Paper Nor Plastic Redux
A response from the folks at Paper Nor Plastic:
Dear Ms. Jasmin,
Thank you for your interest in Paper Nor Plastic; and thank you for taking the time to send us your comments. Why are our bags coated with vinyl? We chose vinyl as the inner liner for the benefits it would add to our bag; which includes the water resistant qualities and stiffening of material (allowing the bag to stand alone for easy loading). But the core reason for choosing this bag is the results from our market test (which included earth-friendly material bags) that clearly showed the vinyl liner bag as the winner. Therefore, we agreed to pursue with the vinyl liner. We believe that a little bit of vinyl in each bag can save thousands of wasted plastic and paper bags and this is still helping the environment.
We appreciate your email, you have added new insights with the provided links. For our next round of shipment, we will highly consider using an alternate material for the liner (only if it doesn’t hinder the water resistant and stiffening qualities that attract people to our bags). But for now, we still have inventory and hope you can see the value our customers bring by reusing the bag.
Best Regards,
Paper Nor PlasticPS. If you send us your contact information, we would be delighted to send you a complimentary bag; it’s quite durable and can be used for many years to come.
My reply to them below the fold.
Dear Paper Nor Plastic,
Thank you for taking my comments in stride and being gracious about responding. They’re meant as a strong recommendation, not a criticism, because there was a time when I was ignorant of the perils of vinyl, myself.
I think it’s vital that you watch the documentary “Blue Vinyl” (www.bluevinyl.com), and that once you’re educated about the toxic effects of PVC on our health and that of our communities, you’ll make the right decision to phase them out of your production.
Thank you for your offer of a complimentary bag, but I already have four incredibly sturdy and durable Eco Totes from ReusableBags.com, which resemble yours a great deal except they do not contain any vinyl.
I also urge you to check out the revamped anti-PVC site by the Center for Health, Environment, and Justice (www.besafenet.com/pvc/), which provides details on why vinyl is a bad idea, how to protect your family from its carcinogenic effects, and what alternatives you can use. Even “a little big of vinyl,” as you say, adds up and makes it no less vile.
[A summary of the nastiness of PVC followed]
As an environmental advocate and a green blogger (I wrote about your company here: www.worstedwitch.com/?p=357), I am heartened by your efforts to reduce our overzealous use of disposables, but would like to see you truly live up to your appeal to help the environment, instead of causing it further detriment.
Thank you for allowing this dialogue between us, and I wish you every success in your mission to do right by our planet. (We only have one, after all!)
Best,
Jasmin
Heidi said,
July 28, 2006 at 12:49 pm
This is excellent. I’m not sure why the bags need to be so waterproof. Other than natural condensation of refrigerated stuff, if something is soaking through your grocery bags, it sounds like a problem with the product packaging, not the carrying bag. I’d like to think you’ve changed their minds.
Rebecca Carter said,
July 28, 2006 at 2:38 pm
I have to say it, as cheesy as it may sound: You go, girl!
van said,
July 28, 2006 at 3:37 pm
hi!
i came across your site from a link at soulemama.
i have my own blog but decided i should get a domain, well i did but i still want to maintain the blog “look”, just like you have. is this a feature from your web host? or you know where i can get the tutorial and make me the happiest lady on earth?
hope to hear from you soon
juanita said,
July 28, 2006 at 7:40 pm
Do you think they get it?
Amy Stodghill said,
July 30, 2006 at 5:39 pm
Did they respond after that?
The Worsted Witch » Neither Paper Nor Plastic: An Ecological Intervention said,
May 2, 2007 at 7:36 pm
[...] Photo by Neither Paper Nor Plastic (not to be confused by the reusable-bag company of the same name). [...]