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Grocery bag comparisons of environmental impact

Number of times a given grocery bag type would have to be reused to have as low an environmental impact as a standard single-use plastic bag (LDPE; Low-density
polyethylene).

0 reuses5,000 reuses10,000 reuses15,000 reuses20,000 reusesOrganic cotton20,000 reusesConventional cotton7,100 reusesComposite870 reusesRecycled PET84 reusesPolypropylene, non-woven, recycled52 reusesPolypropylene, woven, recycled45 reusesBleached paper43 reusesUnbleached paper43 reusesBiopolymer42 reusesPolyester PET, recycled35 reuses

Source: Danish Environmental Protection Agency (2018)

Note: Environmental impact is measured over a full life-cycle analysis (LCA) across the following metrics: greenhouse gas emissions, ozone depletion, human toxicity (cancer effects), human toxicity
(non-cancer effects), photochemical ozone formation, ionizing radiation, particulate matter, terrestrial acidification, terrestrial eutrophication, marine eutrophication, ecosystem toxicity, resource depletion
(fossil), resource depletion (abiotic), and water resource depletion.