Research Project

Research Objective:

“To evaluate the level of awareness of the harms of polythene bags among the people and determine the feasibility of introducing of paper/jute bags.”

Introduction:

This report revolves around very common issue of present industrial framework that is global warming. Environmental pollution is the problem of this era which needs immediate identification and measures to resolve. Environmentalists are concerned about the governmental policies about the pollution measures. Environmental pollution is going to be a major dilemma of the future if it is not fixed timely.

Every

individual or organization is concerned about their short-term gains. But no one cares about the impact of their shorter gains on the longer period. In this report, we put a sincere effort to bring forth this serious issue of the use of plastic bags that harms the natural environment. We tried to determine the level of consciousness of individual about environmental pollution. This report will help you understand the awareness level of people’s concern about the global warming. And how the polythene bags affect our environment. What if the use of the plastic bags is discontinued, what consequences we should ready to face. This report highlights the problems and the harms of using plastic bags in depth. What role plastic bags play in our daily routine lives. A long detailed personal and telephonic survey has been conducted for this reason.

Overview of the Plastic:

Every year, around 500 billion (500,000,000,000) plastic bags are used worldwide. So many that over one million bags are being used every minute and they're damaging our environment.

India's plastics

consumption is one of the highest in the world. Yet, precious little has been done to recycle, re-use and dispose of plastic waste. Plastic bags are difficult and costly to recycle and most end up on landfill sites where they take around 300 years to photo degrade. They break down into tiny toxic particles that contaminate the soil and waterways and enter the food chain when animals accidentally ingest them. But the problems surrounding waste plastic bags starts long before they photo degrade. It was World War II that placed plastics at the center of necessity. A rubber substitute called vinyl was used by Allied troops for waterproof tents and boots. It was only in the 1950s that plastics began to come into wide use in international arena, yet within few years, production has risen at an unparalleled rate. World consumption is now comparable with that of all non-ferrous metals. Forecasts concerning the production of resins indicate that the economies

of

many

developed

and

developing

countries

are

increasingly relying on the use of plastics. In this regard the most intractable problem relating to plastics and the environment has been so far their disposal. Land filling on one hand is increasingly seen to pose problems of environmental impact, because the availability of suitable sites is decreasing day by day. Moreover, the leaching of the plastic additives into the ground waters is now being questioned. On the other hand, uncontrolled burning of plastics including polyethylene in the dumping sites and other areas is not acceptable environment-wise. The controlled incineration of plastic waste is also raising concerns in some cases.

Polyethylene

materials

are

not

bio-degradable.

Whenever

a

polyethylene bag is thrown away, it does not decompose through natural process. It contributes to the accumulation of non-destructive waste of permanent nature. If anybody looks at any garbage dumping site, he will observe this fact that although other garbage matter get decomposed and merged into the soil but polyethylene bags remain intact with their different colors especially the black colored polyethylene bags. Polyethylene remains intact in the soil and disturbs the flow of nutrients to the soil and hinders entering sunlight. It destroys the beneficial bacteria of soil and losses soil fertility. It hinders the way of soil compaction, which in the long run effects the construction of foundation of the different structure. The use of polyethylene is not environment friendly. Medical reports find it as an agent of cancer, skin diseases and other health problems. The users are more exposed to these types of health hazards when polyethylene is used to pack bread, biscuits, potato chips or other food items. In the developed countries, food is wrapped in food-graded plastic or polyethylene, but in Bangladesh this was not strictly followed and sometimes colorants are used, some of which may be carcinogenic. Polyethylene industries for shopping bag production emerged in Bangladesh in early 80's and within a decade the industry reached in such a level that the jute bag production forced to be almost closed. The use of polyethylene shopping bags had been so enormous that one could find the polyethylene bags everywhere i.e in the street, dumpsites, drains, ditches, open-fields, roop tops, hanging from trees and overhead cables, floating on ponds, canals, rivers.

