- “The current plastic shopping bag is well suited to its task – it is cheap, lightweight, resource efficient, functional, moisture resistant, allows for quick packing at the supermarket and is remarkably strong for its weight”.

- “Plastic bags also currently perform an important task in product and food safety, keeping uncooked meat or cleaning products separate from other foods” (Nolan-ITU 2002, p.4)

- less than 1% of plastic bags become litter, hence even less would find their way into the marine environment

- plastic bags only account for 2% of litter (by number)

Also it has been said in the same research document that by banning HDPE bags, consumers are more likely to purchase more plastic garbage bags to line their bins which, apart from incurring additional financial costs to them, may even use more plastics (given their larger size and thickness).