History of the Plastic Bag

The plastic bag is so common in modern western culture that it would seem hard to imagine a world without them. Plastic bags have come far since their beginning in the mid 1950s, although it took almost four decades for the plastic bag to become common. Broad use of plastic bags hadn't begun until over a decade past the creation of the first bags.

1957

The sandwich bag is invented. This is the first true plastic bag.

1960s

Bread and produce are sold in plastic bags as of 1969. Also in 1969, New York City becomes the first city to start collecting garbage in plastic bags.

1970s

Retail stores begin switching to plastic shopping bags in 1974. Grocers begin using plastic bags at checkout lanes by 1977. Retail giants Sears and JC Penney are the first department stores to use plastic bags.

1990s

Recycling of plastic bags becomes a nationwide service of supermarkets by 1992. By 1996, more than eight out of every 10 bags used is plastic. Recycling bags becomes a viable market during this decade.

Bag Tax

Both Denmark and Ireland introduce the first plastic bag tax. Denmark starts taxing in 1994, and Ireland begins taxing in 2002.