Sunday, July 8, 2007

Paper or plastic? If you really want to help save the planet, the answer, of course, is neither. But what to do when you find yourself sans reusable tote in the checkout line?

According to a study conducted for the nonprofit Institute for Lifecycle Environmental Assessment, plastic bags might be the lesser of two evils: Their production requires about half the energy and generates far fewer pollutants than paper bags, which, despite being made of natural material, require plenty of toxic chemicals to manufacture. Paper is recycled more often, but the process is energy-intensive. Plastic bags tend to be more versatile for reuse.

Still, plastic isn't fantastic. The bags are derived from non-renewable petroleum, they don't degrade easily, and they tend to blow away, clogging storm drains and killing animals and fish. San Francisco's Board of Supervisors even passed legislation banning their use at large grocery stores and chain drugstores; the law will go into effect later this year.

The best plan is to be prepared: Keep a re usable tote folded and stuffed into your briefcase or handbag, leave a couple in your bike basket, or toss a pile in the trunk of your car. Here are a few that lessen the load on the Earth and let you show off your style:

· Maptote makes canvas bags printed with quirky vintage-style maps of the District, among other cities ($12 at http://www.maptote.com).

· Maine-based Sea Bags reworks disused nautical sails and rope into sturdy, graphic carryalls (from $95 at http://www.seabags.com).

· Proceeds from the Feed Bag, created by presidential niece Lauren Bush, feed children via the U.N. World Food Program ($59.95 at http://www.amazon.com).

· For true fashion-philes, British designer Anya Hindmarch's instantly sold-out "I'm Not a Plastic Bag" tote, though not available locally, is so sought-after that it's selling for upward of $100 on eBay.

-- Eviana Hartman