Carry Bags - Paper vs. Plastic

As a layman in the world of sustainable lifestyles, I instantly associate plastic with "not good" and paper with "good". If either is recycled, then "very good". The reason for this distinction is the conventional wisdom that plastic is not degradable ... or, to be more correct, takes forever to degrade.

So, I am actually intrigued, when I read about an Indian company called Biotec Bags in this article. Actually, I am not intrigued by the company - it is using "bio-degradable plastic" technology to make bags. The curious part is the comparison between paper and plastic bags on their website. The conclusion, quoted here from their website:

"Except the degradable period all other points are favoring Plastic bags than Paper bags. Since Bio degradable Plastic bags' degradable period is approximately 6 months only, Biodegradable Plastic is better in all aspects than paper and normal plastic bags." (Source: http://www.biotecbags.com/plasticmenace.php)

As I understand - normal plastic bags are better than paper bags, except for the degradability period. With bio-degradable plastics, even this disadvantage is nullified - suggesting that bio-degradable plastics should be the eco-friendly material of choice for, at least, carry bags.

Sadly, there are no references in this comparison to any research or study, which might have lent more credibility to that conclusion and driven some fact-based decision-making for consumers. And there is no information which can help gauge, how widespread is the use of bio-degradable plastics across the world, what are their applications (apart from carry bags), and so on. One reads about plastic bags being restricted or banned in many places - in more than 25% of the world, according to this entry in Wikipedia. (individual examples: here, here, here, or here). But is that a better solution in light of this information (assuming it is factually correct)? What about recycled plastic bags (as shown below)?

For me, I'd like to think that recycling to be the lesser of the evils - irrespective of whether it is paper or plastic. Maybe I'll be proven wrong someday with some new scientific study out there. Till then, I'll follow recycling in good faith.

The real lesson from this is: just carry your cloth bags or totes with you whenever and wherever you go shopping. Forget plastic or paper.

Please share any more information you may have on this topic - your thoughts on the same are most welcome.