Plastic vs Paper E-commerce Bags: Which is Truly Better?

Paper bags often come across as the clear choice for sustainability—natural, recyclable, and environmentally friendly at first glance – which is of course true compared to virgin fossil-based options. But when we compare them directly to recycled plastic bags and biobased plastics, the data sometimes tells a different tale. Let’s look at Lignin Industries e-commerce bag compared to a recycled plastic bag and paper bag:

1. Lignin Industries E-com Bag (30L bag, 40 g weight)

2. Recycled Plastic E-com Bag (30L bag, also 40 g weight)

3. Kraft Paper E-com Bag (30L bag, 100g weight)

Here's what we found:

1. Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG Emissions)

When we talk about emissions, there’s a lot to unpack—from production (“cradle to gate”) all the way to disposal (“cradle to grave”).
Let’s see how each bag performs:

• Cradle to Gate:

• Lignin Industries E-com Bag: Basically Net Zero with -0.02 kg CO2e/bag

• Recycled Plastic E-com Bag: A footprint at 0.04 kg CO2e/bag

• Kraft Paper E-com Bag: Also basically Net Zero with -0.02 kg CO2e/bag

In this initial stage, both Lignin Industries e-com bag bag and the Kraft paper bag have a minor carbon-negative impact.

·         Cradle to Grave (Full Lifecycle):

• Lignin Industries E-com Bag: 0.11 kg CO2e/bag

• Recycled Plastic E-com Bag: 0.15 kg CO2e/bag

• Kraft Paper E-com Bag: 0.34 kg CO2e/bag

The kraft paper bag's lifecycle emissions are more than three times higher compared to Lignin Industries e-com bag and over twice as high as the recycled e-com bag. This difference in emissions throughout the entire lifecycle challenges the common perception that paper is always the more sustainable choice.

2. Total Energy Use

It’s essential to consider the total energy used—both renewable and non-renewable—when producing these bags.

• Lignin Industries E-com Bag: 0.1 MJ/bag

• Recycled Plastic E-com Bag: 0.58 MJ/bag

• Kraft Paper E-com Bag: 1.6 MJ/bag

The recycled plastic bag uses nearly 6 times the energy of Lignin Industries bag, while the kraft paper bag requires a staggering 16 times more energy. This is significant, especially given the growing push for more efficient and sustainable production processes.

3. Water Consumption Use

Water—a precious resource whose usage often flies under the radar:

• Lignin Bag: Uses 1.96 kg H2O/bag.

• Recycled Plastic Bag: A bit higher at 2.40 kg H2O/bag.

• Kraft Paper Bag: The highest at 2.46 kg H2O/bag.

Although the differences here are smaller compared to emissions, the paper bag still tops the list, making us question the idea that paper always means better for the environment.

4. Storage and Transportation Costs

The weight and bulkiness of the paper alternative aren’t always considered—Kraft paper bags require up to 4 times more space compared to plastic bags. This increased volume leads to higher transportation and storage costs, as well as greater fuel consumption and emissions during transport.

So, Which Bag is the Most Sustainable?

While the answer isn’t black and white, the data shows that Lignin Industries e-com bag has some serious sustainability advantages—lower GHG emissions, comparable energy use, and reduced storage needs compared to the paper option.

It’s not just about choosing paper or plastic; it’s about diving deeper into the entire lifecycle. Every choice we make in materials has consequences—often ones that we don’t see immediately but make an impact in the long run.

What’s Next? At Lignin Industries, we’re trying to shift the dialogue to more informed decisions.

So next time you're deciding what e-commerce delivery bag to use for your products, ask yourself: What’s really behind this bag? The more informed we are, the better choices we can make for our planet.The choice between recycled plastic and paper bags isn't just about practicality; it's a decision laden with environmental implications. A common assumption is that paper bags are inherently more sustainable than plastic. However, when considering carbon footprint, the reality is more complex.

Sources:

Sources GHG Emissions, Energy use & Water use:

• Lignin Industries E-com Bag: LCA calculated by SWECO (2024). Water & Energy-calculations based on EPDs of raw materials, transports and production method used.

• Recycled E-com bag: Sweco, Ecoinvent database 3.8-3.10, EPDs of materials used.

• Kraft paper E-com bag: Sweco, Ecoinvent 3.10 ,and EPD BillerudKorsnäs Xpression Ecom Brown.

Sources Transportation & Storage:

• Interviews with 4 Bag manufacturers of both paper & plastic, reporting 2-4 times more space needed for paper.