Greater awareness about the benefits of paper bags and cotton bags is needed to put an end to the global plastic bag culture.
Across the world, policy makers are trying to outlaw and deter the use of these environmental banes, but many are reluctant to make the change to paper carrier bags and cloth alternatives under current schemes.
One country attempting to rid itself of unnecessary plastic is Nepal, which earlier this year tried to ban plastic bags less than 20 microns thick in Kathmandu Metropolitan City.
The policy was introduced by then minister for the environment Sunil Kumar and was one of several initiatives in the country.
Namaste Supermarket in Pulchowk also started a 'No Plastic Bag' campaign, while Bhatbhateni Supermarket provided cotton bags free of charge.
However, Sachina Chitraker, cashier at Namaste Supermarket, explained to My Republica that the scheme didn't last long as "customers expressed dissatisfaction" when asked to pay for plastic bags.
To change this attitude, people across the world need to be made aware about the benefits of using paper or cotton bags to ferry goods, especially in terms of the environment.
For instance, the Baagmati River has experienced a declining number of fish because of a deluge of plastic being discarded in the water mass. Fish is a major source of income for the area, and should their numbers decline, many will struggle to make a living.
Silsila Acharya, program officer at the Himalayan Climate Initiative, told the news portal: "The number of fish in Bagmati has declined also because of plastic litter. Besides that, plastic can clog drainage pipes and if it’s burnt, the smouldering smoke is highly toxic."
To address the issue in the area, the initiative has introduced the Hamro Bahini - The Green Angels project. The anti-plastic campaign focuses on making cloth and jute bags readily available to replace plastic ones.
This scheme and others like it will be integral to changing people's practices and encouraging individuals to choose more environmentally sustainable bags.
However, such campaigns must be supported by incentives and public advertisements to bring about a change in culture.
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