Mysore/Mysuru: Marking ‘World Paper Bag Day,’ the members of Parisara Snehi, a green group of the city, distributed paper bags to members of the public at Jalapuri Police Quarters here yesterday. They also motivated the public to shun plastic bags and use paper bags which are eco-friendly.

N.R. BJP youth leaders D. Lohith, Jayanth, Kishore, Anand and others were present.

Paper bags are an environment friendly alternative to harmful plastic bags and Paper Bag Day is celebrated worldwide on July 12. The day aims to spread awareness about using paper bags instead of plastic to help reduce plastic waste.

American Inventor Francis Wolle has been credited for his patent of the first paper bag machine in 1852. The  ‘Mother of the Grocery Bag’ – Margaret E.Knight in 1870 designed the square, flat bottomed bag and the machine that would fold and paste them.

Paper bags are reusable and as well as recyclable. Not only are they bio-degradable, they can withstand a lot of pressure and also easy to handle. It takes less energy to manufacture them as compared to plastic bags. Paper bags are also safer for pets and other animals. 

Paper bags are almost 100 percent recyclable and can decompose within just a month. They can be reused at home and can even be used to   make compost.