Reusable Grocery Bags

What Are Reusable Grocery Bags?

Simply put, they are bags that are made from any number of materials, and are taken to the store to be used to carry home the groceries. They can be made in a whole variety of ways, out of many different types of materials and styles. The bags can be washed in the washing machine with any load of cold water wash.

Large chain stores are starting to carry their own brand of reusable bag, allowing the customer to be eco-friendly while advertising where they shop. The sacks are generally made of a cheap canvas-like material, and available for sale. The store then offers a discount for using the bag each time you shop. These bags are most often utilitarian in design, and not very attractive. In addition, they don’t often last past the first few months of use.

Another way to get the reusable grocery bags is to buy them in specialty shops, and on the Internet. These bags have more of a custom look, come in a variety of different sizes and styles, and are often very artistic. The higher quality materials used means that the reusable grocery bag costs more money, but they also last longer.

The specialty bags come in more design specific types. If you want to buy produce, for instance, rather than putting it in plastic bags you can use a reusable, organic cotton, produce bag. There are other ways the bags differ from company to company:

• Handle styles also vary from bag to bag. Some are loops on either side of the bag. Some are cut with the bag and part of the front piece rather than sewn on.
• Some bags are made with gussets to help the bags stand upright.
• Some are made of organic cottons, others are made of canvas or mesh.
• Fabric designs vary from retro to modern, and everything in between.

No matter what design you fall in love with be sure to check the stitching and other construction details to be sure you are getting a quality made item.

For a truly designer bag, you can make your own at home very inexpensively. Here are a few free patterns to get you started no matter what your craft of choice:

• This European style market bag is crocheted.
• Turkish Stitch string bag is beautiful.
• This Crocheted Bag was just too good to resist.
• Felted French Market Bag from Knitty.
• Sewn Reusable Bag in a rounded shape.
• Fabric Shopping Bag in more of a squared shape.

Sources for Designer Grocery Bags

There are many companies on the Internet that carry the bags. A few hours of web surfing can provide you with a bag to go with every outfit, if you so desire. Things to consider when buying a bag are:

• Is it Fair Trade?
• Is the fabric organic?
• Is it a cottage industry?
• Is the company eco-friendly as a whole, or are they just jumping on the eco band-wagon?

Be sure to support companies that you are proud to support, and whose ethics are similar to your own.

• Check out Reusable Bags thermal bags for keeping cold foods cold.
• Delight carries many eco-friendly items, grocery bags included.
• Very unique bags from Envirosax make shopping almost fun.
• Do a search on Etsy. There are many WAHMs, (or work at home moms), making an income from selling beautiful bags on this site.
• In Your Face Green has some cute styles of reusable shopping bags.

Plastic Doesn’t Just Litter

Most people understand that plastic bags are an eyesore to the community but many think that the pollution stops there. It does not. The plastic bags themselves are a source of some of the worst pollutants in the environment today. Even biodegradable plastic is not the answer.

Should you choose paper? The manufacture of a paper bag causes a staggering amount of pollution and encourages deforestation. Here a couple of little known facts:

• Recycling plastic allows small particles of heavy metals to be released into the air.
• Manufacturing paper bags causes up to 75% more pollution than manufacturing plastic bags.
• Producing paper encourages deforestation and other negative environmental impacts.

Reusable grocery bags are really the most environmentally responsible option. Using them is a fun, and fashionable alternative.