--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Outright bans on plastic bags may not be…" description: "\"Outright bans on plastic bags may not be the best solution, but education and incentives to get people to stop using them are necessary.\" — David Suzuki" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/david-suzuki-1744_bags_outright-bans-on-plastic-bags-may-not-be_2471485.png" --- # Outright bans on plastic bags may not be the best… ![“Outright bans on plastic bags may not be the best solution, but education and incentives to get people to stop using them are necessary.” quote by David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/david-suzuki-1744_bags_outright-bans-on-plastic-bags-may-not-be_2471485.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/david-suzuki-1744_bags_outright-bans-on-plastic-bags-may-not-be_2471485.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/david-suzuki-1744_bags_outright-bans-on-plastic-bags-may-not-be_2471485.png) > “Outright bans on plastic bags may not be the best solution, but education and incentives to get people to stop using them are necessary.” [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Plastic bag bans alone aren't enough; education and incentives are needed to change behavior. **In simple terms:** Bans need education and incentives. Key Takeaway Combine policy with public education. Themes environment policy behavior change Mood concerned hopeful Type educational persuasive When to use this quote - school curricula - store loyalty programs - public campaigns Key Concepts sustainability consumer habits legislation Questions to Reflect On - What incentives work best? - How can education be made engaging? A Different Perspective Incentives may be costly and hard to monitor. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bags](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bags/) [Bans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bans/) [Bans Plastic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bans-plastic-765102/) [Being the best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-the-best/) [Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Incentives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incentives/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Outright Bans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outright-bans-765103/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Plastic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plastic/) [Plastic bag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plastic-bag/) [Plastic bags](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plastic-bags/) [Solution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solution/) [Solutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solutions/) [Stop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stop/) ## Related quotes > [We humans have become dependent on plastic for a range of uses, from packaging to products. Reducing our use of plastic bags is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/we-humans-have-become-dependent-on-plastic-for-a-range-of-uses-from/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [If we have any hope of finding ways for seven billion people to live well on planet with finite resources, we have to learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/if-we-have-any-hope-of-finding-ways-for-seven-billion-people-to-live/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Plastic bags are bad and for the most part unnecessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/plastic-bags-are-bad-and-for-the-most-part-unnecessary/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Do you ever feel like a plastic bag Drifting throught the wind Wanting to start again Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/do-you-ever-feel-like-a-plastic-bag-drifting-throught-the-wind/) [Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/) > [Drawings are only a few lines on paper. Therefore it's easy to carry around in plastic bags. Drawings are cheaper than paintings. They don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-dumas/drawings-are-only-a-few-lines-on-paper-therefore-it-s-easy-to-carry/) [Marlene Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlene-dumas/) > [ \[I remember going\] to a hotel gym at six o'clock in the morning, and the television was on, and it's some drama in which… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/i-remember-going-to-a-hotel-gym-at-six-o-clock-in-the-morning-and-the/) [Ann Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-patchett/) > [As for environmentalism, I'm only an environmentalist by accident. I live in New York, so I bike, and the closest grocery store to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-eisenberg/as-for-environmentalism-i-m-only-an-environmentalist-by-accident-i/) [Jesse Eisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-eisenberg/) > [I saw this vision with a beautiful plastic bag in Kensington High Street, ... and then you didn't see the face because he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manolo-blahnik/i-saw-this-vision-with-a-beautiful-plastic-bag-in-kensington-high/) [Manolo Blahnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manolo-blahnik/) > [I could envision it all to clearly: Stuart or Debbie finding the dented door off its hinges, lying in the snow. "She came in,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/i-could-envision-it-all-to-clearly-stuart-or-debbie-finding-the/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [We can get rid of all the plastic bags and plastic straws in the world - and we need to - but nothing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sykes/we-can-get-rid-of-all-the-plastic-bags-and-plastic-straws-in-the/) [Oliver Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sykes/) > [No problem is insoluble, given a big enough plastic bag.