 |
|
BANG FOR THE BITE
If 10,000 Biters use reusable totes instead of plastic grocery bags, we'll keep about 9 million bags out of landfills every year.
COCKTAIL FACT
In 2002, Ireland introduced a 15-cent levy on plastic bags; the measure reduced use by 95%.
| SAVE TO MY BITES |  |
FORWARD TO A FRIEND:
RATE THIS TIP:
How useful is this tip to you?
(5 is the highest)
home › tip library › Grocery and Shopping Bags
Paper or plastic?
The Bite
How 'bout neither. We use shopping bags for a few hours, but they can take lifetimes to decompose. New foldable nylon versions make it easy to BYOB wherever you go-whether it's clothes shopping, grocery shopping, or a drugstore impulse buy.The Benefits
- Oil and tree savings. In the United States, 12 million barrels of oil and 14 million trees go to producing plastic and paper bags each year.
- Discounts. Stores like Safeway and Whole Foods offer a five-penny discount if you bring your own.
- Being a role model. Other shoppers'll watch and learn.
- Safety for sea creatures. Plastic bags are the fifth most commonly found item in coastal cleanups.
Personally Speaking
Jen's brought her own since the days when loading up a canvas bag at the store wasn't so popular. She still gets weird looks from other shoppers, but that's for other reasons...Wanna Try?
- ACME Bags Workhorse - superlight nylon bags that fold into a tiny attached pouch, in four colors ($10).
- Ecobags Organic Cotton String Shopping Bag - these simple bags fit in your purse or pocket. Also: reusable produce bags ($3-$7).
- Posch - stylish bags created from vintage sheets and pillowcases ($40).
- Biter Bag - our very own bags, made from recycled plastic bottles ($20).
- "I'm Not a Plastic Bag" Bag - this bag spells it out for those who are slow on the uptake ($15).
- If you must use a plastic bag, reuse it as long as you can, then tie it into knots before you toss it to keep it from ballooning up into the air and ending up as litter.
Jun 21,2007
Sponsor
All editorial suggestions in this tip are the result of testing and a preference for the tip topic. No advertiser has paid to have its company referenced in the tip. For more information, please read our Editorial Policy.
I Just Started Using Them For Reals
I've had canvas bags hanging around for longer than I've lived in San Francisco - almost a year. I even kept a couple in my Corolla before I got rid of it, but every time I'd go to Trader Joe's I'd get up to the check stand and feel like slapping myself in the face - of course I'd left my totes back in the trunk of my car for yet another shopping trip.
When I started walking to the grocery store, I put the bags in a really visible place in my kitchen. I'd forget at first, but eventually was able to make it into a habit since I couldn't avoid looking at the bags every time I went for ice cream or a pickle or whatever.
Anybody have good mnemonics for those who still can't seem to remember the damn things? Maybe put a dollar in a jar each time you forget? Wear a rubber band around your wrist on days you're going shopping?
-Toshio...off to put a dollar in the swear jar...
When I started walking to the grocery store, I put the bags in a really visible place in my kitchen. I'd forget at first, but eventually was able to make it into a habit since I couldn't avoid looking at the bags every time I went for ice cream or a pickle or whatever.
Anybody have good mnemonics for those who still can't seem to remember the damn things? Maybe put a dollar in a jar each time you forget? Wear a rubber band around your wrist on days you're going shopping?
-Toshio...off to put a dollar in the swear jar...
Biter Comments...
I have been using canvas bags for over 10 years. Once you get used to it, the funny looks at Target, etc. won't bother you, and if you forget your bag, it almost feels like cheating. Also, my local coop accepts used bag donations to be reused. HyVee gives a 10 cent credit per bag. My only struggle is to convince the checkout person that everything including meat or soap can go into canvas and that yes it is washable. I keep 30+ canvas bags in the car so I always have one for trips to any store. I love canvas bags!!!!
We bought the ones at our local chain grocery store, and it's really a wonderful feeling to walk out with a cart full of canvas bags -- and i am guilty of shooting condescending looks to those people using plastic bags! Sorry! :)
Also, I have a great idea for those of you with spare plastic bags: Cut a bag into one long 1-inch strip, then knit yourself a shopping tote with the bag like you would with yarn!
For those of us in the Northeast (I'm in Vermont) the Shaw's supermarket chain offers polypropelene woven bags that open up "square" like a paper bag for 10/$10.00! I have a bunch for each car since my problem is getting them back to the car after unpackin them in the house.