Survey report showed that near about 10 million polyethylene bags were used everyday and every year about 3000 million bags were dumped in Dhaka City alone. The steadily growing use of polyethylene bags posed an ominous environmental problem in the city as well as in rural areas. This enormous use of polyethylene bags led to - severe environmental impacts like soil degradation, loss of soil fertility, blocking up of drainage and sewerage systems, causing water logging and the spread of harmful microbes and bacteria. The worst example of adverse effect caused due to polyethylene bags was the delaying process of recession of flood water in Dhaka city during 1998. One of the effective ways of management of polyethylene bags is recycling/reuse of post-consumer polyethylene bags for other useful purposes. But the state of recycling in Bangladesh again posed some other environmental hazards and some means of transmission of diseases. The burning of polythene in open air produces the threat of poisonous gas like carbon mono-oxide, carbon di-oxide hydrogen cyanide those causes health hazard to the people. The people who are involved in collection of polythene bags are the most vulnerable group.

Basic Terms What is recycling? What can we do? Recycling means that we take products that have been used and turn them into something else to use again. Most of the things that we use every day are made from resources that come from the earth, and that have been processed and turned into other products. When we throw away these products (like a juice bottle, for example), they normally end up in a landfill. Unfortunately, a lot of the things that we use and throw away will never break down or biodegrade. For example, when a plant dies, small organisms and bacteria in the soil can break it down and return it into the soil to be used by new plants. This process of decomposition is nature's way of recycling. When we recycle items like a juice bottle, our wastes don't get thrown into a landfill, but instead are re-used in other products. Starting recycling programs at school is a great way help raise recycling awareness in your community.

What is pollution? There are many types of pollution happening today, even in your city. One type of pollution we hear about a lot here in Santa Barbara is oil pollution. This can be spillage or even leakage of processed oil into oceans. Other types of pollution include air pollution (the layer of brown clouds you see when you go to Los Angeles and other big cities). Pollution from sewage and drainage into rivers and oceans also is a serious problem for our environment. Finally, deforestation and industry development can also be thought of as ways the environment is being polluted.

How does pollution affect rivers, oceans, and our ecosystem? Our rivers, lakes and oceans are affected by pollution in many ways. First and foremost, the organisms that live in these places are often harmed by pollution. The water can be polluted by chemical and product leaks, which may cause the animals who live in the water to get sick. Animals who are high up on the food chain can also get sick from toxic build up in their bodies from eating other affected animals and plants. Air pollution also has very negative effects on our atmosphere. There is a hole in our ozone due to pollution in the air. If this hole gets bigger we won’t be as protected from the sunlight and it's heat. Many years from now this could pose a serious threat to humans.

Secondary Research Ban on use of Plastic Bags Background: Used plastic shoppers are notorious for choking sewer, open drainage system spoiling sanitation and creating an overall unaesthetic view of environment. The practice of burning them on street sides at dump sites produces dioxins and furans, which are excessively and extensively being inhaled by human beings. Due to their extreme toxicity of human system, they are responsible for producing serious diseases under universally accepted international requirement, dioxins and furans are required to be absolutely absent in air. Because of polyethylene the raw material being on-degradable in nature, the plastic bag continued to be present in the environment and contribute their undesirable impacts for a very extended period. Since they are extensively used in cities, therefore, these adverse impacts are extremely visible in urban areas. Plastic bags are favored for a number of their desirable properties such as low weight, durability, and for a number of their other end uses like convenience in packing food stuff and other multifarious items besides virtually no cast to the end user that is customer. Where the very characteristic cause tremendous rise in their use in day to day life there at the same time unethical disposal of the used shopping bags adds to the entire problem in totality. And the situation has appeared now in the form of a menace to the environment in the form of choking of sewage resulting in oozing out owe fully dirty water on streets making stinking pools as good breeding grounds for a number of vectors of diseases like flies and mosquitoes. These vectors spread diseases like cholera, typhoid, diarrhea, awful odor, contamination of drinking water thus further spreading these diseases and even hepatitis B and spoiling sanitation more dominantly in the bigger cities of Pakistan.

