To tackle the problem of plastic bags litter, discussions about banning plastic bags have reached advanced levels in the UAE Government. According to Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA), the body representing plastics producers in the region, the application of a ban of conventional lightweight plastics bags in favor of degradable bags may create even more problems.

Implementing the use of degradable plastic bags makes people think that because the bags degrade, they can be absorbed easily into the natural environment. Degradable plastic bags need very specific humidity conditions and sunlight to disintegrate into smaller pieces of plastic, which are then much harder to retrieve.

Degradable plastics have additives that interfere with the recycling process of plastics. Because of the small size of these fragments, collection and segregation becomes more complicated. So the plastics industry suggests using durable plastic bags that can be reused by consumers for a longer period. If people are forced to buy them, then this could reduce litter of plastic bags.

While one may think that cotton, paper and other cellulose-based reusable bags are the choice, these require lots of energy and water to produce them. They are heavier compared to plastic bags and affect on the environment during transport from where they are produced.

The solution lies in retailers providing only reusable heavyweight and non-woven plastics bags. Charges for carrier bags will also help reduce use of plastic bags. This is done in countries like Canada and UK. Hope to see this done in UAE very soon.