They hold tons and I always have to remind the packers to "fill 'em up" since they have the annoying habit of putting 3 or 4 items in a bag.
Your Biter bag is chic but $20???? That seems like a lot to those of us in budget land.
I'm pretty good about tossing mine in the car and making sure they are in the front seat while driving to the store.
I was lucky enough to get one that folds up into my purse so I always have at least one, just in case. I didn't buy it myself so can't attest for the site, but the bag is great and from www.greenbag.info (per the bag).
The ones I've bought are from www.reusablebags.com and I've been very pleased with their service--my bags are made from recycled cotton that would have been thrown away by clothing manufacturers and they have lots of other fiber options too.
Last year for Christmas, I gave one or two bags to everyone in my and my husband's immediate family (much to my husband's embarrassment) and I've been surprised by how well they all embraced them even though they would have never personally bought them...so buy extra and gift them!
I recently ordered my canvas bags through Oprah and I love them! I was bagging my own groceries at Target last week, feeling truly proud of myself and not only was I getting weird looks from the cashier, but also from the people in line behind me.( like, I was the crazy one!)Honestly, I think everyone should be able to stock up on reusable bags as it's a one time purchase.
I have been using two large L.L. Bean Boat 'n' Tote heavy canvas bags (the classic off-white with a red, green or blue bottom and strap handles) for years. Cashiers like them because they stand upright and are easy to fill. I like them because there are fewer trips from the car to the kitchen. They fill up the cart a bit so I buy less, too.I put them in my trunk after I unload groceries, so they are on hand for next time.
It seems like most of the commenters here are wise, but not everyone sees the usefulness of taking a reusable bag everywhere (Container Store and others sell ones that fold to the size of a cellphone) they shop. The grocery store, Target, drug store, liquor store, even to the restaurant to carry your leftovers! I love educating the check stand girls and bag boys, they ususally seem thankful to learn about re-using bags, it is just hard to quell my "holier than thou" attitude.
One thing that the tip did say at the end was "if you have to use plastic, tie them in a knot before tossing them." I think that if you are caught without your bags and absolutely must use a plastic one, try taking it back to the store after you're done. I know that most grocery stores around here (Atlanta Area) offer recycling for the plastic bags...MUCH better than putting the knot on it and tossing it.
Oh, I almost forgot! If you don't have your canvas bags and need to use paper/plastic ones from the store, re-use them on your next trip. Trader Joe's has great paper bags that can be re-used many times before they are recycled, so do some other stores. Plastic bags are great to just throw in your pocket when going on a walk because you can comfortably pick up some litter on the way and ditch it in a nearby garbage or recycling bin.
We're in the "have them in the car and still forget to carry them in" camp, but are improving. We also recycle them at the stores, AND use them at home as trash bags. I don't remember when we last bought any kind of plastic bag -- grocery bags are perfect for kitchen and bath trash cans, and what we don't compost from the yard goes into the potting soil & mulch bags we empty as we garden.
And what a great idea for stores to just not have bags. Costco has always done it and they are certainly doing well...
My problem is remembering to put my bags back in my car. I have gotten in the habit of hanging my TJ's bags on the door knob of my front door so I remember to bring them back to my car after carting in my groceries. If you forget your bags, buy new ones (they are .99 - 1.99 at Trader Joe's). If you don't need them, give them to someone who does. Maybe you'll remember next time!
TO paraphrase:
Plastic bags are not the root of all evil; it's the love of plastic bags that is the root of all evil.
What I mean is, they have their place and uses.
My biggest problem is that store cashiers reflexively put everything into plastic bags (and double and triple bag some things). Not their fault, it's muscle memory (like always throwing your keys on the counter where they slide off down the gap behind the stove, every single time).
Where I live, the major grocery store sells bins (like a laundry basket) that you can buy and reuse in their store. I think they give you a 10 cent credit each time you use them.
Anyway, they're better than any bag because they hold loads and are easy to put in and out of the car - three trips as opposed to 8 or ten with bags. And they don't fall over. I guess if you don't use a car, they are no help.
We reuse the clear bags they give you in the produce section. I find it's easier to just use these rather than trying to keep the fruits together in another way, and the cashier has to be able to see them to read the code on the stickers. When I get home, I take the produce out of the bags, put them back in the bins, and put the bins back in the car.