Efforts On the request of EPA-Sindh the Government Sindh imposed a ban on the production. Sales, purchase and use of black polyethylene bags form 26 August 1994. The Punjab Environmental protection department imposed ban on black polyethylene bags from 5 June 1995. The Baluchistan Government promulgated on ordinance on 19 February 2001 titled: “The Baluchistan prohibition on use and sale of polythene bags ordinance 2001”, Prohibiting sales and use of polythene bags, in the province. Since, no color of bag is specified; it transpires that, bags of all colors have been banned. The department of industries, NWFP has banned the manufacturer of polyethylene bags in the province. Similarly, there is a Prime Minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan directive to impose a complete ban on use of polyethylene bags issued wide PM’s Sectt.U.O.No.778/PSPM/97, dated 22-02-1997. This ban extends to all type of shoppers including black one. Anti-polythene Campaign in Pakistan After years of appeals by citizens and environmentalists, the government of Sindh moved against the offending bags in 2006 by introducing an ordinance which later became the Sindh Prohibition of Manufacturing, Sale and Use of Polythene Bags Act-2006. This prohibited the manufacture, sale and use of black polythene bags, including any bags under 30 microns’ thickness, and set the punishment at a three-month prison term, a fine of Rs50,000, or both. On March 15, 2007, the Sindh environmental department and the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) started cracking down on the manufacturers and vendors of polythene bags in the banned category. Given that the provincial environmental department was unable to frame rules in line with the Act and also lacked the magisterial power required for the purpose, the ban was enforced through Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and on two different occasions, City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal ordered a ban on the manufacture of such bags for 30 days.

However, under the provisions of the law, the city government may not invoke Section 144 of the CrPc for the third consecutive time on the same subject, claimed a source.

Shopkeepers can be seen using paper bags all over the city since a ban was imposed on use of polythene bags by the Sindh government under section 144 on the request of the CDGK last week, which declared plastic bags a threat to the cityís sewerage infrastructure and environment. Despite facing problems in carrying goods purchased from shops, a majority of citizens welcomed the move but demanded of the authorities to compel shopkeepers to provide them merchandise in paper or cloth bags. Burning of polythene bags was also causing environmental pollution, owing to which the CDGK decided to ban both their use and manufacturing. Those associated with the production of polythene bags were advised to switch over to production of paper and cloth bags. if alternatives to polythene bags were not promoted at this stage, the current campaign would just fizzle out like the CDGK’s past initiative in this regard. environmental pollution, plastic bags a threat to the cityís sewerage infrastructure and environment

Effects of Anti-polythene Campaign: Polythene bagsí manufacturers and their trading bodies have started approaching the city administration to get some relief in manufacturing plastic bags, arguing that they use these bags to pack shipments for exports to other countries and provinces where the use of polythene bags was yet to be banned. The closure of manufacturing plants in days of economic recession would result in joblessness of hundreds of workers.

Viewpoint The manufacturers of the plastic bags oppose the ban on plastic bags, arguing that, employment of thousands of person depends upon such cottage industries, which manufacture polyethylene bags. The ban will render many people jobless. They opine that in absence of polyethylene bags, if papers are to be used then, it will involve cutting of more trees, which is not advisable. The argue that this issue is basically that of proper collection of the solid waste. If the waste is collected by the municipal agencies on diurnal basis, then, there would be no polyethylene bags in dust bins. Consequently, bags will not get air born, to create nuisance. Collection of solid waste on diurnal basis will have a beneficial impact. If all the solid wastes generated are collected regularly, then the nuisance of plastic bags will be minimized to a large extent. A committee was also constituted on the direction of Chief Minister Punjab to technically review the whole issue. Benefits of the Paper Bag •

100% reusable, recyclable and biodegradable.

•

Easier to carry than plastic bags.

