A 4 page research proposal for investigating the full environmental cost of paper and plastic grocery bags. Consumers need to be able to make sound decisions based on fact rather than on supposition, and they need to recognize that their decisions are factual and legitimate. Assessing the total environmental and economic footprint of both paper and plastic bags can contribute to that end. Includes a timetable as an appendix. Bibliography lists 10 sources.
Name of Research Paper File: CC6_KSresPapPlasBag.rtf
Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
or plastic?" Its a question that virtually everyone has to answer at one time or another. Some stores no longer offer a choice, but in either case, consumers
need to know the implications of their actions and which choice truly is the most environmentally sustainable. There are advantages to both paper and plastic, but when all factors
are considered, plastic is the most environmentally sound choice. Researcher Qualifications and Timetable [Q2] I have a personal interest in environmental issues, and
it is the aim of this investigation to establish a definitive answer to the "Paper or plastic?" question that is the most environmentally responsible and sustainable over the long term.
As a college senior with a background in human ecology studies, I am familiar with research techniques and the need to design and conduct research so that there is
no bias in the results. [Q3] A proposed timetable for project completion is included in Appendix A. The investigation will require less
than one month to complete. Issues to be Addressed Conventional wisdom holds that paper bags are more environmentally responsible than plastic because of
the origins of the bag materials. Paper is renewable; plastic, of course, is not. All products based on fossil fuels are suspect in todays environmental climate, and particularly
those that also are more economical to buy and easier to use. The problem of "greenwashing" is a real one, and the tendency is to be suspect of the
value of anything that appears to allow organizations to take the "easy way out." To arrive at a valid conclusion and to dispel any possible "greenwashing" of the problem,