Ecobags: an option for consumers in Manaus to replace the use of plastic bags

Priscilla Peixoto – Cenarium Magazine

MANAUS – With the deadline of one year to adapt to the Law No. 2.799/2021 that prohibits the sale and free distribution of disposable bags in Manaus by small establishments, popularly known as “mercadinhos” or “taverns”, merchants and consumers will also have time to adapt to changes and, in this scenario, ecobags can gain more space, as a practical and economical way to carry everyday purchases.

For years a fan of ecobags, the student Pabi Xavier, 29, shares about her preference for reusable bags. “I’ve been using ecobags for years, precisely in order to replace plastic bags and because they are very useful, they allow us to carry many things, they go with everything and have this concept not only of sustainability, but of practicality, and it also has a lot to do with this ‘millenial’ crowd that carries many things. I think it is a product that caters to many publics”, says Pabi.

The student also points out the affordable price of the product, usually made of reused material. According to Pabi, the bags can be found in thrift stores and stores that specialize in handcrafted products for between R$ 15.00 and R$ 60.00.

“It depends a lot on the size, model, and color. But it is a small investment that is worthwhile, because the product pays for itself through the number of times it can be used. If you take the right care and hygiene, the durability is very long”, says the student.

Read also: Customized Ecobags become a source of income and sustainability for entrepreneur from the north

The sustainable accessory has also become a choice of the programmer Jackeline Matos, 24 years. She says that besides being a fan of the piece, she has also made ecobags an alternative to supplement her income.

“For me, the experience of using ecobags was very good, not only as a consumer, but also as a micro entrepreneur. The ecos, besides bringing practicality, style in everyday life, do not harm the environment and are always very comfortable to wear”.

Versatile, with varied shapes, sizes and colors, Jackeline says that in Manaus even though the culture of using plastic bags predominates, the product has a good outlet and believes that the trend is that the demand for alternative bags increases.

“The public here accepts very well, especially when it involves art in the product, because then it adds fashion to the concept. I think that the trend is that the demand for them will increase a lot after this new law. It is a habit that, little by little, is being created”, he evaluates.

Ecobags

Created in 1997 by Chanel, which turned to a bag made of more sustainable materials, the ecobag was consolidated, in 2007, by the hands of British designer Anya Hindmarch, who made her own cloth model with the print “I’m not a plastic bag”. The model gained space in Brazil a short time later.

About the law

The law, which changes provisions of Law No. 485, of May 7, 2021, published on October 13, 2021, details which establishments belonging to supermarket chains – or that have more than 2,000 square meters of individualized floor area – are prohibited from selling or distributing disposable bags made of polyethylene, polypropylene, or similar compounds in the capital of Amazonas. The free distribution of biodegradable or returnable bags is allowed.

According to the law, as of October 20, 2023, one year from now, the distribution and sale of plastic bags of any composition, including biodegradable ones, will be forbidden, and only the free distribution of returnable bags will be allowed. Commercial establishments of any size will have to follow this determination.

According to the Plastic Atlas 2020, Brazil is the fourth largest plastic waste producing country in the world. The country produces, on average, 11 million tons of plastic waste that contaminate the environment. When the matter is summed up, specifically, for plastic bags, the numbers get even more expressive, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The world population consumes more than 3 trillion plastic bags each year. Furthermore, a single plastic bag can take up to 100 years to decompose.