80 pc want paper bags in place of plastic bags: Poll

Close to 80 per cent of respondents want paper bags in place of plastic bags, according to a poll, involving over eight lakh responses across India.

It demonstrates the growing consciousness surrounding the benefits of environmentally-friendly practices.

Inshorts had conducted nationwide poll to gauge people’s awareness and willingness to adopt paper bags as an alternative to plastic bags.

According to the poll, close to 85 per cent of respondents are aware that single-use plastic bags are banned in India. The results also revealed that almost 79 per cent of respondents carry their own bags when they step out to shop for groceries and everyday items.

As many as 46 per cent of the people surveyed actively refuse to accept plastic bags when offered by shopkeepers. When asked if they were comfortable paying a small amount of money for paper bags provided by stores while shopping, as many as 62 per cent of people responded in the affirmative.

In fact, nearly 80 per cent of people surveyed believe that plastic bags should be replaced by paper bags in all stores as a step towards building a sustainable future.

The poll findings revealed that 53 per cent of respondents think that plastic bags are more convenient than paper bags.

However, when asked what factor prompted them to choose paper bags over plastic bags, 79 per cent cited environmental impact. On the contrary, 21 per cent of respondents said they preferred plastic bags over paper bags due to their durability and convenience.