Should our use of paper or plastic be regulated?
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Do the Math
Do the Math
Option 1:
Option 1:
There are many places across the country that have or are considering phasing out plastic shopping bags completely. Some people believe switching to paper bags would be a good strategy for helping the environment. However, others have cited data that might make people change their minds. Researchers discovered that 2,511 BTUs* of energy are used to make a paper bag and just 594 BTUs to make a plastic bag. Therefore, many suggest that the best strategy to save energy is for shoppers to bring reusable bags from home.
How much more energy is spent making a paper bag than making a plastic bag?
A. 2,000 BTUs
B. 817 BTUs
C. 1,918 BTUs
D. 1,917 BTUs
Option 2:
Option 2:
Taylor is making her weekly trip to the grocery store. Despite the research on the benefits of reusable bags, she still uses paper and plastic. She bags her own groceries in two phases using a special strategy: meats and cheeses in plastic bags, fruits and vegetables in paper.
Write an equation to find the total number of BTUs it took to make those bags, based on the number of paper and plastic bags used by Taylor. Use the data cited in Option 1.
Let p = the number of paper bags, c = the number of plastic bags, and b = the total number of BTUs.
Discussion Question:
Discussion Question:
Researchers have pointed out problems with using paper bags, as well as plastic bags. The data cited above illustrate one of those problems: Making bags takes energy. To protect the environment, some cities and states have passed laws to phase out plastic bags. But is this the best strategy? Can you think of a better one?
* BTU (British Thermal Unit) is a standard measurement for heat energy.
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