•

Holds more items than plastic bags = fewer bags to handle.

•

Environmentally preferred.

•

Contains 40% post-consumer recycled material.

•

A renewable resource - comes from trees.

1. Paper is made from a renewable resource, trees. We can plant more trees, and we do! 2. Paper grocery bags are strong enough to hold up to 20 pounds of groceries without breaking—and can be reused again and again. 3. Paper grocery bags are made by workers in the paper factory (and recycled by paper mills here too). 4. You'll have plenty of containers to put your used paper, cans, or bottles in for recycling.

5. Your groceries won't slide all over the car on the way home. 6. You can be part of the Billion Bags Campaign to reuse and recycle paper bags and boxes. 7. Paper bags are the shopper's choice (according to a survey by Willard Bishop Consulting). 8. Paper bags are biodegradable (a plastic bag would still be in a landfill 1,000 years from now). 9. The messages on paper grocery bags are printed with water-based inks. These inks are safer for the environment and make is easier for paper mills to recycle the bags into new paper.

Some facts about Paper Bags Paper Grocery Bags Are Great Recycling Containers For: 1.

More paper grocery bags (and lunch and shopping bags)

2.

Small pieces of corrugated (cardboard) boxes

3.

Household paper (mail, notebook paper, magazines...)

4.

Cans, glass jars and bottles, and plastic bottles that don't fit in recycling

bins (in some towns, you can use paper bags to separate items inside recycling bins, too!). 5.

Recycle bags and boxes together at curbside or drop-off recycling

sites.

Suggestions 1.) There is need to create an awareness and develop a thinking that an individual made a promise to himself as a)

I promise to recycle all the paper products collected in my community

(such as paper grocery bags, corrugated boxes, newspapers, milk cartons, cereal boxes, mail, office paper, magazines, and catalogs). b)

I know the paper I recycle is used as a raw material to make new paper

products, so it is important to recycle right. I pledge to pay attention to my community's recycling rules. c)

Because paper grocery bags can be reused and recycled, I promise to

say "Paper, Please" at the grocery store

Primary Research

In our primary research we tried to find out the awareness level among people. In this regard we use different techniques for getting information. The following three survey techniques were used in the research process

O Personal Interviews O Questionnaire O Telephonic Survey O Focus Group Discussion

Research Findings Respondent’s Gender

33.33 Male Female 66.66

Education 0

44 56

Matriculation Graduate Master

Frequency of Grocery shopping 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

Twice a Day

Daily

Twice a Week

Weekly

Monthly

Other

Are you conscious about environmental pollution? 5.55

YES

NO

88.88

DON't KNOW

Do you agree that plastic bags are the cause of environmental pollution? 16.66

5.55

77.7

YES

NO

DON't KNOW

If yes, then how plastic bags harms the environment and individuals? • Wasted not Destroyable • Sewerage Problem • Chemically Made • Problem with disposing • Land barren • Health

Did you ever notice after using the plastic bag what you did of it? 11.11

16.66

72.2

YES

NO

DON't KNOW

If yes, then what you did of it? Throw in the Street Keep with you for future purposes Look for dust bin to trash Not in list? Then…?

0 16% 77.7% 0

Do you know that suffocation of plastic bags can harm children?

0 5.55

77.77 YES

NO

DON't KNOW

Should Plastic Bags be used in spite of its impact in the environment?

11

33

55 YES

NO

DON't KNOW

Have you heard of the ban on Poly bags in some areas of country and worldwide?

11 16 65

YES

NO

DON't KNOW

Do you think the decision to ban the use of plastic bag is good and needed one?

11

89

YES

NO

DON't KNOW

Will a Complete Ban on Plastic Bag be acceptable?

10 21 67

YES

NO

DON't KNOW

By not Using the Plastic Bag… You can tick more than one

Avoid the foreign exchange loss

38%

incurred on import of chemicals used in plastic bags production. Encourage Domestic Energy by

72%

using cotton bag that is produced with local material Generate employment opportunities 27.7% in textile

Should a few plastic bag manufacturers be allowed to derail a measure so important to public health?