I also keep a spare plastic grocery bag folded up in my purse, for various emergencies - picnic seat, rain hat, book bag for the library. Occasionally I have to do a non-bin grocery run, just to make sure I have enough grocery bags to line my green bin, and the regular garbage. Especially in warm weather, I don't want to have to hose out the bins every week (maggots -- eek); and in the winter the stuff would freeze in there.
Buying $20 bags? Sounds like 'shopping your way to a social conscience' to me.
I bought reusable bags from the supermarket I go to, Wegmans. The bags are fantastic and they are only 99 cents each! Also, they are huge, so 4 bags are more than enough for my cartload, when you don't add bottles to them (milk, etc.), plus they are very easy to carry.
If you have a Wegmans near you, check out the bags. :)
The absolute best bags are from Lehmans.com (well, other people may sell them but I've never seen them anywhere else). A set of 2 bags completely fills your shopping cart like 2 big bins then they clip to the sides of the cart. Way better than packing 15 canvas bags while people look at you like you're from another planet. I actually have tons of plastic bag toting shoppers stop and look at these bags and say "That's a great idea!" Very easy to use, a snap to carry in when you get home. Works great in any cart so perfect for clothes shopping or whatever as well as groceries. Take a look - they're only $12 for 2 at Lehmans.com (No, I don't work for them :o) just seriously LOVE these bags!)
I quite enjoy ideal bite and I'm all for reducing my eco-footprint. However as i read this blog all the support this idea I am truly surprised at the support it is getting. I can't support this bring your own reusable bag movement.
First of all, I reuse the bags in my trash can. Also, I don't want to be always have to remember and be carrying around a bag in case i buy something. No issue with paying a few pennies for bags but then you need to figure out how many you need and add it to the bill etc...that's a pain. This slows down commerce -- especially when you are late and that nice grandma decides she needs to buy one more bag! Or that guy figures out he now needs a bag as that box of Oreos just doesn't fit into his hemp grocery bag! Much easier to just include the cost of the bags in the cost of the product.
What everyone is forgeting is the ENORMOUS convenience of these things. This is one area where technology can actually address the issue. With bags that are made of primarily plant based materials that biodegrade in a few short months.
I think you'd do much better giving up or significantly reducing the drive to the store as i have done rather than the humble grocery bag!
I have been using canvas bags for years and I am proud of it. Yes I get the weird looks but I try to educate people. I tell people "when you use a plastic bag you can kill a bird or fish, when you use a brown bag you kill tree". Someone mentioned that they feel like they are cheating when they use a plastic bag, I know what they mean. I do use plastic bags sometimes but I do keep them and use them to dispose of sanitary pads or send them to the local elementary school, so when a child soils their clothes they have a bag to put the soiled clothes in.
zig
Also remember that if you do use plastic bags you have to RECYCLE THEM!!!! This is at least going back to the same industry and not going into the earth.
Today's tip said:
"Plastic bags are the fifth most commonly found item in coastal cleanups."
What are the other top 4???
BCP, I'm not sure you're getting us. I don't think anyone is saying that using the occasional plastic bag is worthy of death. I think BYOB is something you do as much as you can to keep a couple thousand more plastic bags out of the ocean every year.
For instance, at my local co-op, I bought a nylon bag that is the size and shape of a plastic grocery bag but folds into it's own built-in sack and fits in my purse. I carry it in my purse everywhere I go, in case of the random grocery stop etc. When I know I'll be loading up on groceries, I carry it and three canvas ones, all folded up together into one bag. And if for some reason I don't have enough canvas to fit all the groceries? Sure, I'll use a regular bag (although I go for recyclable paper instead of plastic). Plain canvas bags are cheap and last a long time, so it's not a big burden to BYOB. Like any earth-concious habit, it's one you just have to get into. Hang 'em on the door, keep 'em in your car. I think the benefits to the environment and the ocean life are worth any hassle.
I've been using canvas bags for so long that I actually wore through a couple. Bags from Trader Joe's are great: structured shape to avoid those annoying looks from the cashiers, not to mention the food actually has a chance to not be squished or bashed. They are cheap ($.99) so if you should need an emergency one, it doesn't break the bank. And they really last. Finally, most grocery stores in the Washington, DC area recycle plastic bags. Just take them with you and deposit them in the bins outside the store. I get constant grief from everyone about my "bag of bags" but hey, who do they come to when they need packing material for those moving boxes?
