A plastic ban has been making its way to the shores in an effort to reduce plastic pollution, litter, waste, and the release of toxic chemicals. According to www.OCNJ.com, the ban will officially be implemented right before summer on May 4, 2022. 

Informing Ocean City locals and tourists about the ban is of utmost importance in order to protect local marine life and the environment in which they reside.

To read more about the ban, click the following link: https://www.nj.gov/dep/plastic-ban-law/docs/plastics-ban-law-flyer.pdf

For a list of establishments impacted by the ban, click the following link: https://nj.gov/dep/plastic-ban-law/docs/list-of-establishments-banned-items.pdf

Here at Bowfish, we use kraft paper bags made from 100% recycled fibers and printed using sustainable, chemical-free algae ink. Our gift wrap & packaging, designed with sustainability as a top priority, is an extra convenient way for our customers to grab a gift without the guilt of harming the environment! 

CHOOSING A PLASTIC BAG ALTERNATIVE

Once the plastic ban is in motion, everyone should have a reusable alternative on hand when shopping. Here are some pros and cons of each to help you choose the most sustainable option.

Paper Bags: 

• Biodegradability: 6 - 8 weeks 
• Material: Recycled paper, trees 
• Pros: Recyclable, generates no pollution 
• Cons: Not waterproof, manufacturing paper bags use just about the same amount of water as manufacturing plastic bags
  
  

String/Mesh Bags: 

• Biodegradability: 1 - 6 months 
• Material: Polyester, cotton, nylon
• Pros: Lightweight, durable, uses less material
• Cons: Some bag’s hole sizes don’t allow for small items to be carried
  
  

Burlap Bags

• Biodegradability: 6 - 12 months 
• Material: Burlap (sometimes hemp and flax fibers) 
• Pros: Durable, versatile, breathable
• Cons: Can be dusty, must be hand washed, can shrink with hot water, not waterproof
   

Cotton (Tote) Bags: 

• Biodegradability: 9 months - 1 year 
• Material: Cotton 
• Pros: Durable, machine washable, versatile
• Cons: Water intensive (about 300 gallons used to produce one tote bag), need to be used for 54 years (20,00 times) to offset their environmental impact
  
  

Jute Bags: 

• Biodegradability: 1-2 years 
• Material: Jute (sometimes hemp and flax fibers)
• Pros: One of the strongest natural fibers, durable, require little water for production, 
• Cons: Not waterproof (unless chemically treated)
  
  

Non-woven Polypropylene Bags:

• Biodegradability: 30 years 
• Material: Polypropylene and recycled plastic
• Pros: Durable, easy to clean, recyclable
• Cons: Must remember to clean after every use to avoid cross contamination
  
  

Reusable Plastic Bags:

ShopRite removed single-use plastic bags from their stores and have replaced them with reusable plastic bags. These yellow sturdier new bags cost 10 cents each and can be recycled by store drop off.

CHANGE IS COMING! 

In short, change is coming, and it’s coming quickly! We want to thank those who will choose to use reusable alternatives to help keep our environment clean and to ensure sustainability. We also invite you to follow our social media pages that will provide tips, tricks, and products that are eco-friendly and promote sustainability.