Reusable Shopping Bags
These days being “green” is in style. So why not be in style? 
Approximately 100 billion plastic bags each year are thrown away and sent to the land fill. Plastic bags take up to 1000 years to decompose, and when they do, they break down into toxins that poison the soil and water.
So an easy, environmentally safe solution is to bring your own reusable shopping bags with you! They are durable, easy to clean, and can fit more groceries, reducing the amount of trips unloading the car. They also look good! Many grocery stores even reward you for bringing your own bags, such as Trader Joe’s, who every time you shop with your own bags will enter you to win a monthly drawing worth $25.
These days, there are many stylish shopping bag options. I really like bags that fold down into a smaller bag so I can carry them in my purse or store them in my car glove compartment. Buy some here
Or if you are looking more for style and cost-efficiency in a bag, then check out these.
In addition to carrying your own bags, here are some other quick tips to help the environment while shopping:
1. If you purchase something small, skip the bag and carry it out.
2. Ask your local stores to stop providing free bags, or offer incentives to costumers bringing their own bags.
3. If you must use bags at the store, opt for paper over plastic, and don’t double bag.
Image courtesy of Diana Lili M.
May 1st, 2008 at 10:20 am
All of the stores here in COlorado offer store branded reuable bags at the unbeatable price of $.99 each! I have 7 canvas adds for King Soopers that ride around in my trunk all week. I get $.05 back each time I use a bag, too… I’ve already paid for them.
I find that just putting them back in the trunk after I unload groceries keeps them in use and easy to use.
One more thing to think about as you cut plastic use… PRODUCE BAGS! They are made of plastic, too… and have the same problems. I’ve been working on this at Tiny Old HOuse… right now I’m reusing them until gross or ripped for things that NEED bags like lettuce and beans and such and putting larger things like avocados, onions, and peppers right in the cart. I wash them anyway, right? You can buy special washable reusable cotton mesh bags, too.