Katie, thanks; point taken. As a guy i don't have a purse that take with me everywhere. And since i almost never drive -- having them in the car doesn't really help.
therofore perhaps a much bigger issue for me and hence i am still a fan of bags provided by the merchant.
I think it is a shame that countries are banning (e.g. Kenya) bags. And certainly don't want it to happen here (Canada).
I use plastic bags from the grocery store as my trash bags instead of buying them.Is this a good idea or should I switch to canvas and buy trash bags?
Suggestions would be great.
i use the greenbag (greenbag.com) and love them. my husband and i just make sure to keep a few in each car at all times. they are light, fold perfectly flat, and have a plastic inlay for the bottom so they keep shape when full. they hold much more than a big paper or plastic bag would and the handles are reinforced. we ordered ours from a website and paid approximately $3.50 each. BUT, i recently saw them at whole foods for $1 each (of course those are marked as WHOLE FOODS bags not just greenbags.)
Same here Dona. I use my plastic bags as my "diaper genie." Of course my method does not contain the stink as well, but when that comes up you just take it straight to the toter. As for my paper grocery bags, I use those as a inside "bin" for my recyclables. Its much easier to take to the toter and Im not lining a trash bin with a plastic liner (more waste). I figure the paper bag with all the recyclables is all recyclable. And of course I use re-useable bags whenever I can. I especially love my ecobag/string bag. Those hold tons and scrunch up small enough for your purse/bag.
I have been using a variety of earth friendly bags from reusablebags.com for about 18 months now. We have everything from Thermal Bags (it gets to be over 100° regularly in the Summer here) to reusable produce storage bags. The ones I like best are the Earthtote bags they have. They are heavy duty, stand upright and very durable. They carry about 5 times as much as a standard plastic grocery bag as well. Mine will probably last 10 years, except the one the cats scratched up.
Our local Albertson's supermarkets are now selling reusable bags for 99 cents as well. These are made out of fabrics made from recycled plastic grocery bags so I find them worthwhile. Plus you get 5 cents back for every bag every time you shop.
quote:
I use plastic bags from the grocery store as my trash bags instead of buying them.Is this a good idea or should I switch to canvas and buy trash bags?
Suggestions would be great.
--------------
Why use bags at all for trash? You have a large bin outside that everything goes in. I simply empty my bathroom and kitchen trashcans directly in the bins, don't use bags of any kind for garden cleanup (they won't take it if you do). Even animal waste goes directly in the bins without being bagged first.
By encapsulating your trash in plastic bags you create nice little coffins so when the landfills are dug up 1000 years from now, everything will be nicely preserved.
Anyone have any experience with BioBags?
http://www.biobagusa.com/
This seems like a good alternative.
I just wanted to post this link to warn people about the "I am not a plastic bag" bags for those of you in the UK
Exposed: 'I'm not an ethical bag'
While saving plastic bags is a noble thing in itself, these bag are not fair trade and exploit cheap labor overseas.
It is very awkward to lug a 10-13 gallon garbage bin to the toter everyday. Not to mention all the drips and leftover food residual clinging to your garbage can. A stinky mess to clean up everytime you take out the garbage. The biobags seem like a great alternative, but they are so expensive.
Great tip! For years, I have been bringing my own bags to grocery stores, farmers markets, and all other stores (garden centers, hardware, pharmacies). But you MUST tell the register up front (not as they're ringing up the items) that you have your own bag. They automatically bag items in the store's plastic bags without realizing it.
By the way, the tip said Safeway gives bag refunds.....however many Safeways I have gone to do not. Most chain grocery stores do not have a bag refund, unless it's Whole Foods or Wild Oats.
And I do not use a plastic bag for lining trash bins (gasp! the horror!) except for the kitchen (which can get awfully messy). Then when I'm ready to take out the trash, I add the trash from the non-lined bins to the kitchen one. Only one bag to haul to the trash and many fewer bags in the landfill.
I've been using canvas bags routinely for a couple of years now. I have to admit, it took a while to get in the habit and there were a few forehead-slap moments at the register when I realized they were still at home. My husband teases me that I have a canvas bag fetish but he bought his own recently and has been using it regularly. I bought my bags from various places, like souvenirs. Hawai'i, New Mexico, work conferences, grocery stores (I like to support stores when they sell canvas bags). I bought canvas totes from the craft store, sewed on a ribbon for decoration and used them as Christmas gift bags last year (twice the present!). When my mother-in-law complained that the bag boy only single bagged her large olive oil and the bag broke and so did the olive oil jar, I had to chastise her (gently of course) for not using the canvas bag I gave her for Christmas. Last week at Baron's (San Diego) I was short one bag (kitchen re-stocking time) but the cashier gave me one of theirs for free, I assume because I had already used the ones I brought. I'm still a little shocked when the cashier is surprised I don't need a bag for three items I've just been carrying around the store in my hand.
