Its Not Easy Going Green

A few weeks ago, we went to Colorado to see family. Apparently, many stores there are doing away with their paper and plastic bags (mostly natural food stores). Customers will bring their own bags or, in some cases, use boxes the store offers to be reused. This was such a surprise. I would think customers would never go for it, but the more I thought about it, the more I decided this is wonderful! It’s an easy way to reduce waste and I think it’s a trend that ought to catch on across the country. This solution is win-win! I hate saving grocery bags, but can’t bring myself to just pitch them, either. I won’t have the bags hanging around, stores don’t have to pay for them, I get to use a nicer bag, and apparently, it could have quite an impact on the environment.

Maybe you’ve seen these reusable bags at your local stores. Most of them I’ve seen cost around a buck. Since I saw them in Colorado, I’ve bought three different kinds, so here’s a review of what I’ve found so far. In the order I purchased them (drum roll, please)…

1 Bag At A Time (Vitamin Cottage)
Cost: $0.99 (if you go to Vitamin Cottage on Earth Day-April 22-you get one for free with purchase)
Approximate dimensions: 12″ wide x 14″ tall x 8″ deep
My rating: 4 of 5
On the up side: The handles run the length of the bag and are stitched on both edges, making it a super strong bag. According to the website, it should last 2 years of weekly use. The handles are long enough to sling (take that, plastic bags!) but short enough to carry at my side. They’re also wide enough to make carrying them comfy. Its easily removable bottom reinforcer helps it stand up quite well. It’s machine washable with a loop to line dry it by. Also, I like that I’m supporting a small business instead of a mega-corporation like Wal-Mart or Target.

On the down side: It’s not easy to find in a store. The website has a list of places you can purchase them, but there were only 2 places for my state, including “check your local ACE hardware dealer,” which every state’s listing says. You can order it from their site, but you’ll pay from $1.49-1.59 (there is a smaller version for $1.25, $0.10 of which goes to breast cancer research…looks like a great knitting bag) plus tax and shipping. At the moment, they’re entirely out of stock, but should be restocked by the end of May.

Target
Cost: $0.99
Approximate dimensions: 15 ½” wide x 16″tall.
My rating: 3 of 5

On the up side: This one has two major bonuses. One, it folds down and zips into a convenient little package (about 7 ½” wide x 4″ high). Two, when it isn’t folded, the pouch it folds into acts as a pocket on the outside for little things like gum, your receipt etc. Since it folds up so nicely, I could shove it in my purse for those spur-of-the-moment, on-the-fly shopping trips. Also, since it’s bright red, I’m less likely to forget about it. The design on it is cute, too with kind of an Asian flair. I’d love to tell you about the tag, but I lost it (despite the fact I had two to start with).

On the down side: Its handles are a little shorter than I’d like (can’t sling it over my shoulder). It doesn’t seem as strong as the others. It’s not machine washable (washing instructions say “wipe with warm cloth or sponge”). It’s flat and has no bottom so it doesn’t even try to stand alone which means watching the bagger struggle with it while they give you looks wondering if you’re one of those crazy granola heads (sorry…promised I wouldn’t use that one…) tree huggers.

Wal-Mart
Cost: $1.00
Approximate dimensions: 14″ wide x 13″ tall x 8″ deep
My rating: 3 of 5

On the up side: It’s nice enough that I’d enjoy using it. Like the Vitamin Cottage bag, the handles are sling-able and carry-able. It seems durable and I like the quip on the front: “Paper or Plastic? Neither.” My local Wal-Mart has stacks of them and I can get them whenever I want. The dark color will easily hide any spills.

On the down side: It is a little shorter than I’d like. It doesn’t stand up well on its own, making it hard to load and unload. It has no washing instructions. A touch nit-picky on my part, but the tag is a little vague and leaves more questions asked than answered. It says it’s made from approximately four plastic soda bottles (what size?). It can replace 50 shopping bags (so it’s good for only 50 trips?). My other objection is that…well…it came from Wal-Mart, killer of small towns (yet all my money ends up there!).

So, here’s my plan. I will put the One Bag At A Time bag by the front door with the other bags inside it (minus the Target bags; one of those will go in my purse, the other in my van). When I’m going out to shop, I’ll grab the bag and head out. I’m thinking I may purchase some bags from One Bag At A Time. I’ll use them instead of gift bags when I give gifts. They’re about the same price (or even cheaper in some cases) and are a gift in themselves.