22

50 11 11 YES

NO

DON't KNOW

STRICTLY NOT

What Difficulties you find in stopping the use of plastic bags? • Availability • Liquid carrying • Reusable bags are left at home • If any alternative is available then no difficulty • Political issues

Do you feel your social responsibility to say ”NO” to plastic Bags?

15 5.5

78

YES

NO

DON't KNOW

Can you say NO to plastic bags at the time of shopping and demand for other substitute?

10 0

89 YES

NO

DON't KNOW

According to you which is the best substitute to the plastic bag? Paper bags

5.55%

Jute Bags

72%

(Cotton/cloth or Canvas) Both

27.7%

Do you Suggest any other substitute? • Cloth Bags • Wood Baskets • Thick Plastic baskets • If products are delivered at home no need for bag at all

Present Status: The Islamic Republic of Pakistan environmental protection council PEPC in its 10th meeting decided to “conduct a study to tackle the issue of plastic shopping bags” accordingly; the provinces were requested to implement the decision. The Provincial Government while taking the significant of the issue took necessary steps which includes The Government of Punjab, Government of Sindh, and Government of Baluchistan promulgated ordinances to prohibit manufacturing, sale, use and import of black polythene bags or any other polythene below a specific thickness. O Restricted import of plastic waste, paring and scrap through import policy. O A continues awareness campaign through print media with a support of NGOs for discouraging the use of plastic shopping bags, promotion of alternative and its safe disposal. O Under activity based capacity development ABCD project, one of the objectives includes development of awareness campaign and other strategies to address the management and safe disposal of plastic wastes and shopping bags.

QUESTIONNAIRE

Na me ( Optional) __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Lo ca tio n __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Ag e O 20-25 O 25-30 O 30-35 O 35-40

Ed uc ati on O Matriculation O Graduate O Master

Ho w fr eq ue ntly d o yo u go for gro ce ry s hop pi ng ? O Twice a Day O Daily O Twice a week O Weekly O Monthly O __________

Are yo u co ns cio us ab ou t en vir on me ntal p oll utio n?

Yes

No

Do n’t K no w

Do yo u ag re e th at p la stic ba gs a re t he ca us e of e nviro nm ent al po lluti on ?

Yes

No

Do n’t K no w

If y es , t he n ho w p la sti c ba gs h arm th e en viro nme nt an d in divi du als ?

Di d yo u ev er no tic e aft er u si ng pl asti c b ag s wh at y ou d o o f it ?

Yes If y es , t he n wh at y ou d o with it?

No

Do n’t K no w

O Throw in the street O Keep with you for future purchase O Look for dust bin to trash O Not in list? then _________________________________________

Do yo u kn ow th at s uff oc ati on o f p la stic ba g c an h arm ch ildr en ?

Yes

No

Do n’t K no w

Sh ou ld p la stic ba gs b e us ed in sp ite of it s im pa ct i n t he e nviro nm ent ?

Yes

No

Do n’t K no w

Ha ve y ou he ar d o f th e b an on p la stic ba g i n s om e a re as of t he co un try an d worl dwi de ?

Yes

No

Do n’t K no w

Do yo u thi nk th at de cisi on t o b an th e u se o f pl as tic b ag i s g oo d a nd n ee de d on e?

Yes

No

Do n’t K no w

Will a co mp let e ba n on pl as tic b ag b e a cce pt abl e?

Yes

No

By no t u si ng th e pl as tic b ag s, we c an

Do n’t K no w * you can tick more than one.

O Avoid the foreign exchange loss incurred on imported chemicals used in plastic bag production. O Encourage domestic industry by using cotton bag that is produced with local material. O Generate employment opportunities in textiles.