I've been using these bags from Envirosax. I got 5 of them for only $33. You can get them in the U.S. at the following url:
http://www.delight.com/Envirosax-Delightfully-Pretty-Reusable-Grocery-Bags
I LOVE these bags! They are beautiful, tough, big and fold up so nice and small that I always carry one with me. Therefore I am always prepared for that "stop" to the drugstore or grocery store when I am supposed to be getting something for dinner (and then I get snacks and ice cream and cereal...you get the picture!) I highly recommend them.
Please don't throw out plastic bags, knotted or not! Most grocery stores collect, bale and sell them to recyclers. Landfills create methane - a greenhouse gas 23x worse than CO2, so the more we keep out of landfills, the better.
I think part of the reason why it is so hard to remember to bring the canvas bag into the store is the fact that they are for the most part dull and ugly. The time has come for someone to make a grocery bag that you want to remember and be seen with. Check out https://shop.oneorganicearth.com
I personally avoid plastic bags like the plague...want a visual of how many plastic bags are being used every 5 seconds in the US? Check out my new favorite artist's work: http://www.chrisjordan.com/current_set2.php?id=?view=XXX_09NNN/
I am personally stunned that we have decided to solve a temporary problem (transporting goods) with a permanent solution/problem. They say it takes the average plastic 1,000 years to decompose! I think we will look back on this practice with horror someday... soon.
Quote:
It is very awkward to lug a 10-13 gallon garbage bin to the toter everyday. Not to mention all the drips and leftover food residual clinging to your garbage can. A stinky mess to clean up everytime you take out the garbage. The biobags seem like a great alternative, but they are so expensive.
---------
I would guess so. The daily trash out of my kitchen would fit into a plastic grocery bag. Probably that much each week from the three of my bathrooms. Everything else boxes, paper, plastic, cans, glass goes into a gray tote. When the tote is full (about once every 2 days), it goes to the recycle center outside and gets sorted. We don't put much food waste into the trash. Fruit, vegetable, coffee grounds and egg shell waste goes into the green waste recycler. If we have any kind of bones, they are put into a bowl which is emptied right after the meal.
I could put my trash bin out once a month if I wanted to. The recycle and green waste bins need to go out once a week and I am thinking about getting another recycle bin. We cash in all aluminum and certified plastic and glass bottles at the state recycling center to get our deposits back.
My family thinks I am crazy sometimes because I will go through the trash cans before taking them outside and dumping them. If the slightest thing can be recycled, it goes into the recycle bin.
Both Albertsons and Fred Meyer offer their canvas bags for 99 cents and they have alot more room than normal plastic bags. Unfortunately our local CoOp is way out of the way for me - so I end up going to one of those 2 stores most of the time. I keep them in my car on my front seat. Where I have a problem is when I'm with my best friend and we take his car!! I haven't quite persuaded him to let me keep some in his car too.
It's nice to see that other people are using reusable bags (if only we could convince ALL of our friends & theirs). I personally use the reusable bags found at the containerstore.com and love that they fold up so small and into a little pouch but fit so much more than a regular plastic bag. Someone metioned the Envirosax bags. I checked them out online and think I'm going to have to order some. They are too cute!
bringing your own bags becomes such a natural and logical thing to do that i couldn't imagine life any other way. i have long gotten over the weird looks i get. in fact, now many people thank me. and since i now use the union sq. farmer's market as my first-stop shopping here in nyc, and most everyone knows me, it's not a problem. but unfortunately, plastic bags are still very much the norm there too. i bring back egg cartons to be reused, and milk containers, my own containers for strawberries and such so they can reuse their containers. i also save all my bags from packaged breads, etc and bring with me for loose produce-everything else just goes straight into the canvas bags. i've been washing and reusing them for ages and ages, as i'm still working through an accumulation of plastic bags from years gone by. that's the trouble, they are so ubiquitous, that they somehow make their way into your life even if you don't use them. Plus, i compost so it takes me approximately 7 days to usually two weeks to fill up a pretty small garbage can. I keep my compost in a big Folgers plastic lidded container that i scavenged from the garbage and just dump it out. As for recyclables i keep them in a handled bucket and dump them out in the correct bins in my building, so no bag is used.
