The world uses over 1.2 trillion plastic bags a year. That averages about 300 bags for each adult on the planet. That comes out to over one million bags being used per minute. On average we use each plastic bag for approximately 12 minutes before disposing. It then can lasts in the environment for decades. Not all litter is deliberate. 47% of wind borne litter escaping from landfills is plastic much of this is plastic bags.

In the marine environment plastic bag litter is lethal, killing at least 100,000 birds, whales, seals and turtles every year. After an animal is killed by plastic bags, its body decomposes and the plastic is released back into the environment where it can kill again. A Bryde's whale died on a beach in Cairns, Australia after ingesting 6 square metres of plastic - including plastic bags. Such obstructions in animals can cause severe pain, distress and death.

If you think there is no point in developed nations stopping the use of disposable plastic bags because the worlds developing nations will never follow. Check out the following list:

Countries and States that have banned or taken action to discourage the use of plastic bags include: Australia, Bangladesh, Ireland, Italy, Taiwan, Mumbai (formerly Bombay), Scotland, France, West Bengal, Zanzibar,Tanzania,Switzerland, Rwanda, Denmark, Germany,South Africa, California, Somalia, Botswana, Philippines

Plastic bags as with all forms of plastic does not biodegrade, they photodegrade-breaking down into smaller and smaller toxic bits contaminating soil, waterways, oceans and entering the food web when ingested by animals.