Comment by ZeroGravitas

The emphasis on cotton tote bags seems weird. It's like the attacks on EVs that focus on cobalt or copper mining. You wonder if they realize that those materials are used for other things too. Or is their ire mysteriously specific in its targets?

Similar to the classic anti-recycling contrarian article in the 90s that argued that washing in warm water heated via coal generated electricity caused pollution. But didn't dwell on any ideas to remove coal from the wider electricity system, or introduce heat pumps, because that wasn't "contrarian".

You can cut the gordian knot in the current case by using a tote made of recycled cotton (and/or plastic).