COVID-19 Pandemic: Are Jute Bags Safe to Use in this Challenging Time?

In the wake of the global pandemic caused by the Novel Coronavirus, when most of the nation’s daily routines have suddenly come to a halt, it’s most likely for a conscious individual to question the safety of jute bags and other reusable bags. After all, it’s an expedient mate to not just a single mother but to most of the independent shoppers, whose daily or weekly routine is to visit the departmental stores for collecting groceries. So, what’s the reality? Let’s check it through this blog.

Do Coronavirus Survive on Jute bags?

Like we all know, Coronavirus spreads through coughs and sneezes. The little droplets that are released through such activities into the air can infect anyone nearby. And the situation worsens when it comes in contact with hands and spreads through them. Now coming back to jute bags and other reusable bags, the question is how long the virus doessurvive on them? Though it lives for up to 24 hours on cardboards and a maximum of 3 days on plastics, nothing much is known about reusable bags. However, a research carried out by a science professor of a Sydney University revealed that there’s a lower risk of the virus spreading via them. He believes home items like reusable bags, which leave the house only to be brought back again, rarely spread viruses. Maybe the fact that we keep our houses clean and regularly disinfect them makes it a safer zone. With this, jutebag suppliers can actually heave a sigh of relief and keep up with the good deed of distributing Earth-friendly bags at affordable rates around.

Are Plastic Bags Really Making a Comeback?

Though single-use plastic bags have experienced a ban in stores, owing to the pollution it was causing to the ocean and our habitat,today people speculate its comeback after watching a few states of the US, putting a temporary ban on reusable bags in light of the current scenario i.e. the spread of the novel coronavirus. From New Hampshire to California, grocery stores are not just abiding by the social distancing norms but are also discouraging customers to bring reusable bags into the stores. The news might be a little discomforting to the jute bag wholesalers and other reusable bag suppliers, but let’s not forget that the global pandemic shall ultimately pass but the plastic pollution is here to stay. So, to combat the lasting problem, the current ban of reusable bags shall ultimately be revoked. After all, plastic grocery bags have a long life and take at least 20 years to decompose.So, in the long run, reusable bags like jute, cotton and canvas shall again take the centre stage.

Measures to Reduce the Risk Associated with Spread of Novel Coronavirus via Jute Bags

The ditching of jute bags or any of those reusable bags might be the easiest thing to do but what takes courage is to stick to the pledge you had secretly taken to never betray Mother Nature by surrendering to the tempt of using single-use plastics. Rather, stick to reusable ones for the wellbeing of the environment. And, in an attempt to follow that as well as your duty as a responsible citizen over this unsettling time is by limiting your shopping trips. The latter has been further supported by Professor Timothy Newsome from the University of Sydney.

Another expert, a microbiologist in the name of Dr Donald Schaffner, suggests washing of reusable grocery bags regularly to curb the spread of the novel Coronavirus. It’s a responsible choice if you think your bag’s carrying the virus after returning from a shopping trip.

Though most of them can be disinfected with wipes and sprays, a thoughtful way to deal with sturdier versions like jute bags is through warm soapy water.

Final Thoughts:

There’s no evidence stating thatjute bags or reusable shopping bags pose a threat in this unsettling time of global pandemic and spread the novel coronavirus. So, it all comes down tostaying safe and practising good hygiene. Washing of jute bags with hot water and soap, after coming back from shops, can alleviate much of the problems and make you feelguilt-free.