Don't use plastic bags!

One of my personal pet peeves is plastic bags.

I absolutely detest them, and here at Foldees, we keep our use of plastic to the absolute minimum. We use a small plastic sheet to keep your blank cards dry as they reach you, and that's it.

Unfortunately, especially here in Malaysia where we're based, plastic bags are used with abandon. Even among my own group of friends, people still have the mentality that since plastic bags are free, they should just take them.

One example was when I went with a bunch of friends to 7-11 for a coupla beers. My friend got the Heineken can in a plastic bag. As soon as we walked outside the door, he opens the beer and chucks the bag into the wastepaper basket. I asked him in shock, "Dude, why did you even bother taken the bag!?"

"He gave it to me."

"Can't you just say no?"

"Ok, Ok captain planet."

Unfortunately, this sort of thinking is common. The problem is, plastic bags are non-bio-degradable. This means that they won't just rot away (unlike paper) when thrown. Your plastic bag will find it's way somewhere, and here's a good idea of what will happen to it.

http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080506/MULTIMEDIA02/80505016

So what can you do about it?

Well, stop using plastic bags with abandon. If you've only got one or two items, stuff em in your pockets, or just carry them by hand to the car. If you need to use a plastic bag, then at least make sure you use it well. Wrap your trash with it.

Several supermarkets have started offering recyclable shopping bags. You can usually see em at the checkout counter for under US$1. And the advantages in using these isn't only environmental. They also don't cut into your fingers the way a plastic bag (with a bag full of rice in it) will, and they look alot cooler too! You'll also be amazed at just how much of your groceries you can fit into one of these babies.

Foldees places a huge amount of importance on being as environmentally conscious as possible. Our paper, as mentioned on our site, is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. This means that the paper is sourced from well-managed forests, and even has procedures in place to make sure that human rights are respected in its harvesting (which is why the paper is so bloody expensive). Unfortunately, we can't use their logo since we can't (yet) afford their vigorous certification audit. However, as soon as we can afford to, we will.

Even our envelopes are made from Hemp paper, which is made from paper-waste products (although we'd like to switch to post-consumer waste once costs allow).

We believe that our greeting cards are meant to convey all sortsa of wonderful feelings.

And guilt shouldn't be one of em :)