You clearly care about the environment, so do understand that plain paper is as biodegradable as tree leaves. Little bugs of all sizes happily eat it like leaves. It will never accumulate in the oceans.

There are problems with how it can be produced, but it can be one of the most ecologically advantageous and sustainable materials possible.

When i visited Germany you bought a bag if you didn't have one and it seemed everyone had them. In the US grocery chains knock a nickel off your total for all the bags you don't use. I don't think saving 20-40 cents is a huge motivator for people. If all grocery chains charged $1 per bag used, behavior may change.

Ideally we should try to motivate people into proper behavior and make it part of the cultural expectation.

It's important to remember the order of operations are listed in order of importance. 1. Reduce 2. Reuse 3. Recycle

Sometimes i forget mine too, we're human but i reuse those when i can and stick them in my car, backpack etc.

Re-usable carrier bags are worse for the environment under any realistic scenario.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/...

We have plenty of space (absent NIMBY zoning issues) and the capability to build ever safer landfills.

I don't care about paper bags in the ocean. I don't care about plastic bags in the ocean. Neither has the capacity to seriously affect the functioning of marine ecosystems on any reasonable timescale. If we don't seriously reduce our carbon emissions now, most marine ecosystems will collapse due to acidification and deoxygenation.

Plastic is a useful material that is frequently the least energy-intensive (and by extension carbon-intensive) option, but that's largely besides the point. It simply doesn't matter. If you think it does matter, you have grossly under-estimated the effects of climate change. Our house is on fire and we're too busy arguing about the mess on the lawn to put it out.