a week, and aim to work out a route that lets you cover all your needs in one trip to avoid excess driving. And of course, make sure to choose paper over plastic at checkout.
2. Go Green - Literally
Swap those flowers in your front yard (or inside your apartment) for edible herbs you can use in the kitchen. Thyme, basil and sage all look great and will add an amazing smell to your home.
3. Save Those Precious Drops
The average American household uses 378,000 liters (100,000 gallons) of water every year. Switch your faucets to low-flow showerheads, turn off the water when brushing teeth, fix leaky pipes, and don't waste water by rinsing the dishes before loading your dishwasher.
4. Make Your Own Cleaning Products
Many everyday cleaning products are toxic - not just for yourself and your family, but also for the environment. Borax, vinegar, baking soda, salt, and lemon juice are only a few of the many natural alternatives you can use to whip up your own cleaning products.
5. Connect with Your Community!
While traditional Earth Day festivals have had to be put on hold, there are a number of virtual celebrations taking place. We’re looking forward to engaging in the Community Environmental Council’s Santa Barbara Earth Day Virtual Festival on March 22. Learn more about the festival and how you can join in.
]]>Millions of students in the United States rely on school lunches, more than 20 million of which are distributed for free each day, according to the US Department of Agriculture. The school lunch program is the second-biggest anti-hunger initiative in the country, after SNAP, or food stamps. And while nearly all states have now enacted or announced school closures, volunteers and school staff have been working hard to make sure kids don’t go hungry.
Some school districts are using an adapted version of the programs that they use to provide children with food using the summers. Such programs include grab-and-go meals, that are handed out at school sites. The bagged meals include lunch and typically include a small breakfast for the following morning. Thus far, New York, Atlanta, Detroit, Milwaukee and Washington, D.C are areas that have recently deployed this grab-and-go model.
While the distribution of bagged meals at pick up sites has been praised by many, concerns have also been raised about children who won't have the ability to reach the pickup sites. As a response some districts, including Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia and Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township in Indiana, have adopted a model of using buses to deliver meals. By putting the lunches on school busses and making stops along the regular school bus routes, the lunches may reach children who otherwise could not get to them; for example children who are cared for by grandparents, or whose parents work in “essential” jobs with no option to work from home or drive to schools to pick up the meals during distribution times.
One of the newly approved aid packages by the federal governments includes a provision that would automatically add money equal to the value of school meals, to the SNAP EBT cards of families who are already enrolled in the SNAP or food stamps program.
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It’s hard to forget the paper bag as the staple item of school lunches back in the day. However, the iconic paper bag’s utility extends beyond our nostalgic memories. It can still be a best friend in our adult daily lives. Here are five daily chores a paper bag can help you conquer:
Collect Your Kitchen Cleanups
Whether it be preparatory tasks like peeling fruits and veggies, or eating something crumb-dropping at the counter, spreading paper bags open on the table as a layer to catch everything will provide for a speedy cleanup. Just fold it up and toss it in the trash!
Ripen and Store Your Organic Goods
Speed up the ripening process of your favorite fruits by placing them in a paper bag. The bag retains the natural gases which help in both ripening and keeping them fresh.
Wrap Books and Gifts
Presents with paper bag wrapping saves you the money and time of looking for new gift wrap. Protecting kids’ textbooks with a paper bag cover keeps the text ready for the next student.
Shake Dust Off Your Mop or Broom
To remove the dust off your dust mop or broom for the next use, place a paper bag on the head, secure it with a rubber band, and give it a good shake. The dust will settle in the bag, and you have your tools ready to keep on cleaning.
Improve Your Composting Game
Paper bag scraps can act in lieu of dry leaves or brown material in your compost pile. Tear pieces and throw them in to balance out the food scraps. Paper bags are also a great friend to have while cooking. Put potato peels or other food scraps that are compostable right into a paper bag that is in the kitchen while you cook.
It doesn’t actually take a superhero family like Disney’s Incredibles to save our planet – the job is something everyday families everywhere can take on. Our mission, should we choose to accept it, is reducing plastic waste and pollution in households. Find out the easy steps your family can take to save our world, just like the Incredibles.
No Plastic Straws
Instilling a no plastic straw policy within your family will reduce plastic waste significantly and protect the oceans. Kids will soon know themselves as the heroes who are saving the turtles. Today, we have the option of purchasing or using straws made from stainless steel, bambo, and paper. Great options for keeping our plastic consumption down!