As for the Bio-bags, i absolutely love them as an idea, and that no new plastic is being produced, but consider that they are made in Norway, so there is a question of the fuel that's being used to transport them to the states and other parts of the world. And if you putting your garbage in them, which is then going to a landfill, that garbage is so compressed that it would probably break down with great difficulty, even fruit and veg scraps take years to fully bio-degrade in landfill conditions. that's why composting is such a beautiful and wise thing. So you have to weigh the pros and cons of it for yourself.
but the point is to do your best.
I also read a wonderful and disturbing article about the legacy of plastic we are leaving to our oceans:
It is really worth a read.
http://www.bestlifeonline.com/cms/publish/health-fitness/Our_oceans_are_turning_into_plastic_are_we_2.shtml
Great tip except for the "I'm Not a Plastic Bag" recommendation.
These 'designer' bags are made in China and are neither organic nor fair trade.
See related article at
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=419792&in_page_id=2
Ddawn and others who reuse bags,
Be careful with bread bags and others with printed labels-- the inks can contain lead, which may contaminate your food (especially if bags are reused inside out). According to researchers, lead may leach and/or flake into food.
Details from the American Journal of Public Health are at:
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1405137
Someone mentioned that the canvas bags look awful. I like my canvas bags because I can decorate them with any message I want to. You can decorate them with acrylic paint or any left over paint you have on hand. I think I will start putting on mine "I am not a plastic bag". I like that saying alot.
Zig
I just got some canvas grocery bags from www.green-kits.com. They have these clever but simple sayings on them that make them a little more fun than plain bags. But what really impressed me is that the company shipped the bags using all recycled/recyclable materials, included a note telling me where my nearest recycling facility is (!!!) AND they are totally carbon-neutral - they offset CO2 from the shipping with Terrapass. I really like that they consider the bigger picture. The bags are great quality (the pricing's good too).
Just a note for the budget conscious greenfeet.com has a few reusable bag choices under $10.00
I think there should be a separate discussion on trash/garbage. I had used canvas bags for years- it was so much more convienent to haul my groceries up my 3 flights of stairs than plastic/brown bags. Now i live in a condo and we are required to bag our trash before placing in the big bin, my husband uses the bags from the stores for garbage.
This discussion on taking your own bag is a repeat from several months ago..Sep 07, 2006 - BYOB...
Nothing new in this string of comments. Too bad.
This discussion may be old and a repeat of one several months ago. This discussion may change people's mind about using plastic bags and get the to write about their experiences. This discussion is the first one I was written on on this board and I like it.
Zig
on this same thread. Instead of giving gifts in wrapping paper use cloth gift bags instead. I make them from remnant from the fabric store or from the legs of jeans.
I cut the legs off the jeans and fold them in half, use the seam ripper to tear out the seam (extra fabric and less waste) Then I sew a new seam in the jean and decorate them anyway I want to. I fold the top edges and sew them so I can turn them into drawstring bags.
My in-laws don't like them so I get them back, but a lot of people do. I tell them the present is not what is inside but the bag itself. And that I hope they will reuse the gift bag for another gift to give or keep it for themselves to use for another purpose.
zig
I just heard from Jewel-Osco(a part of Albertsons) that they will be offering cloth bags in about 7-8weeks. Since there are no Albertson stores in this area(Midwest, Indiana & Illinois)with Jewel offering the bags, we now have a local supply for cheap cloth bags.I already had two bags & plan to buy 2-3 more. It pays to ask!! Also about this being a repeat, some of us are new to Ideal Bite, so it was good to have it repeated. Also Zig-LOVE the recycling of cloth gift bags from old jeans & remnents!! A good idea for us Biters that sew!Love the way that ideas are shared in this blog!
I'm new to this blog and love it. I love the idea's that may be old to some but new to others. Thanks for the compliment on the gift bags. You can also decorate the cloth bags you use for grocery shopping.
Zig
I wanted to put in a plug for ChicoBag. I'm brand-new to using reusable shopping bags and what sold me was the design of the ChicoBag. They're made of woven nylon, hold 20 pounds and come in their own little integrated stuff sack so they're easy to carry around. I bought two at a local natural foods shop but was ashamed because I still ended up using plastic since two wasn't enough. I went to chicobag.com and got 5 more for $20 (it was a buy 4 get 1 free deal). They come in bright, fun colors so even if I do get funny looks, I pretend it's because folks are envious of my cool totes. I just unstuff one and put the others inside of it to carry them into the store. I unstuff as needed depending on the amount I'm buying. I highly recommend them! I'm finally cured of my plastic bag habit.
