Progress is reducing either the cost or the effort required to accomplish a task. That's how you improve quality of life. Adding either more time or more effort to a task is the opposite of progress.
Before you start calling for a ban on single use plastic bags, you'd better invent something better that gets the job done. Put strong disposable single use bags in stores that are biodegradable. That would be progress. I won't entertain regressive ideas.
Dude, they fucking existed before plastic. I already told you the answer, paper bags. Canvas bags are an even better solution. Baskets have been weaves for centuries. You’re just ignoring the solitons, and refusing to accept your high time preference behavior.
Like I said, if they put paper bags with handles that don't rip in stores I will use those. Or give me burlap bags at the checkout that I can bag my groceries with. That would work too. Make them out of hemp maybe. That would probably be a lot stronger. But if you just take my plastic bags away and don't replace them with something that works just as well I'm going to call you a stupid regressive hippie and I'll stop shopping at your store. I don't spend any money in Washington State anymore because they did that shit.
It seems that the main issue here are externalities. Plastic bags are amazing solution if you don't include cost (indirect financial cost). One can argue that environmental issues plastic bags create is not that important, but this position is hard to maintain if you have ever been to a seaside
