Bag It!: A Review

Bag It! is a hilarious film about plastic bags (and plastics in general) that talks about the problems associated with their creation and disposal. First off, the main couple portrayed in the film (Jeb and Anne) live in Telluride, Colorado.... I town that I love dearly. And although I don't personally know the couple featured in the film, I definitely do recognize them.. I guess just from times I have spent in T-Ride.  Funny, eh?
Anyways, this film was great. It does a great job addressing the major problems with plastics, as well as some of the solutions. It talks about how plastic is made from fossil fuels, a non-renewable resource. It talks about how very little of the plastic we consume is actually recycled.. and how a whole lot of it ends up in the oceans and in the bellies of fish and birds. It talks about the dangerous chemicals used in the manufacturing of plastics. It talks about how they don't decompose in the landfill (or anywhere!).
My favorite part of the film was when Jeb (whose wife recently became pregnant) gets his chemical body burden tested, then spends 2 days drinking out of sippy cups, playing wither rubber ducks, and using soaps, shampoos and lotions formulated for babies. Then he gets his chemical body burden re-tested and find that the number of pthalates and BPA (bisphenol-A) have both increased significantly. In 2 days. By using products deemed to be safe for babies. Pthalates and BPA are endocrine disruptors and have been linked to diabetes, cancer, and fertility problems just to name a few. Yikes.
The film also addresses the plastics industry. How they have fought against regulations that ban plastic bags or put a tax on them. How they swear that they are safe for us and better than paper bags. And how they all refused to be interviewed for the film.
The film shows people who have significantly reduced the amount of plastic they use... by not buying things packaged in plastic, or re-using the plastic that they already have....and shows that it CAN be done.
The best part of the film is that is shows that we can all be part of the solution. Don't buy bottled water. Don't buy stuff you don't need. Avoid plastic packaging at all costs. Bring your own bag. Bring your own container. If we all take action to avoid plastic, then eventually the market will follow. Plastic is a wonderful material, but it has it's time and it's place. Disposable packing and bags that are created (from non-renewable material) to be used once and then thrown away (where it will never biodegrade) is just ridiculous. Safer alternative to plastics do exits. We just need to demand them.
Watch this film. It'll make you think!