Canadians have reached their tipping point with reusable grocery bags, or should we say, the new single-use bag.
We’re no stranger to the reusable bag—their flimsy material and impractical, short handles have made them an infamous part of the Canadian cultural experience.
It’s almost comical how Canadian society has so much ion and frustration toward shopping bags, which saw a huge influx following the Liberal government’s ban on single-use plastics in late 2022. However, our heated sentiments bear important implications for environmentalism, capitalism, and government policy.
In a recent CBC article, environmentalists push for the government to mandate circular programs for reusable shopping bags at grocery retailers—a place to leave unwanted bags or pick up gently used bags instead of purchasing new ones. If not repeatedly used, these bags fail to have any positive impact on the environment. However, it’s suspected retailers’ interest in profiting off shopping bags will hinder such programs from taking off.
Even after replacing plastic bags with reusable ones, several factors still get in the way of putting this law into place.
Whether it’s forgetting your bags at home before embarking on a spontaneous grocery run, or ordering groceries online only to have them delivered in the same bags, the volume at which we’re collecting them exceeds our ability to actually use them again.
If we want effective results, we need practical and immediate strategies. It’s time Canada learned from other countries who’ve succeeded in navigating the plastics ban.
For one, New Zealand was the first country to ban single-use plastics in grocery stores, doing so in 2019. Though not much farther ahead of Canada, where New Zealand’s strategy differs is in its stricter dedication to the environmental cause. Not only are shoppers responsible for bringing their own bags at the check-out and to store produce, but they also face fees for using banned plastic products.
In this case, efforts to phase out the circulation of single-use plastics emphasize the improper disposal of plastics, which serves as a reminder that every individual’s participation is necessary and impactful. When the stakes are high enough, consumer behaviour can and will adapt to the change.
However, policies may be good in theory but hard to guarantee in practice.
It’s normal for us to be skeptical of the proposed circular, reuse program. We can’t expect big-box retailers to ditch their profitable business models to help the environment unless incentivized to do so. Even with the stores’ participation, we can’t depend on the few responsible individuals to do their part—a greater top-down movement involving us all needs to take place.
When it comes to Canada’s environmental impact, the feasibility of eco-friendly programs in grocery stores shouldn’t be a barrier to achieving a sustainable future. Successful policies, such as those in New Zealand, demonstrate results are possible, but only when the government and its citizens are fully dedicated. So, Canada must ask itself if it’s willing to commit to the environmental cause.
—Journal Editorial Board
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