Impact of Plastic Bag Ban on Environment and Society: A Report

This report investigates the environmental and social implications of banning plastic bags, focusing on corporate sustainability. It explores the ethical, social, and environmental aspects, highlighting the triple bottom line approach. The report analyzes the risks and benefits of plastic bag bans, including increased costs and environmental improvements like reduced pollution and waste. It examines strategies such as promoting recycled and plastic-free bags. The report also references the impact of plastic bags, and their consequences, and the importance of reducing their use. It concludes by emphasizing the importance of sustainability in business practices and the need for companies to adopt eco-friendly initiatives to protect the environment and society.

RUNNING HEAD: Environmental and social issues
1
Name of the student-
Topic- Banning plastic bags
University-

Environmental and social issues 2
With the ramified economic changes, corporate organisations are more inclined
towards sustainable business. All the organizations are using and managing the triple bottom
line in their business.
Ethical
It is the process by which companies would manage its social and environmental and
ethical risks, obligation and opportunities. The sustainability reporting of all the companies
focuses on the triple bottom line.
Social
It focuses on the people, integrity of society, welfare and all the natural resources for
the long term benefit of the society. However, company has arranged various activities to
strengthen its sustainable activities such as arranging watershed program, installing cyber
computing system to develop paperless work. Company needs to focus on reducing use of
plastic bags and implementing proper training and development program for its employees to
increase the overall effectiveness of the organization (De Groot, Abrahamse & Jones, 2013).
Environmental
The main environmental health issue program of company is related to use of plastic
bags. These plastic bags are non- destructible and will result to impact the people’s health in
negative manner. Company has planned to ban all of the plastic bags usages in its retail stores
with a view to save the environment from all the hazardous substance. It is easy to understand
that plastic bags cannot be destroyed and they put negative impact on the environment at
large. Therefore, to reduce the usage of plastic bags, all the corporate bodies have planned to
follow two main strategies. First is to promote the use of recycled plastic bags. Another one is
based on the use of plastic free bags which would be chargeable at the hand of clients (Ritch,
Brennan, and MacLeod, 2009).
Risk and benefits analysis of banning plastic bags
It is evaluated that the main risk which will emerge from banning plastic bags would
be related to increased complexity of the handling stocks and additional charges for
customized bags. It is considered that if these plastic bags are banned then using of other

Environmental and social issues 3
customized bags may result to increase in the selling price of the products and services in
market (Xanthos and Walker, 2017).
Benefits of banning plastic bags
 It is considered that adverse impacts of plastic bags are undeniable.
 It is considered that when they are not piling up in landfills, it will reduce the impacts such
as blocking storm drains, littering streets, getting stuck in trees, and contaminating oceans.
 It will lead the corporate and other shops to split in the anti-bag movement.
The impacts of these bags could be measured through the below given table
(Source: http://paulonpackaging.com/category/government/)
 It will reduce the environmental social impact and increase the sustainability of the resources.
 This act will also minimize the environmental destructions and increase the overall outcome
of the business (Brigham and Ehrhardt 2013).
However, in order to reduce the use of plastic bags, all the companies have followed
programs like use of recycled plastic bags and increasing the paper bags in market.

Environmental and social issues 4
References
Brigham, E.F. and Ehrhardt, M.C., 2013. Financial management: Theory & practice. Cengage
Learning.
De Groot, J. I., Abrahamse, W., & Jones, K. (2013). Persuasive normative messages: The influence of
injunctive and personal norms on using free plastic bags. Sustainability, 5(5), 1829-1844.
Ritch, E., Brennan, C. and MacLeod, C., 2009. Plastic bag politics: modifying consumer behaviour for
sustainable development. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 33(2), pp.168-174.
Xanthos, D. and Walker, T.R., 2017. International policies to reduce plastic marine pollution from
single-use plastics (plastic bags and microbeads): a review. Marine pollution bulletin, 118(1-2),
pp.17-26.