Are cotton bags better?
Cotton bags have a much higher production footprint. You need to reuse a cotton bag thousands of times to equal the low footprint of a single-use plastic bag, though they reduce litter.
Calculator
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Analysis
Interpretation of the current calculator output
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How to Use
Step-by-step instructions
- 1Select the type of bag you typically use.
- 2Enter how many bags you use per week.
- 3Enter the time period in years.
- 4The calculator will estimate your CO2 footprint.
CO2 Emissions
Estimates the total CO2 equivalent emissions based on the type and quantity of bags used over time.
Total CO2 = Bags x Emission_FactorVariables:
BagsBags per week x 52 x YearsFactorCO2e per bag type (e.g., Plastic = 0.03 kg)Example
10 Plastic Bags/Week
Inputs:
Type:Plastic (HDPE)
Usage:10 per week
Time:1 year
Steps:
- 1.Total Bags = 10 * 52 * 1 = 520 bags
- 2.CO2 = 520 * 0.03 = 15.6 kg CO2
- 3.Driving Equivalent = 15.6 / 0.4 = 39 miles
Result:
15.6 kg CO2