When I studied in Australia, I used to visit the Coles which is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. That market does not offer plastic bag for customer so that we should bring the personal bag or have to buy it in that place. Also, I have heard that people should pay for plastic bags in most of the huge markets in Korea. However, in Brazil, people are offered the bags in the market as much as they want to. Fortunately, there is good news I found that Brazil also starts to prohibit from providing plastic bags.

Bahia State congressman Marcell Moraes suggested the project which prohibits from offering the plastic bags and it was accepted by the Commission of Constitution and Justice (CCJ). This project aims at replacing the conventional plastic bags with oxy-biodegradable ones. (I think the word "oxy-biodegradable" could be unfamiliar. The "oxy-biodegradable" means that something can decay naturally without causing pollution in the presence of Oxygen)

In fact, animals are confused the plastic bags with food so that they die of suffocation after ingesting plastic bags. However, the replacement bag will be the ecological and environmentally friendly materials so that this project is expected to reduce the environmental impact caused by plastic bags and help the nature. Fortunately, Brazil also initiates to use replacement bags in Sao Paulo like any other developed countries in the world.

You can check what kinds of color of bag the markets offer!!! White color ones is derived from petroleum, which causes the damage to environment. On the contrary, bags in green or gray will be stronger and derived from renewable materials (at least 51%) such as sugar cane

Do you know? Interestingly, the oxy-biodegradable bags are decomposed by oxidation for the first time. Then, the light and heat play a role in accelerating them. The bags are broken down by micro-organism in the end and these will not pollute the environment.

As people know, Brazil is a huge country. It could take a time for this project to be implanted in all areas. However I think that to take the first step is important and difficult. As we already start,  I can expect more hope and meaningful projects to save the environment. I am happy to share this issue.

Source: O Bahia na Lupa