But don’t be sad. There’s a solution: it’s called the reusable shopping bag. Any tote bag will do the job, but for those who want to shop in style, the b. happybag makes a perfect accessory. It’s made of upholstery-grade (i.e. super-durable) cotton, it’s the perfect size, and it comes in lots of fun patterns. Stash a few in your car (or if you’re a city gal, in your inevitably gargantuan purse), so you’ll always have them at your disposal.
Be excited. These bags are a mere $20 each; and are stylish enough for everyday use. The only way they could be improved is if they were made out of organic fabric. But we’re not too bent out of shape about it. If everyone in the U.S. refused disposable bags, we’d keep millions of pounds of plastic out of landfills and save millions of trees from getting cut down every year. That strikes me as a reasonable trade-off.
Want to send a message to other shoppers? Go for a bag that makes a statement, literally.
Send your product ideas to greengear@plentymag.com.
Comments
Love the article. Thanks. I would love to see more articles about products that are protecting our world.
Posted by:april |July 31, 2006 9:45 AM
I use the Paper Nor Plastic reusable bags and they are AWESOME! These bags are so sturdy. Your article hit the nail on the head regarding the tradeoff, I feel great everytime I am asked paper or plastic and I say no thank you. Not to mention my grocery store credits me some money back for bringing my own bags!
Posted by:lynne |August 1, 2006 12:04 PM
I have been using cloth bags since the 60s, when I bought two from the Safeway store where I shopped. Still using those bags, but they are getting long in the tooth, so I designed and made this pair to eventually replace them. Feedback proved the popularity of the sentiments...
Posted by:Starwalker |August 2, 2006 9:32 AM
I've started using chico bags. They're about the size of a traditional plastic grocery bag, but much stronger and they stuff into their own little bag, small enough that I always have one in my purse. Plus I can wash them easily. I do get some odd looks at the grocery store, but it's worth it.
Posted by:Alotta Errata |August 3, 2006 12:37 PM
As a new Plenty Magazine subscriber I'm interested in finding out if there is there any work being done on initiatives that would require large retailers to use biodegradable bags to replace the High Density and Low Density Poly Ethylene bags currently given to customers at the check out counter?
A second related initiative would require retail outlets that sell at least one brand of plastic refuse bag in various sizes for purchase by customers, to stock at least one brand of biodegradable bag as well.
My feeling is that recycling plastic bags in a fine idea in theory, but it requires a change in consumer behavior. For example, my observation is that in New York City the only people who bother to take soda bottles back to the store to collect their deposit are the homeless who go around emptying recycling bags on the curb in front of large apartment buildings.
Posted by:Vic Henschel |November 2, 2006 10:54 AM