Wondering what is the best reusable grocery bag? Tired of bags at the store, only to throw them out once you get home? Check out these reusable grocery bags to help you cut down on your plastic and paper consumption.
More and more studies are revealing that particles of plastic are ending up virtually all over the world — from the white tops of snowy mountain peaks to the deep blue depths of ocean seas. A large contributor to the overall plastic problem is plastic grocery bags.
Although some of the world’s cities are seeing moratoriums on plastic grocery bags, this one-time-use convenience item isn’t disappearing anytime soon. Use this guide to help you consider how to curb your consumer habit of this wasteful and inefficient one-time use product.
1. Your Old Packpack
Maybe it’s got some stains, a less than perfect zipper, or some old patches from bands you haven’t listened to since high school, but don’t forget that the best reusable grocery bag is the one that is sturdy, washable, and creates the least environmental impact. This up-cycling move is probably your best sustainable bet — just be sure to toss the bag in the wash before you stroll through your supermarket’s aisles.
Price: free
2. ChicoBag
Grocery bags from ChicoBag are colorful, heavy-duty, and machine washable bags that are made from 100% recyclable material. These bags, which also come in packs of four, come with cool carabiners that let you easily attach them to your waist or another bag — so you don’t forget to bring them to the store.
Price: $6.99 for one bag at ChicoBag or $23.99 for a pack of four on Amazon**
3. Ecobags Cotton Canvas Tote
Ecobag’s business is based on two moral codes: “Leave no trace,” and “Do no harm.” Part of their mission is to inform people about the three Rs: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Their cotton canvas tote is a clean-looking 100% recycled cotton bag just sturdy enough to carry a heavy load of food and drinks, but light and flexible enough to carry and fold away comfortably.
Price: $10.79 at Ecobags
4. The Big Baggu
The Big Baggu is a very long tote bag made from 40% nylon that can hold up to 50 lbs. It’s such a big bag that you’ll want to fold into a smaller 4-inch by 4-inch square (which nicely zips down for storage). And they look pretty cool, too.
Price: $16.00 at Baggu
5. Ecobags String Bag Organic Cotton Tote
This heavy-duty string bag is made out of organic cotton and is built to last. Take your “Avoska” (Russian for “just in case” bag) with you everywhere — to the beach, the store, the farmer’s market, or around town. The bag looks small, but its stretchy design lets you fill it with loads of fresh fruits and veggies. In addition, Ecobags really takes its social and environmental standards seriously.
Price: $13.99 at Ecobags
6. KerKoor Reusable Organic Produce Bags
These handy little produce bags have a sturdy net mesh designed for holding your fresh fruit and vegetables — which might help to curb the habit of pulling off five or six small plastic bags from your supermarket’s courteously roll. A set comes with three small, medium, and large-sized bags, which are all machine washable, reusable, and — for when you eventually end up tossing them — are 100% biodegradable.
Price: $14.99 on Amazon**
7. Girlfriend’s Black Please Recycle Backpack
Surely the priciest bag of the bunch, the Black Please Recycle Backpack from Girlfriend comes with stats about its sustainability status: one bag equals 47 water bottles saved from landfill, 63.67lbs of CO2 prevented and 11.39 KWH of energy conserved. Girlfriend knows that consumer’s today like to recycle their old clothes and accessories, so their ReGirlfriend program is designed to provide a recycling service for when you want to empty your closet for new goods.
Price: $65.60 at Girlfriend
8. VENO Insulated Reusable Bag
These insulated reusable bags from VENO are designed with a three-layer composition to keep in the cold. Built with sturdy zippers and easy to carry, they’ll help keep everything fresh through the hot car commute back home or when you’re en route to the camping spot.
Price: $17.99 on Amazon** or directly on VENO
Read On:
- Can You Recycle Plastic Bags? – Recycling Tips – Utopia
- Go Plastic-Free: How to use Less in 7 Easy Steps – Utopia
- Bioplastics – Find Out How Green They Really Are – Utopia
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