抄録
To prevent environmental degradation, we should had use environment-friendly goods, considering their convenience. In a specific country, plastic bags are used for milk packages and it is said to be environment-friendly.
In this study, we assessed environmental impact of plastic bags compared with paper cartons in life cycle and studied the possibility of their introduction in Japan.
We found a consequence that plastic bags emitted less CO2 and NOx in life cycle. We conducted a scheduled questionnaire for investigation and found that consumers were concerned about environment but they tended not to buy plastic bag commodities unless they were cheaper than paper cartons. We got opinions from sellers and found that plastic bags were inconvenient compared with paper cartons and it was difficult to sell plastic bag commodities in cheaper price than that of paper cartons.
Plastic bags can be seen to be more environment-friendly than paper cartons but we can say if we introduce them in Japan, they will not be spread without any measure. In questionnaire investigation, about 40% of respondents opined that they chose plastic bags even plastic bag commodities and paper cartons were in same price. So, plastic bag commodities need to be sold at the same price as paper cartons for diffusion. Moreover, it is helpful for diffusion of enhancing consumers'zest forward plastic bags. It is to be desired that packages are simplified and selling commodities by a new measurement system should be examined further.
