Paper and Plastic are SO 10 Years Ago.

• 100% recyclable
• Made from 85% recycled materials
• Made from approximately 4 plastic soda bottles
• Can replace 50 plastic shopping bags
• Can carry the same weight as 2-3 plastic shopping bags

Where have you been all my life?!

As you know, I vowed to adopt a PSP and settled on reusable shopping bags. And I couldn't be happier. I've waited a few weeks to blog about them because I not only wanted to be sure I'd stick with them, but wanted to be able to appropriately report back to you about all aspects, i.e. remembering to take the bags back to the store every time.

I don't know where to start. They've changed my life. Well, my grocery shopping life, anyway. I used to come home with between 20 and 30 bags of groceries every week. Now I have 3. Maybe 4. And unless you get Joe Teenager Checkout Boy, the cashiers are fairly good at bagging everything - cold stuff together, bread on top, etc. The reusable bags are wide and flat on the bottom so they stand up in the car -- no more hunting for stray jars of baby food in the depths of the trunk. And an unexpected perk -- shoulder straps! I can put the bag(s) on my shoulder and have my hands free, which is especially important now that I am perpetually wrestling a munchkin.

They fold flat, can be completely smashed and crushed into a ball, and double as a light-weight and convenient way to schlep clothes to the dry cleaner. What's not to love? One day last week, I had to buy a new one at the store because I ran to Walmart at lunch and didn't bring my gear. But I now keep a few in the trunk of the car for just such a shopping emergency.

I will even go so far as to say I think the government should mandate the use of reusable shopping bags. Yes, that's right. Why not? It's a SUPER easy way to be more sustainable and doesn't cost any extra time or energy. Maybe I should write my Congressman. (And as far as laws go, my Reusable Shopping Bag Law should definitely be in line ahead of the crazy Digital TV Transition Law. What. Ever. It's really a separate rant, but do we really need 18 months of public service announcements to help us "prepare" for the switch to digital television? Did the government subsidize CD players for the American people when the compact disc was invented and we all made the "transition" from cassette tapes? *aggravated sigh*)

So there ya go. They're more than Reusable Shopping Bags. They're a way of life.

Comments

[Nancy Bunch]

Yay! I knew you would love them. They are crazy handy. And I agree, everyone should use them. Maybe the stores should charge extra for plastic bags to encourage you to BYOB.

[Lisa]

I've been wondering how this turned out. Our local grocery store has just started selling green, yellow, and purple reusable bags. The color choice has me seriously interested. Though, I think we'll still get the store bags from time to time...where else can you get free trash can liners?

[Kelly]

I have a couple bags that are insulated, and you'd be surprised how many baggers don't understand that concept. I have to tell them to put the cold stuff in THIS bag. Toys'R'us has some really spiffy looking bags too!

[Laura]

I'm so proud of you!! I knew you had it in you... Does this mean you're going to try my other "green" ideas?? :)