In the newly environmentally conscious society, the question of whether paper or plastic should be used has become a huge point of controversy. Every time someone goes to the store they are asked the popular question “paper or plastic?” ". It's a simple question, but with new claims for and against each product, the issue has become much more complicated. Individuals want to make the best choice for the environment; however, how can they know which option is best? In the past, people simply took it as a fact that paper was the most environmentally friendly because it came from a natural source and therefore should not harm the environment. Unfortunately, the world is now divided in two; There are those who stick with their paper products and those who, believing the new claims, ditch paper and switch to plastic. Even though there are strong arguments on both sides, plastic should not even be considered because it is almost impossible to get rid of, it kills wildlife and is a danger to health and society. Many argue that plastic is the better choice because it requires less energy and energy to manufacture than paper (Dunn). They believe plastic is superior because it uses less energy and creates less gas in the production process, so it is the better choice for the environment (Dunn). First of all, plastic is extremely difficult to obtain. disposed of because it photodegrades rather than biodegrades, meaning it is only broken down by light and not by the microorganisms the earth naturally possesses. Since plastic is a man-made substance, these microorganisms do not recognize it as food as they would any other natural product, which is why the sun must take over the degradation work ...... middle of paper ...over time this will lead to the destruction of our society and its effects will only get worse. This is why paper packaged products should be used instead of plastic and individuals should encourage companies to stop producing plastic packaging. While there is no perfect solution for packaging, as all options will have a negative impact on the environment in one way or another, it is clear that plastic is certainly not the better choice and that paper is a much smarter and more environmentally friendly choice. Many countries have already realized this and have quickly taken measures to preserve their land by banning the use of plastic packaging. Perhaps future societies could be protected from pollution, the destruction of entire ecosystems, and the countless life-threatening health problems linked to plastic if the rest of society also joined in banning this dangerous material..