MP warns people against using spunbond bags in place of plastic

By THE NATION

 

Pada Vorakanon

 

People have become more environmentally conscious after the government launched its "Say no to plastic bags" campaign on Wednesday (January 1), a ruling party lawmaker said.

 

 

Bangkok MP Pada Vorakanon of the Palang Pracharath Party said on Saturday (January 4) that many shoppers have now switched over from single-use plastic bags to bags made from sustainable materials such as fabric.

 

“However, there are still some who have the wrong notion that spunbond bags are a sustainable alternative to plastic bags. This is wrong,” she said. “Spunbond bags are made from plastic, and when they start to decompose they will create microplastic particles lighter than 5 milligrams, which, when released into the ecosystem, could harm animals and even humans.”

 

Pada further added that old spunbond bags will slowly disintegrate into small dust particles, but it will take at least 5-10 years for these particles to be fully decomposed.

 

“These particles could be easily carried away by wind, and when they land on water they could be consumed by aquatic animals and contaminate the food chains of humans and other predators.”

 

Spunbond bags are also less durable than fabric bags and are prone to damage when exposed to heat, she added.

 

“Fabric bags can last several years and can be washed when they become dirty,” said Pada. “Plus, natural fibres such as cotton will take only around five years to decompose in nature without leaving any harmful substances in the ecosystem.”

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30380144

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-01-05

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Blimey, more common sense being spoken in Thailand, WHAT'S HAPPENING?

1 hour ago, fasteddie said:

Blimey, more common sense being spoken in Thailand, WHAT'S HAPPENING?

From a nice lady some distance from the trough no doubt. 

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

switched...to bags made from sustainable materials such as fabric

Seriously? Every reusable bag I have seen in Thailand from every outlet is made of 100% plastic with plastic straps. I have yet to see any of these sustainable materials being used.

 

Interesting. I admit my ignorance. Is this bag spunbond?

 

I'm guessing yes cos it does have a kind of artificial feel to it. Yeah, the logo might be a bit misleading.

No those are cloth. I bought like 3, they are very handy. The spun ones are the giant plasticy multi coloured ones.

But if you use it 100 times before discarding the net reduction in plastic waste would be very great indeed.  Perhaps best to concentrate on reduction of one-time use plastic bags at this point.

2 hours ago, nausea said:

Interesting. I admit my ignorance. Is this bag spunbond?

 

I'm guessing yes cos it does have a kind of artificial feel to it. Yeah, the logo might be a bit misleading.

 

It might be, but it's not plastic (it says).

 

Plastic "spunbonds/laids" (a non-woven technique) are what should be avoided:

 

Polypropylene Spunbond Nonwoven Fabric

 

[Hot Item] High Quality 100% Polypropylene Spunbond Nonwoven Fabric for Tote Bag

 

 

 

Edited January 5, 20206 yr by Enoon

1 hour ago, Nyezhov said:

No those are cloth. I bought like 3, they are very handy. The spun ones are the giant plasticy multi coloured ones.

 

"giant plasticy multi coloured ones"

 

If you mean this sort of thing it is not spunbonded, it is woven PVC:

 

 

 

As are these:

 

 

 

4 hours ago, canopy said:

Seriously? Every reusable bag I have seen in Thailand from every outlet is made of 100% plastic with plastic straps. I have yet to see any of these sustainable materials being used.

 

in 7/11 they are tightly folded usually on display near checkout

5 hours ago, fasteddie said:

Blimey, more common sense being spoken in Thailand, WHAT'S HAPPENING?

They need more time, they've only had a shopping bag expert for a little while. Someone's mia noi looking for a role to play I expect.

And the witch hunt shifts to yet another level.

8 hours ago, fasteddie said:

Blimey, more common sense being spoken in Thailand, WHAT'S HAPPENING?

Younger generation with foreign education. There's no hope though, they will succumb to maibpenrai.

9 hours ago, rooster59 said:

“However, there are still some who have the wrong notion that spunbond bags are a sustainable alternative to plastic bags. This is wrong,” she said. “Spunbond bags are made from plastic, and when they start to decompose they will create microplastic particles lighter than 5 milligrams, which, when released into the ecosystem, could harm animals and even humans.

