Plastic Or Paper? How Proviro Makes It Products And Packaging Sustainable Alternatives

Paper is made from raw wood from trees, which are a renewable resource when grown sustainably. It’s argued to be a preferable alternative to plastic because it’s biodegradable, compostable and recyclable. Plastic is made from fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and crude oil, all considered to be non-renewable resources. Plastic can take thousands of years to decompose while paper degrades naturally within a decade. Products that are ‘natural’ may seem like a better choice but paper bags actually have a greater environmental impact than high-density polyethylene plastic bags because of the production process and the amount of material needed per bag. Paper requires four times as much energy and three times the amount of water to produce compared to plastic. It’s also heavier and bulkier, so more fuel and trucks are needed for transport. The other downside of paper is its bulk – while it doesn’t take more than a few years to break down, it does take space, another reason why it should be recycled instead of being sent to landfill.