Ziploc bags, daily used items, have a really bad impact on the environment and there are many more alternatives to them that aren’t as damaging for the planet.  

The daily use of these plastic bags is a pretty big problem. First because, like every other plastic item, it is made from crude oil which is a non renewable resource. So creating them not only causes a huge amount of pollution, but makes the Ziploc bags non biodegradable.

As Sciencing.com mentioned: “they are difficult to produce and nearly impossible to get rid of once produced.“

But it doesn’t stop there. They are the cause of death of more than 100 000 sea turtles and other sea animals every single year, when they mistake the bags for food.

If everyone at least washed these Ziploc bags it would already be better than throwing them away after using them only once. 

An alternative to using Ziploc bags would be to use reusable silicone bags instead. They can be put in the freezer, microwave and dishwasher. Some companies also produce fabric reusable bags which can be a very effective way to preserve the environment and animals as well. 

The replacements are far from being perfect, but are so much less harmful to the environment since they last longer. They are unfortunately not biodegradable but it doesn’t become micro plastics which is way better for the ocean. 

Plus, making these bags does not involve crude oil or mining. So thinking about the planet a bit and reducing our use of Ziploc bags or just plastic bags in general would only help.