Paper versus plastic — an environmental assessment

In spite of much scientific evidence to the contrary, the public s perception of plastics is that they are potentially toxic and incompatible with nature. For this reason, many consumers demand that paper packaging be used, for example, in supermarkets and fast food chains. Some municipalities in the US have attempted to ban the use of plastic packaging for environmental reasons. 

The report concludes with the statement The replacement of polyethylene by paper carrier bags makes no sense ecologically. The production of polyeth- 

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