It's changed over time. 30 years ago, paper recycling wasn't mainstream and paper bags were made from Amazonian forests. And even with recycling, you have to

It's changed over time. 30 years ago, paper recycling wasn't mainstream and paper bags were made from Amazonian forests. And even with recycling, you have to account for costs including not only energy but also chemical pollution caused by manufacturing process. And then there's the question of which items get re-used. The reusable bags haven't proven to be much of a win because not only do they cost more in energy, materials, and pollution to create, people still forget them at home and buy new ones each time.