I don't care what people think of me using a cloth bag when I go grocery shopping or shopping period. If they ask me why I use them I tell them that when you use plastic you can kill a bird or fish, if you use a paperbag you are killing a tree and I refuse to do so.
Zig
To avoid forgetting to bring your eco bag to the store, how about not having to remember it in the first place! I live in Montreal Canada where a company called ENVIROSAX makes these ultra trendy portable bags that you just roll-up, snap and put in your purse. I received "Retro graphic bag #2" as a birthday gift and love it. They cost around $7.00 Canadian. Here is the direct link to their Web page: http://www.usa.envirosax.com/pages/products.php?icat=1
I clicked on the link and love the bags. I try to remember to take my bags with me by telling myself I am saving an animal or tree by taking my own bags.
zig
I made myself go back to my car to get the canvas bags out of my trunk. The awkwardness of telling the woman checking me out and then getting looks from everyone who was annoyed at me as the groceries piled up was incentive enough to remember them next time!
I LOVE the looks from other people so I can tell them. "A plastic bag can kill a bird or fish and a paperbag can kill a tree." That is my way of educating people.
Zig
I am so excited that BYOB is catching on. But don’t buy your reusable bags from Ecobags! I ordered from them and they shipped the wrong items, then told me to return the bags and they would credit my visa for the bags and they would pay for return shipping because it was their mistake. When I returned the incorrect items they said that I was lying about the mistake and they haven’t given me my money back for the bags or the shipping. I was more upset about being accused of being a liar than losing the money. They are a very bad company to deal with. BEWARE! I have since purchased exactly what I wanted from my locate Wegmans supermarket for $.99. That’s $2.61 less per bag than from Ecobags, so check your local supermarket they are starting to catch on.
Good job on taking your own bags with you when you go shopping.
And thanks for the heads up on the EcoBags. I think it is silly buying expensive bags for putting groceries in. I have been given some of my bags from people who held garage sales who were impressed that I brought my own bags and not asked for one of theirs. I was once given a bag that I thought was canvas but was made from recycled plastic bottles. I love the bag.
Zig
Hi Shana,
I'm sorry to hear that you were unsatisfied with your Eco-Bags purchase. We strive to provide all of our customers with high quality bags and attentive customer service, but it seems we may have fallen short on your account. We are glad to hear that you've been able to join on the BYOBag movement and hope that we can do business with you in the future.
Sincerely,
Aliana from Eco-Bags
aliana@ecobags.com
Re: A comment by Posted by: Ziggee | July 09, 2007 at 09:28 PM
As a customer service representative of Eco-Bags Products, Inc. I was saddened to hear that Ziggee had such a bad experience with Eco-Bags.
It has never been our policy to ask a customer to return items that were not ordered by the customer. Our standard policy for wrong shipped items has always been to ask the customer to keep the wrong items and reship the right items at no charge.
We're a small woman-owned company and we work hard to make the experience of shopping at Eco-Bags Products, Inc a pleasant one.
We want it to go out to all who read this blog that we sincerely apologize to Ziggee and hope that she can make herself know to allow us to make amends for the bad experience.
Warm Regards,
Diane Gross
800-720-2247 x103
I have never bought bags from Eco-bags, I was just responding to the post.
Zig
I just started using reusable tote bags for my groceries and other shopping trips. You can get some great reusable bags at www.Rejavanate.com. Not only do they eliminate the waste caused by plastic and paper bags but they are made from recycled burlap coffee bags, keeping tons of burlap waste out of our landfills AND the manufacturing process provides employment for individuals with developmental disabilities !!!! It’s a Win, Win, Win !!!
Now those are bags would spend the money on if I did not have so many at the moment.
Zig
If your grocery store offers self-checkout lanes, that's a good way to bag your own groceries exactly how you want and avoid weird/annoyed looks from the cashier. I live someplace where using your own bags or going bagless is SO foreign that the looks I get are more than just "weird". You can actually see the look of "you freaky-un-American-hippie-liberal-scum" in people's eyes. I have yet to meet a single person at any store that was even remotely interested in my cotton bags. I continue to carry them anyway, though.