Which is exactly what Big C are offering as an alternative at the check-outs!!

7 hours ago, Oziex1 said:

From a nice lady some distance from the trough no doubt. 

shes  got  those  funny  eyes and  stoopid  eyebrows....may  as well  have  a  forked  tongue  too.

i use these , environmentally friendly made from natural materials, recycled, first owner was a crocodile

Edited January 5, 20206 yr by Chazar

20 minutes ago, Chazar said:

i use these , environmentally friendly made from natural materials, recycled, first owner was a crocodile

And parted with the material after putting up one hell of  fight. 

100% biodegradable.

Probably.

Another MP also informed the public of the dangers in using chocolate Easter egg halves for drinking hot coffee.......

A cotton bag – especially eco-cotton – need to be reused thousands of times to equal same number of single-use plastic bags (20,000 times if single-use plastic bag is reused and incinerated), so probably the best for environment and CO2 is "single-use plastic bags"...????

 

Quote

Plastic bags best for the environment: You must reuse a regular cotton bag 7,100 times to make it better for the environment Organic cotton bag needs 20,000 reuses Paper needs 43 reuses

New Danish EPA analysis

 

 

Notice, this analysis is for Denmark, where it is (reasonably) assumed that Danish plastic bags will be incinerated, so contributing energy at the end of their useful life while not blighting nature.

This is a somewhat similar result as that of a 2011 UK government assessment, found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/291023/scho0711buan-e-e.pdf …

Source: Bjorn Lomborg, Copenhagen Consensus.

5 hours ago, Enoon said:

 

"giant plasticy multi coloured ones"

 

If you mean this sort of thing it is not spunbonded, it is woven PVC:

 

 

 

As are these:

PVC’s durability is also its downfall environmentally speaking – it’s not biodegradable or degradable. Items made from PVC will retain their form for decades and the breakdown that occurs is just granulation – the pieces simply become smaller. Animals can ingest these pieces and the plastic can block their digestive tracts. 

https://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/pvc-and-the-environment.html
You just can't bloody win!

 

7 hours ago, Enoon said:

 

It might be, but it's not plastic (it says).

 

Plastic "spunbonds/laids" (a non-woven technique) are what should be avoided:

 

Polypropylene Spunbond Nonwoven Fabric

 

[Hot Item] High Quality 100% Polypropylene Spunbond Nonwoven Fabric for Tote Bag

 

 

 

That is EXACTLY what MaxValu is offering as plastic bags replacement. In every colour. They also have old plastic bag lookalikes (same shape) made of this material, claiming you're saving the planet if you buy them...

4 hours ago, Chazar said:

shes  got  those  funny  eyes and  stoopid  eyebrows....may  as well  have  a  forked  tongue  too.

Looks kinda hot to me. 

Yes, these bags are everywhere now. While she might be right about the bags, for city use they will last a long time. For those of us who walk no one wants to carry heavy cloth bags! In fact I just changed a cloth bag freebie out for a spunbond bag a week ago because it's much lighter and slimmer in my computer bag. 

 

It cant help if you don't have them with you.

 

I bet she drives everywhere. To the mall, markets. Takes out her heavy bags and thinks she's doing good in the world.

 

I've seen those bags at Max.

Edited January 5, 20206 yr by Number 6

I'll take my four wheeled cabin baggage case next time I go to shop. 

The air AQI is 150+ right now and it’s been this way all day. I don’t give a damn about your bag problem.

Nobody seems to be bothered with the real problem. Utterly non-existing recycling system. Thais just dump it or burn it.

I bought my woven fabric ones in Vietnam - shopping there is so much easier and half the price.

Hmmmm, then, as an MP, should she not be petitioning for higher taxes on "spun bound" or bans on manufacturing or import rather than spouting to us unwashed masses? All "we" want is a simple and trouble free life, "we" elect politicians and then pay them to sort out this stuff, no?

As I like to be seen as environment friendly I have stopped shopping completely and my wife have solely taken over that task when I touring around on my refurbished two stroke Yamaha RD 350 ????