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/no-problem-is-insoluble-given-a-big-enough-plastic-bag/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [It's heartbreaking to see plastic bags and bottles in the sea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sakkari/it-s-heartbreaking-to-see-plastic-bags-and-bottles-in-the-sea/) [Maria Sakkari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sakkari/) > [My mother tried to kill me when I was a baby. She denied it. She said she thought the plastic bag would keep me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-monkhouse/my-mother-tried-to-kill-me-when-i-was-a-baby-she-denied-it-she-said/) [Bob Monkhouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-monkhouse/) > [There is something very poignant about plastic bags. These lonely plastic bags that gradually disintegrate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/there-is-something-very-poignant-about-plastic-bags-these-lonely/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [It is hard to see taxing plastic bags as one of the great issues of our time that merits the foremost place in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/it-is-hard-to-see-taxing-plastic-bags-as-one-of-the-great-issues-of/) [Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rees-mogg/) ## More by David Suzuki > [Because countries often have differing political and economic systems, agreements are needed to protect those invested in trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/because-countries-often-have-differing-political-and-economic-systems/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Over and over, we hear politicians say they can't spend our tax dollars on environmental protection when the economy is so fragile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/over-and-over-we-hear-politicians-say-they-can-t-spend-our-tax/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Aboriginal people are key because they have a different sense of where we belong and how we interact with nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/aboriginal-people-are-key-because-they-have-a-different-sense-of/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [We are upsetting the atmosphere upon which all life depends. In the late 80s when I began to take climate change seriously, we referred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/we-are-upsetting-the-atmosphere-upon-which-all-life-depends-in-the/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Treaties, agreements and organizations to help settle disputes may be necessary, but they often favor the interests of business over citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/treaties-agreements-and-organizations-to-help-settle-disputes-may-be/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Each of us now has 2.27 kg (5 lbs) of plastic embedded in our bodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/each-of-us-now-has-2-27-kg-5-lbs-of-plastic-embedded-in-our-bodies/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Nature surrounds us, from parks and backyards to streets and alleyways. Next time you go out for a walk, tread gently and remember that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/nature-surrounds-us-from-parks-and-backyards-to-streets-and-alleyways/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [The human brain had a vast memory storage. It made us curious and very creative. Those were the characteristics that gave us an advantage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/the-human-brain-had-a-vast-memory-storage-it-made-us-curious-and-very/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [If we pollute the air, water and soil that keep us alive and well, and destroy the biodiversity that allows natural systems to function,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/if-we-pollute-the-air-water-and-soil-that-keep-us-alive-and-well-and/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [The one thing I feel is very hopeful, however, is the overwhelming participation of women in the movement for change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/the-one-thing-i-feel-is-very-hopeful-however-is-the-overwhelming/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [“As we distance ourselves further from the natural world, we are increasingly surrounded by and dependent on our own inventions. We become enslaved by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/as-we-distance-ourselves-further-from-the-natural-world-we-are/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Every breath is a sacrament, an affirmation of our connection with all other living things, a renewal of our link with our ancestors and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/every-breath-is-a-sacrament-an-affirmation-of-our-connection-with-all/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [With an estimated population of nine billion people by 2050, we cannot continue to consume resources at the same rate and maintain our quality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/with-an-estimated-population-of-nine-billion-people-by-2050-we-cannot/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Although it's the second largest country in the world, our useful area has been reduced. Our immigration policy is disgusting: We plunder southern countries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/although-it-s-the-second-largest-country-in-the-world-our-useful-area/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Environmentalism has failed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/environmentalism-has-failed/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) [Explore all 212 David Suzuki quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) ## More Bags quotes > [Why couldn't Jesus command us to obsess over everything, to try to control and manipulate people, to try not to breathe at all, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/why-couldn-t-jesus-command-us-to-obsess-over-everything-to-try-to/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [I love Christopher Bailey and Burberry, Mulberry for bags, and Hudson for jeans. I like a little bit of designer with a bit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-delevingne/i-love-christopher-bailey-and-burberry-mulberry-for-bags-and-hudson/) [Cara Delevingne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cara-delevingne/) > ['Constitutional' is just a real pip of a word. Positively rolls off the tongue. In fact, it's downright fun to say. 