On the subject of trash, we have to bag it where we live. We do have a compost bin and a recycle bin, but all regular trash gets bagged. We could put it in a big trash can, but the trash collectors will literally pick up and take EVERYTHING on your curb, including the can, so we'd have to use a new can every week. Dumb. :(
let them give you weird looks, atl least you know you are doing something nice for the world and not polluting it with unnecessary bags.
ZIG
I'm so glad becoming earth friendly is now fashionable. I've used cloth bags from trader joe's since they 1st offered them close to 20 years ago. Ralps give 5 cent credit for every bag you bring in.
I wanted to make a couple of comments: I got into the business of providing reusable shopping bags back in 1989 because I too was getting "funny" looks when I refused paper or plastic bags...my kids were toddlers & I just always hung up the emptied shopping bags on the knob leading out to the car...then once, in the store I did NOT allow myself to get into the check-out line without going BACK out to the car! That only took twice! Now it's an ALWAYS habit. Another subject: polypropylene & nylon synthetic fabrics. Oil-based, non renewable and polluting in manufacturing. Will not compost. Bags that only last 1-3 yrs will STILL end up in the landfills and will NOT bio-degrade! Cotton is renewable and ORGANIC cotton is the best! We have customers who have used our bags for over 18 years! www.bags4you.com (selling to a store near you, we hope!)
Marcelle Bakula, Owner SteppingStones, manufacturer of the EcoSac Shopping Bag System (canvas, string, shoulder, produce)
If more people used canvas bags or bags made from recycled materials we could keep a lot of plastics and other materials out of our landfills.
Zig
Forgetting reusable bags seems to be sutch a huge problem for using reusable bags. I always have that problem weather its leaving them in my car or at home. I have a friend who has just designed a reusable bag thats designed to never be forgotten ( www.flipandtumble.com ). Thats because its very easy to compact and so small you can just keep it your purse all the time. I find because I have it all the time I use it at the drug store, clothing stores, where ever I buy anything.
Yes, I've seen several versions of the "NYLON" bag (Chico bags, flipandtumble) BUT their problem is that 1. they are made from nylon, not the cleanest manufacturing product AND from a non-renewable resource (this is just as bad as the CHEAP polypropylene bags; 2. they are not known to last all that long & will end up in the landfill (not recycled as opposed to cotton which often is) and 3. I don't need just one small bag, when shopping for a family, I need 4 large bags & 8-10 produce-type bags!!! I just keep all the bags in one! AND I only have to remember to simply put them on the doorknob leading to the car, and keep them in the car...
I agree with the poster about the ChicoBag (www.chicobags.com). I stumbled upon them at an event recently and didn't even know what they heck they were. Lo and behold, my reusable bag prayers were answered. They compact to such a small size and are so lightweight that I just keep one clipped to my keyring all the time so I never forget my bag and don't feel like I'm lugging bags around.
Then when I saw all the fun colors they had, I started ordering them for friends and they took them on trips to Europe and such and said they were really handy. This year, I'm giving them out as stocking stuffers for the holidays.
I say, GIVE GREEN for the holidays and all other events. That way, those who normally won't try or buy the stuff get exposed to it and then get hooked and seek out green solutions on their own. It's sharing the good stuff!
Oh yeah, and I agree with the other poster. I don't care what anyone thinks about me bringing my own bag. In fact, I've been stopped more often than not to be complimented for doing so or asked from where I got my bags.
I live in walking distance of a new Wal-Mart, the biggest so far. They just started selling these bags there and they only cost a $1. I got 10 as I do a lot of shopping there and nearby. I hate the plastic bags as I live in a community where recycling is not offered.
Polypropylene bags ARE cheap but they have some "flaws": 1. they (and nylon too) are petroleum based (non-renewable resource); 2. not recyclable 3. last 1-2 yrs depending upon amt. of use & will therefore end up in the landfill!
Empty your cotton (organic cotton) reusable bags (and hang them on the door that you will go out...don't allow yourself to take any paper or plastic - go back to the car! You WILL make it a habit very shortly!)
When I forget my canvas bag I "remind" myself by carrying by hand whatever I purchase - no bag. I also tell the cashier (and don't mind if others hear) that I'm committed to not polluting with bags and that I forgot my own.
We aren't completly un-eco-freindly because we do re-use all the plastic bags we need at home and re-cycle the rest.
PHOTO ALBUMS
Posted by: app | June 21, 2007 at 03:40 AM