Gifting 2.0
Switch out the plastic decorative gift wraps and wasteful goodie bags with paper bag wrapping or non-plastic alternative items. Many Earth-friendly things, such as homemade treats, are better than throwaway plastic toys. Glass mason jars also make a great gift container for candles, ready-to-mix cookie recipes, and more.
Recycling Education
Exercise proper recycling and teach it in your home. It can become an easy practice for the whole house to enjoy together and later be an inspiration to others who can learn from you.
Reusable Water Bottles
Letting your family choose their own reusable water bottles will encourage the responsibility of the item and reduce plastic bottle waste. What better way to stay hydrated than through your personalized thermos?
Volunteer in a Clean-up
Taking the family to local clean-ups will not only teach the importance of keeping a community trash-free but help the environment. Bonus: it’s a great way to spend time together.
Grocery Store Smarts
Support the plastic bag ban and bring your own reusable grocery bags when shopping for the family. Purchasing items in bulk will also cut down on packaging waste.
Use Beeswax food wrap at home to store food instead of using the regular plastic wrap.
Use Plastic-free cleaning and beauty products. Choose non-toxic chemicals in the home and offices. Don’t send chemicals into our waterways. Make our own cleaning solution, such as using water and vinegar for a natural alternative to cleaning supplies. Place in a glass jar instead of plastic!
Conserve water, the less water we use, the less runoff and wastewater that eventually ends up in the ocean.
Plant a tree!
Bike and walk more, drive less!
Use long-lasting light bulbs. Energy-efficient light bulbs reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Flip the light switches off whenever leaving the room.
Sign up for a CSA program from a local farm to reduce plastic packaging.
Compost your food waste at home to reduce the need for plastic trash bags.
Buy products in glass or not packaged at all.
Buy local food! Support your local farmers!
As global warming becomes more and more of a pressing issue worldwide, preserving our planet’s goodness is now truly of utmost importance. While it may seem a daunting task, we have the power to help enact positive change by executing the simplest of actions or refinements in our daily routines. The truth? It doesn’t take a whole lot of energy to save our planet’s energy. So read on to learn three easy things you can do to help this big home we share.
1 Food we eat One of the easiest and most helpful choices you can make to do your part is going meatless, for even just one day a week or one meal a day. Not only will this help you save a lot of money, but it will better the Earth significantly, according to scientists from the Climatic Change journal. With meat agriculture comprising a significant portion of carbon dioxide emissions, it’s vital that we recognize how what we eat can either take a toll on or improve our planet. There was a 35% difference in greenhouse gas emissions found between high meat consumers and low meat consumers, which means the easy change of cutting out merely a day’s worth of meat will go a long way to reducing our carbon footprint. Steaks and burgers, moo-ve out of the way!
2 Clothes we wear Sustainable fashion is more than just an up-and-coming trend; it’s an integral path for consumers looking to go green for the planet. An easy first step to join the movement? Donate your worn clothes to a clothing reuse or recycling organization. With clothes that you no longer wear but are still in good condition, a great way to reduce waste and help others in need is heading to a donation center such as Goodwill or Salvation Army. Consignment stores are another option if you’d like to get a little something back for the clothes. Have worn-out clothes that are no longer wearable? Don’t throw them away. Instead, look for a convenient recycling center nearby. Clothing recycling organizations remake old tops and bottoms into brand new items, reducing waste and our fast-fashion ways. When buying new clothes, choose clothing that are made of natural fibers, like hemp and wool rather than synthetic fibers that contain plastic. The Earth can only be our runway for as long as we let it.
3 Plastic we use More than 8 million tons of plastic are dumped in the ocean each year, placing aquatic life in serious danger. With one in three marine mammals having been found entangled in plastic, it’s time we take responsibility for other life on Earth. Luckily, it’s quite easy to start doing so. The next time you get a drink, simply skip the straw, sip a drink, and save a life. Skip, sip, and save – this easy routine change can go a long way for the preservation of our oceans and its creatures. If you don’t want to stop there, continue onward with adjustments to plastic usage. Replace plastic bottles of water with a reusable bottle. Cut the rings of flexible 6-pack plastic packaging with scissors. When dining out, bring your own food containers, like silicone reusable food bags with you to store leftover food. Coffee lover? Bring your own coffee mug whenever buying coffee over the counter!
Replace plastic bags with reusable or paper ones when shopping. Simple steps like these work toward a better ecosystem for all of Earth’s inhabitants.
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