IBM Granted "Paper-or-Plastic?" Patent

theodp writes "On Tuesday, IBM was granted US Patent No. 7,407,089 for storing a preference for paper or plastic grocery bags on customer cards and displaying a picture of said preference after a card is scanned. The invention, Big Blue explains, eliminates the 'unnecessary inconvenience for both the customer and the cashier' that results when 'Paper or Plastic?' must be asked. The patent claims also cover affixing a cute sticker of a paper or plastic bag to a customer card to indicate packaging preferences. So does this pass the 'significant technical content' test, IBM'ers?"

Comments

This won't have an effect in Belgium

[houghi]

We have no bags at the supermarkets anymore, unless you buy them. So almost everybody has bags or boxes that will last much longer.

Environment and such, ya know. Other countries do the same, I believe.

Re:This won't have an effect in Belgium

[aussie_a]

In Australia we have bags that are bought in stores as well as plastic bags, giving people the choice on whether or not they're environmentally conscious.

However I saw a news report about research (the research's validity I know nothing about, so it could be complete hogwash) showing that the bags that are sold and used in preference to the plastic bags aren't biodegradable or recyclable (although they are reusable of course). In comparison there are biodegradable plastic bags which will degrade within 6 months of being buried in a dump.

I think the biodegradable plastic bags sound like the better choice and much more preferable then a 20 cent tax per bag (although it might end up costing more then 20 cents per bag, at least its actually doing something rather then just punishing people). Although I don't know if supermarkets (in either Australia or America) use the bio-degradable ones, or if they use the traditional plastic bags.

Re:This won't have an effect in Belgium

[mrboyd]

I used to reuse the plastic bag as trash bag like everyone else. Now I have to buy my grocery bag almost everytime I go shopping and buy additional trash bags which seems to be made of thicker plastic than the shopping bags I had before.

Carbon neutrality or disguised corporate greed? You choose.

Re:This won't have an effect in Belgium

[kklein]

As much as I hate Wal-Mart, I have to say that they have been using biodegradable bags for a very long time. Good thing, too, because those loonies will try to put every single item in its own bag if you're not careful.

Personally, I'd rather just see biodegradable "plastic" bags than anything else. My wife and I reuse all shopping bags as trash bags, and although paper is a nice idea and all, it is basically useless for that or any other bag purpose, because it's not waterproof.

Over here in Japan, they not only give you a million bags, but they are non-biodegradable. You can buy "eco-bags," but to be perfectly honest, I don't like them. They're synthetic canvas, so I imagine they're much worse for the environment, and they look like crap after about 6 months. Walking around with a filthy, scruffy canvas bag is not really... my style.

That said, it would probably be fine if everyone did it, but that's not going to happen unless they start charging for bags, and then we'd have to buy trash bags anyway.

Biodegradable shopping bags, please!

Re:This won't have an effect in Belgium

[BlackCreek]

I am sorry to go against your illusions about The Netherlands.

I don't know if that's actually illegal here or not, but after moving to Rotterdam (from Groningen btw), and being unable to find a place to dump glass, and other kinds of waste at a walking distance from my house, I tried searching on the city web pages for the closest point. Couldn't find any. They list only major locations far, far, far away.

I called them at this phone number. The lady said:

Get your car, and take them to...

Long story short: after telling them I did not have a car, and needed a place at a 15min walking distance, I was told I there was no such a place in the city center, and that I should simply dump my glass in the regular trash.

There are a lot of people living in the center of Rotterdam, but no underground trash disposing.

It may be illegal to throw these things in the trash, but even in the center of major cities in the NL, there is often no infrastructure to separate the trash, and the city gov. itself will tell you to trash everything together.

So what is the invention???

[TheJasper]

Databases have been known for a few years now. Customer identification cards as well. So now you can patent specific pieces of information when tied to the identification?

Maybe I'm stupid but it seems to me that the system might be in need revision. Perhaps IBM was trying to make a point?

I never really hear what is wrong with plastic...

[arse maker]

For all the anti plastic bag talk, I've never really heard any reasons WHY they are so bad. The common one you get from people is either they get into the water and damager wild life, or they don't bio-degrade.

If its damage, then if you take care to dispose, how is it an issue?

If its bio-degrade, I dont get that either. They arent the largest things around. Is it a significant issue? Things barely degrade in landfills anyhow, they are anaerobic.

Maybe these days its oil based.. which maybe somehow slightly valid.. but its nothing compared to petrol. Also, anti-plastic has been around so long it cant be that. So maybe someone can inform me!

While there is probably a good answer(s) ill have shot back at me, I'm still going to be annoyed that its not well conveyed onto consumers WHY this is bad. I feel too much like I'm in 1984 if I just have to know things are bad because everyone says so. Feels like its some minor issue that gets so much press yet if everyone stopped using them it wouldn't help anything at all.. producing huge amounts of paper bags would be a nightmare and is everyone using reusable going to save us all? Most people seem to slack off once they feel they are "doing their bit" by not using plastic bags.. even if they don't know anything about the issues involved.

Re:I never really hear what is wrong with plastic.

[Atario]

Maybe stuff like this?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Pacific_Garbage_Patch