OK – so we all know about using reusable bags, especially at the supermarket. Here is my list of top ten favourite eco shopping bags.
envirosax
envirosax – one of the original makers of the reusable bag, these are a great size and very strong. They fold down into a handy size you can put in your handbag and come in a huge range of great designs and colours. You can buy them individually or in a pack of five.
baggu
RuMe – reusable shopping bags in all sizes with very practical square sides and bottoms. They also come in lots of great colours.
Baggu – another classic: known for their bright colours, high style, quality materials and economy of use.
MYeco bagging system – Kristen Brown has taken the eco bag one step further and come up with a four – reusable – bag system that fits neatly into your shopping trolley.
Each bag is designed to hold specific items. An insulated bag zips shut to keep refrigerated items cold, whilst one that is larger than the others is designed to hold large or awkwardly shaped items such as toilet rolls or cereal boxes. One of the bags has separated compartments on the outside to take glass containers and bottles so they won’t bang against one another and break.
chicobags
Chicobags – made from recycled PET. As well as shopping bags you can get ‘sling’ bags, messenger bags and daypacks. All lightweight and again available in great colours.
Jute is a natural product produced mainly in India and is a logical material for shopping bags as it’s strong and durable. Visit Go Green in Stages for a selection of jute bags.
Ten thousand villages – why not combine your purchase with a good cause and support fair trade. Visit Ten Thousand Villages’ website, where your purchase provides vital income for third world countries and aims to provide artisans in those countries with a fair wage, as well as dignity and respect and the ability to live a quality life. They have a great selection of bags from many different parts of the world.
Or you could crochet your own tote bag out of old plastic shopping bags. Click here for instructions.
green girl
Beautiful totes from Green Girl World. These are very stylish and the site is well worth a visit.
Finally, I love Heather Heron’s equally stylish hemp totes. Probably far too nice to put your shopping in – but very desirable none the less.
I love these bags – had big guilt trip yesterday as I left home without the tote – and came back with lots of plastic.
Also Target now have a policy of not giving bags – this is very annoying if big stores want to charge us 10c for a plastic bag 10c !! then I feel they must give that money to charity.
I’m hardly going to walk home with six pairs of knickers clutched in my hands. And the unit cost of a bag to Target can only be 1c – not good
XxX
What an excellent idea Lettica – I see a campaign to get the big stores to donate to charity from their sales of those plastic bags!
I buy the 5 pack envirosacks & give them as little presents. I get compliments on them all the time.
There is also the trolley dolly (www.zpm.com/products/Living/Trolley-Dolly/default.aspx) a little more stylish than the green bags sold in the supermarket.