There’s no denying that plastic shopping bags are bad for the environment. Actually, Americans toss about 100 billion plastic bags in the trash each year, and less than 3 percent of those are recycled. Many people use them to pick up after their pets or to line bathroom trash cans. However, plastic bags have plethora of other uses.
The following are 5 survival uses for a plastic shopping bag. Just when you thought you didn’t need those plastic bags anymore, they could be the one item that saves your life in an emergency.
1. Make a Shopping Bag Rope
Rope is almost always handy in an emergency. It can help you scale down steep surfaces or even act as a clothesline. Loop the bags together by their handles to make a rope quickly in a tight situation. If you have a lot of bags (roughly 10), cut them into long strips. Then, braid the strips together for a stronger, more durable rope.
Related article: 5 Edible Roots for Survival in the Wild
2. Start a Fire
Plastic bags put off a lot of heat when burned. Although you want to avoid breathing the fumes, plastic shopping bags work very well as kindling to start a fire in rainy or undesirable conditions.
3. Keep Your Food Fresh and Dry
When you’re rationing food in a survival circumstance, you need to keep that food fresh and safe from the elements for as long as possible. Place a plastic bag over the top of a jar or plastic container before you put the top back in place. This can prevent your precious foods from leaking and will keep them fresh longer
4. Use Them to Keep Your Feet and Legs Dry
Cold feet and wet shoes can be detrimental to your overall body warmth when trying to survive. If you’re in a wet area, affix one bag around each shoe to keep your shoes, socks, and legs dry and your body warmer. If your survival situation is so dire that you don’t have access to duct tape, use a length of rope, twine, sturdy weed, or even another plastic shopping bag to get the job done.
5. Emergency Toilet Paper
Although it may not be your top choice, a plastic bag can be much more comfortable as toilet paper than the sticks and leaves of the wild. Cut the bag into small pieces, so you can use a single bag for a lot of “bathroom” visits.
Related articles: How to Make Your Own Altoids Tin Survival Kit or Make a Survival Stove Out of a Tuna Can
Featured Image from Teslariu Mihai/Unsplash
