World Paper Bag Day is observed on July 12 each year. However, it is observed on various dates across the world. The day’s primary goal is to raise awareness about the negative impacts of plastic bags. It also proposes that more individuals utilize biodegradable, environmentally friendly paper bags.
Paper Bags are created chiefly from virgin pulp, which is obtained by harvesting trees and processing the resulting pulp. Bags are also manufactured from recycled paper, which is collected and processed at a recycling paper plant unless otherwise specified. Paper bags’ biodegradability makes them an essential tool in the fight to save the environment.
World Paper Bag Day 2022
Every year on July 12, people all around the globe commemorate “Paper Bag Day” or “World Paper Bag Day.” The goal of this day is to increase public awareness of the need to use paper bags. This encourages consumers to use paper bags rather than plastic ones. Paper bags are biodegradable, recyclable, and environmentally beneficial.
It is on this day that the dangers of plastic bags on the environment are brought to light. Plastics take a long time to degrade, releasing hazardous compounds into the earth, and if they are burnt, they emit a poisonous material that contributes to pollution in the air.
History of the World Paper Bag Day
Paper bag day has yet to be celebrated in its entirety. A patent for a paper bag machine was granted on this day, although the origins of the day are unknown. When William Goodale invented the paper bag machine in 1859, the date was July 12.
For a complete understanding of Paper Bag Day’s origins, we must first examine the history of the paper bag itself. Francis Wolle, an American inventor, created the first paper bag machine in 1852. Margaret E. Knight built a further cutting-edge machine for producing flat-bottom paper bags in 1871.
As a result, she became a household name and was dubbed “the mother of the shopping bag.” When Charles Stillwell added pleated sides to the paper bag design in 1883, he made it simpler for people to carry, fold, and store the bag. The paper bags and handles were strengthened by Walter Deubener in 1912, making them easier to carry.
The Significance it Carries
We use plastic bags all the time in our daily lives because they are so convenient. However, we casually toss it on the street after it has been used. Most often, plastic bags wind up harming the environment because of this method. Approximately 100,000 animals are killed each year by plastic bags—a wide variety of creatures, including whales, dolphins, turtles, penguins, and many more.
As a result, switching to paper bags is a need. Paper Bag Day gives us a chance to show our appreciation for these everyday reusable bags. It is biodegradable and reusable, making paper bags an excellent choice for reducing pollution.
Thus, let us all take the oath to boycott the usage of plastic bags, switch to paper bags and thus create a better environment on our planet.