'Con-stit-too-shun-al.' It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/constitutional-is-just-a-real-pip-of-a-word-positively-rolls-off-the/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I don't really buy expensive clothes. I love good bags!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-siriano/i-don-t-really-buy-expensive-clothes-i-love-good-bags/) [Christian Siriano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-siriano/) > [I have a dress fitting to get to at three.' (Simon) 'Cool,' said Kyle, slinging his messenger bag over his shoulder and heading for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-have-a-dress-fitting-to-get-to-at-three-simon-cool-said-kyle/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Never bet with anyone you meet on the first tee who has a deep suntan, a 1-iron in his bag, and squinty eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-marr/never-bet-with-anyone-you-meet-on-the-first-tee-who-has-a-deep-suntan/) [Dave Marr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-marr/) > [If you go out on the Appalachian Trail, you have to bring so much more equipment - a tent, sleeping bag - but if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/if-you-go-out-on-the-appalachian-trail-you-have-to-bring-so-much-more/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [Politics is not bean bags. It's serious, tough stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/politics-is-not-bean-bags-it-s-serious-tough-stuff/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [I like bags that are easy to wear and are pretty to look at. But I don't like them when they have no space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-dellal/i-like-bags-that-are-easy-to-wear-and-are-pretty-to-look-at-but-i-don/) [Alice Dellal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-dellal/) > [I drive a Prius. I always turn my faucets off. I never use plastic bottles anymore. I use glass bottles. I bring my own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-d-orsay/i-drive-a-prius-i-always-turn-my-faucets-off-i-never-use-plastic/) [Brooke D'Orsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-d-orsay/) > [Then there are some minor points that strike me as suggestive - for instance, the position of Mrs. Hubbard's sponge bag, the name of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/then-there-are-some-minor-points-that-strike-me-as-suggestive-for/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [It was a mind-blowing experience, it really was-absolutely an awesome thing. . . . As I got to the top I released a bag…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-was-a-mind-blowing-experience-it-really-was-absolutely-an-awesome/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You know the best thing about aeroplanes? Apart from the peanuts in little silver bags, I mean. It's looking out of the windows at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-know-the-best-thing-about-aeroplanes-apart-from-the-peanuts-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I'm not the Hollywood type. I'm not going to pack up my bags and let me move to Hollywood and stuff like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-henry/i-m-not-the-hollywood-type-i-m-not-going-to-pack-up-my-bags-and-let/) [Dwight Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-henry/) > [Everyone knows I drink a lot of Diet Coke, so...I drink chocolate milk after races as my recovery drink, and you won't ever find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-armstrong/everyone-knows-i-drink-a-lot-of-diet-coke-so-i-drink-chocolate-milk/) [Kristin Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-armstrong/) [Browse all 1,147 Bags quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bags/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Outright bans on plastic bags may not be the best solution, but education and incentives to get people to stop using them are necessary.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Suzuki" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/outright-bans-on-plastic-bags-may-not-be-the-best-solution-but/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bags" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/outright-bans-on-plastic-bags-may-not-be-the-best-solution-but/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/david-suzuki-1744_bags_outright-bans-on-plastic-bags-may-not-be_2471485.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/david-suzuki-1744_bags_outright-bans-on-plastic-bags-may-not-be_2471485.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/david-suzuki-1744_bags_outright-bans-on-plastic-bags-may-not-be_2471485.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Outright bans on plastic bags may not be the best solution, but education and incentives to get people to…” — David Suzuki", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "David Suzuki", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Outright bans on plastic bags may...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/outright-bans-on-plastic-bags-may-not-be-the-best-solution-but/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/outright-bans-on-plastic-bags-may-not-be-the-best-solution-but/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```