The market for reusable goods is growing in the US, as Americans hope such purchases will improve the environment – but it all depends on how often each item is used.
Some reusable water bottles, lunch boxes and straws must be used hundreds of times to offset the amount of carbon emissions and toxic materials used in their production.
In contrast, cloth bags only make a difference to the environment if they are used 7,100 times, and data shows that 90 percent are used only a few times.
When consumers buy too many of these products, they sometimes don’t use them enough to offset the amount of CO2 emitted during the production process, harming the environment
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), reusable products are still the better option to offset plastic waste, which amounts to 40 million tons in the US.
However, the replacements do produce a certain amount of carbon emissions when they are made, ranging from seven ounces to four pounds.
Carbon emissions are the amount of carbon dioxide emitted from the combustion of fossil fuels such as oil and gas that, when released, traps the sun’s heat and leads to rising global temperatures.
The impact of reusable goods on the environment is calculated with mreducing pollution caused by the production process, transportation and the remaining life of product packaging.
A person’s carbon footprint is measured by the amount of carbon dioxide released into the air when you use or make a product.
Each item has a carbon footprint, which varies by material, production and how many times it is used before being thrown away.
For example, if you have a reusable coffee cup, it will not be carbon neutral unless the amount of CO2 avoided by using it is the same as the disposable option.
According to one estimate, a reusable coffee cup would need to be used about 100 times to equal the amount of CO2 from 100 disposable cups.
Anything more than that means you’ve achieved your goal of reducing CO2 emissions, but anything less than that means greater CO2 emissions than if you had simply continued using disposables.
Cloth bags – must be used 7,100 times
A fabric bag must be used 7,100 times to offset CO2 emissions during production
According to a 2018 Danish Environmental Protection Agency report, a cloth bag or carrier bag must be used 7,100 times to offset CO2 emissions during production report.
And while plastic bags have decreased by 60 percent since the ban, greenhouse gas emissions from reusable bags have increased by 500 percent.
The production of plastic bags uses 47 kilos of CO2, while reusable bags emit 15.2 kilos of CO2, according to a report by CO2 Everything.
Although the CO2 emissions from reusable products are much less, the drastic increase in production compensates for the smaller carbon footprint.
Reusable bags are usually made of synthetic fibers or polyester, a polymer made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) that is also found in plastic bottles.
States like California and New Jersey are taking steps to reduce the production and use of reusable bags.
California became the first state to ban plastic bags nearly a decade ago, and in 2020 New Jersey followed suit, with stores requiring consumers to bring reusable bags, but a new report revealed that it was a failed attempt to help the environment.
In California, stores switched to sturdy, reusable plastic bags that consumers could buy for 10 cents, but because people didn’t actually reuse them, a bigger problem with plastic waste emerged.
The same problem occurred in New Jersey, with reports stating that since the state banned plastic grocery bags, plastic consumption has increased.
According to reports, 90 percent of reusable bags were only used two or three times before being thrown away.
Water bottles – 500 times
Each reusable water bottle 500 times to offset the amount of CO2 emissions used to make the bottle
Although reusable water bottles replace the overwhelming amount of plastic, they are energy-intensive to make compared to disposable bottles.
According to one estimate, consumers would have to use each reusable water bottle 500 times to offset the amount of carbon emissions used to produce the same number of single-use plastic bottles.
Reusable water bottles are made of stainless steel, aluminum, glass or BPA-free plastic, meaning they are free of the industrial chemical Bisphenol-A.
Although the plastic water bottle can be reused, it poses the same environmental problems as single-use plastic bottles.
The answer is to simply buy fewer reusable water bottles, keeping in mind that in a few years you may only need one or two.
In 2024, approximately the majority of American adults own a reusable water bottle, but Americans still purchase approximately 50 billion plastic water bottles each year.
Cloth napkin – needs to be used 43 times
Cloth napkins must be used 43 times to offset CO2 emissions
According to Sustainable Living, one cloth napkin would need to be used 43 times to offset the amount of carbon emissions required to make it.
While this may make sense in restaurants, buying more than one or two sets at home won’t compensate for how often you should use them.
The production of one cloth napkin produces more than 2.2 kilos of greenhouse gas emissions and uses 39 liters of water, but washing it after each use contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
Nevertheless, using a single cloth napkin will have replaced approximately 350 paper napkins over a year, depending on durability placeTree hugger.
Coffee cup – needs to be used 100 times
One reusable coffee cup must be used 100 times to offset CO2 emissions
Reusable coffee cups have become the favorite choice for many consumers, with even Starbucks offering a reusable option.
However, as people buy more reusable coffee cups, the effect this has on the environment and climate change as a whole begins to diminish.
According to a 2020 study, you would have to use one reusable coffee cup 100 times to offset the 4.4 kilos of CO2 emitted in its production. Life cycle analysis.
Reusable coffee cups can be used five days a week for about eight years before they spoil, meaning you can use each one 8,000 times.
Using a reusable cup would offset the carbon footprint many times eighty times, making the cup worth the emissions – but only if it is used until it falls apart.
Lunch box – must be used 208 times
Lunch boxes must be used 208 times each to offset the carbon footprint
A lunch box used for a year costs the Earth about 30 grams of carbon, and while this is significantly better than the approximately 105 grams of CO2 from single-use packaging, it would still take about 208 uses for that reusable lunch box to offset its CO2 emissions it took to make it. , according to Vapor.
Reusable lunch boxes are made from materials such as metal, plastic, glass and wood.
Reusable lunch boxes are more environmentally friendly in the long run: according to one study, more than 16 billion single-use containers are used for takeaway food every year. study in Science Direct.
Straw – must be used 105 times
Although reusable straws emit a small amount of CO2, they still need to be used 105 times to offset the carbon footprint
The idea of a reusable straw can be deceiving: they were originally invented to combat the increase in plastic entering the oceans, but their production is also releasing ever-increasing levels of carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
A metal straw will need to be used more than 150 times to offset the half pound of carbon emitted during production, while silicone straws will need to be used 105 times, according to a Sandia Area Federal Credit Union. report.
How to reduce your carbon footprint
EEvery person has an ecological footprint: the number of products he or she buys and uses that produced CO2 emissions, such as reusable water bottles, cloth napkins or lunch boxes.
The average American’s carbon footprint is 16 tons per year, says Perch Energy, Inc. reported.
But this also depends on a person’s location, which varies from state to state and is likely due to things like travel and transportation, electricity consumption, access to clean energy, and the population of the area.
There are several steps you can take to reduce your carbon footprint, such as using only one or two reusable items per person, rather than buying excess while you’re waiting at the checkout.
Taking shorter showers and turning the heating down one or two degrees can also make a big difference.
Reducing your plastic use, using renewable energy, group transportation (carpooling or public transportation) and switching to reusable products are also a quick and efficient way to reduce your carbon footprint.