Sh ou ld a f ew p la stic ba g m an uf act urer s b e a llo we d to de rail a m ea sur e s o imp orta nt t o pu bli c h ea lth ?

Ye s

No

Don ’t Kn ow

Wh at d iffic ultie s y ou fi nd i n s to ppi ng t he us e of p la sti c ba gs?

Strictl y N ot

Do yo u fe el y ou r so cial r es po ns ibilit y t o sa y “NO” to p la stic ba gs?

Yes

No

Do n’t K no w

Ca n y ou s ay “ NO” to pl asti c b ag a t th e tim e of sh op pi ng an d d em an d f or ot her su bstit ute s?

Yes

No

Do n’t K no w

Ac co rdi ng to y ou , w hi ch i s t he be st su bs titut e f or pl asti c b ag ? O Paper Bags O Jute Bag (cotton/cloth/canvas) O Both

Do yo u su gg est a ny o th er s ub stit ute ? _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ ____

Do yo u thi nk th at th ere is n ee d to l au nc h t he aw are ne ss c am pai gn co nc er nin g th e ha rm s of pl asti c b ag s?

Yes

No

Do n’t K no w

Do yo u thi nk it is be tter o pti on to b rin g y ou r ow n sh op pi ng b ag t o ma rk et? Yes

No

Do n’t K no w

TH ANK YOU V ER Y MUCH FOR TA KING THE TIME TO CO MPLE TE THIS QUE STIONNAIRE

Summary and Conclusion Our research topic was to find out the awareness level among people that to what degree they inclined towards the environmental friendly products. And in this regard are they familiar about the harms of polythene bags. And whether they want to have some other alternative available to take part practically towards the betterment of environment. Limitations in research: We took secondary as well as primary research to find out the level of awareness among people. The limitations that we faced during research are mentioned below. Even though Time, Money and Resources were the ultimate constrains of the research. Secondary Research: In secondary research we use different alternatives like; Internet Magazines Newspapers Books on environmentalism And the limitations were; O We could not get the sufficient data related to our own country. O Some websites were out of services O Problem of fit between the data available and data requires

O Geographical Locations were also one of the constrains to know

about people perception and behavior about global warming and environmental friendly products. Primary Research: Our primary research comprises of Questionnaire: We get the questionnaire from the students of IMS and the employees of The Bank Alfalah. But the major problem we faced was; Non-response error Ignorance: People do not know much about the sensitivity of the product but they try to reach very genius. Like when they were asked whether do you agree that plastic bags cause environment pollution? They replied with positive node. But when it was asked how? They were speechless. Telephoning Survey: In telephoning survey we used personal phone book to know about people behavior. And in this tool we face a problem Courtesy Biasness: The respondents did not answer what they perceived based on their knowledge and perception, rather they answered what we want.

Conclusion: We conclude that whether the use of plastic bags is seriously injurious for the environment but according to research there are some advantages and disadvantages of polythene bags: Disadvantages of stopping polythene bag use The participants mentioned some difficulties in stopping polythene bag use. Some shopkeepers said that a few shoppers refuse to buy goods from them now, looking elsewhere for someone who will give them a polythene bag. Shoppers also said that it is difficult to carry fish and certain dry goods like rice and dal, and to wrap items to store in the refrigerator. Participants also said that they face problems when wishing to buy something, if they do not happen to have a bag with them. “It is impossible to take a bag with you to the office,” explained one man. The men explain that now when they leave home, they must stop and think, Where am I going? Will I buy anything?” However, the general consensus was that it is simply a matter of breaking a habit, and that the difficulty will only last a few days. “The difficulty will last a few days, but it will be good for the future.” In general, participants also felt that while polythene bags are bad for the environment, they are far more convenient than current alternatives. One man in particular expressed a wish for biodegradable one-use bags. However, others expressed the feeling that one-use bags are always bad for the environment. They still take time to biodegrade, and thus could still block drains. If they are produced with chemicals they will be bad for the environment, and if they utilize imported materials, then they will be a drain on the economy, as opposed to the use of jute bags.

