Storyline: Shanghai's latest plastic ban pushes up demand for sustainable alternatives [Voice_over] Shanghai's latest ban on single-use plastics is triggering a surge in demand for sustainable alternatives, prompting manufacturers across China to scale up production and invest in compostable...

Nobody wants plastic pollution. That doesn't mean poorly considered and heavy-handed governmental actions are the solution. This includes misguided bans on single-use plastics such as straws and bags.

The primary concern about plastic pollution is the ocean. Plastic can persist there indefinitely, causing harm to marine life. Further, the amount of plastic in the ocean is increasing.

To what extent do American consumers contribute to this problem? According to the nonprofit OpenOceans Global, "The U.S. directly contributes less than 1% of plastic to the world's oceans." The problem is primarily coming from Asia, which accounts for more than 80% of ocean plastic.

A zone of accumulated plastic known as the Great Pacific Global Patch has drawn significant attention. The nonprofit Ocean Cleanup estimated that half of the mass was discarded fishing gear. A recent study in Scientific Reports states that 75% and 86% of the floating plastic mass in the patch could be considered "abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear."

So American consumers are not a meaningful source of this problem.

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Plastics are convenient and woven into our lives. But they are fast becoming a pariah product.

Producing a significant amount of plastic waste doesn't mean a country is a major contributor to plastic pollution in the ocean. Mismanaged of waste is a primary contributor.

Wealthier countries such as the U.S. do not have waste management problems like those that plague the nations where the ocean plastic is coming from. According to the World Population Review's analysis of plastic pollution, the U.S. is one of the best countries in the world at managing plastic waste.

Less developed nations need to focus on improving their waste management systems. As countries develop economically, this should improve.

The tiny role U.S. consumers have in ocean plastic is a compelling reason to reject bans on single-use plastic. Similarly, our country's commitment to reducing litter is evident in a 54% reduction in roadside litter over the past decade, according to a Keep America Beautiful study in 2020.

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Advocates for banning single-use plastic tout reusable bags. But unlike plastic bags, reusable bags could be a potential source of harmful bacteria. A University of Pennsylvania study found that after San Francisco's 2007 ban on using plastic, emergency room visits increased due to food contamination.

In some ways, plastic bags are more environmentally friendly than paper bags. Producing a plastic bag consumes significantly less energy and water than making a paper bag, and it emits less air pollution.

Plastic bags and straws also are less expensive than their paper counterparts. If banning plastics increases costs for businesses increase, they will likely pass that on to consumers.

Then there's convenience and quality. Plastic bags are lightweight, flexible and easy to transport, which appeals to many people.

Consumers overwhelmingly prefer plastic straws over paper straws, which often become soggy before finishing a drink. For many disabled Americans, plastic straws are critical because they are bendable and don't pose health and safety risks that can arise with glass, paper and metal straws.

Single-use plastic bans are just the start of more ambitious efforts to dictate consumer choices. California is prohibiting many stores from offering any plastic bags (single-use or reusable) at checkout.

Paper bags also are being targeted in some states. In a couple of years, stores will be able to offer only paper bags with a higher percentage of recycled content.

Consumers -- not the government and ideologues who want to impose their preferences on everyone else -- should be able to decide for themselves which kind of bags or straws to use.

The benefits of single-use plastic bans are questionable at best while the costs are very real.