Anibal Quevedo
Business 1.0
Professor Lamel
In the recent years there have been several heated discussions around banning the use of plastic bags in grocery stores. Activists claim that it is a waste of resources, and that the convenience factor is not worth the environmental hazards inherited to the use of plastic bags. In addition to that, grocery stores raise 3 to 5 cents for each bag used in the price of food. Furthermore, it produces unnecessary expenses for the government. The cleaning process, activists argue, is swallowing a huge chunk of the budget that could go to the improvement of social services instead, such as schools and hospitals.
Some cities and countries are implementing radical plastic-use and environmental policies. For example, Bangladesh completely banned the use of plastic bags because the city do not have an effective litter processing system and plastic bags were blocking some of the storm-drain systems, causing major flooding during rain season. Companies in the Grocery Industry are also taking action into the issue. Whole Foods Market, like many others, encourages its customers to reuse their organic and more resistant bags. Their Corporate Social Responsibility policies take into account many of the aspects touched above.
Activists add that plastic bags also threaten animal life and higher toxicity levels in the environment. And since these "toxic" objects are always in direct contact with humans they might even harm our health as well. However,there is plenty of dissonant arguments. Opposing opinions claim that the use of organic bags is even more toxic, since they are made out of crops such as cotton and paper. These crops require fertilizers and herbicides for example. Therefore, toxic components are passed onto the organic, supposedly healthier and environment friendly, bags.
The Grocery Industry, governments, and communities confront an important dilemma here. Is it best to ban the use of plastic bags? Many companies would see their marketing plans affected. The trademarks in the plastic bags are in some cases an important portion of the advertising strategy. A change to organic bags or to any other option would mean an investment in new marketing strategies, ultimately risking the profits. On the other hand, they also have to appreciate their social duty. Is it right to neglect the dangers of using plastic bags to guaranty more profits? I think it depends on the ethics and principles of each company and the Industry in general.
Note: It is important to remark that there is a lot of contradicting data. Debaters lower the credibility of the opposing opinion with very strong arguments. I look forward to investigate the issue myself and find out which perspective is more accurate.
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Banning plastic bags is apart of corporate social responsibility. Even though grocery stores have to start a new marketing strategy, wouldn't it be more beneficial in the end considering the consumers are paying for reusable bags?
ReplyDeleteWell, if you look it from the environmental perspective it is part of the CSR. Companies have to care about the environment. Plus, anyway if the customers don't pay for the bags directly, those costs are going into the price of the food.
ReplyDeleteTo help answer Bea's question, I do agree that making consumers pay for their own bags is beneficial to the company. It is actually a win-win situation. The company no longer has to pay for the price of plastic bags, and, since this gives more of an incentive for people to bring their own bags, the environment is being saved from extra grocery bags blowing all over the country.
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