Advantages of stopping polythene bag use: Some of the shopkeepers even expressed pleasure, complaining that previously customers insisted on having a polythene bag with each purchase—one banana, one bag; one egg, one bag. It is now easier for them to refuse such demands. The participants seem to enjoy reviving the use of jute bags. One man expressed great pleasure at the ban, discussing the economic as well as environmental advantages. He explained that since raw materials are imported for production of polythene bags, and since the bags are produced by machines and thus require little labor, there are two economic disadvantages: loss of foreign exchange to import raw materials, and few employment gains. He contrasted those problems against the advantages of jute bags, which are produced with local materials and employ far more people in their production

Recommendations: To eliminate the problems being faced and to alleviate the solution, possible recommendations are: O Since, employment of many people depends on this industry, any major action may render the people jobless, there is need to encourage these people to adopt alternate substitutes. O All solid waste generated, should be collected strictly on diurnal basis. O The top three forth portion of the dust bins should be covered. This will obstruct the flight of polyethylene bags. O Options of biodegradable bags should be carefully considered. O Since, the bags get air bone. Due its light weight the manufacture of bags with adequate thickness be allowed to prevent its flight. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan’s standard institution may prescribe the thickness and the quality of the bags. O Arrangements with plastic manufacturers may be made, who could set up recycling centers, where they can buy the used plastic bags. These can then be recycled. The city government, along with the plastic manufactures may start a mass awareness program on a large scale. This will, at least, prevent the house wives from the throwing the plastic bags outside of their homes.

O LIST OF SOURCES O RESOURCE CONTSTRAINTS O ACCURACY AND IMPORTANCE OF THE SOURCES

BIBLIOGRAPHY The natural environment has become an important strategic issue. Global warming, bioterrorism, and increased pollution suggest that perhaps there is now no greater threat to business and society than the continuous exploitation and decimation of our natural environment. Specifically we are going to bring in the issue of plastic (poly) bags; its threats. And at the same time the need for the best alternatives. That maybe the paper bag as well as the jute (cotton) bags. Since the topic seems to be and actually is a very sensitive, it requires knowledgeable individuals and society to understand and to create awareness and to tackle this problem strategically. The environmentalism is becoming common practice in developed countries after a long and serious hard work to prepare the mind of people to identify and understand this horrible issue. In countries like Islamic Republic of Pakistan, where the whole organization (country) is suffering from the issue of bankruptcy, financial and security concerns no single citizen from state heads to environmental regulatory authorities to a common individual is willing to consider this as a serious matter. Consequently we do not find so much local work available to use as a secondary data. The recent ban on the use of plastic shopping bags will help us finding the latest industrial updates. So far, we have been surfing the national and international web sites for information about the threats and problems resulted by the use of plastic shopping bags. In a way we are trying to benchmark the developed countries’ work for our use. Following are some URL’s and other sources we are consulting and citing for the report.

O

www.environment.gov.pk

O

www.climatecrisis.net

O

www.iso.14000

O

www.epa.gov

O

www.globalfootprints.org

O

www.naturalnews.com

O

www.environment-agency.gov.uk

O

www.google.com

O

www.images.google.com

O

www.epaper.dawn.com

O

Strategic Management By: Fred. R. David.

O

An Inconvenient Truth The movie

O Lectures by Ms. Zarin Shoaib. Term fall 2008. Many of above mentioned URLs are run by the international NGOs and governmental institutions, almost all of them are updated regularly and the information available and so far that has come to our notice is efficient, accurate, and updated. The search engine Google that is used maximum internet user is also updated in every second, we are looking into it for further investigation of related regulatory authorities and more concerns related to our topic for report as well as for the purpose of educating ourselves. Finally the resource constraints like time money will definitely lead to compromise on quality and quantity. But the effort would be of the highest level with a clear intention to bring rigorous, precise, accurate and objective sort of results.