BAGGING SUSTAINABILITY?

How many of those fabulous eco-friendly, logo-branded reusable bags do you have? You can see how many I have in the photo above and that doesn’t even count the ones in my car or hidden away in the closet.

Re-usable bags are a great idea gone sorta wrong.

I remember when Trader Joe’s began rewarding customers who re-used their paper shopping bags by entering them into drawings where they could win groceries. That was a great idea. Whole Foods donates money to charity when customers bring their own bag or offers a bag credit.

Today, every grocery store in America, most major retailers and any company who feels like it sells or gives away “reusable” bags with their logos on them.

From a corporate point of view, re-usable bags with logos on them are relatively cheap advertising. Not only is your name getting out there, but people will get warm fuzzies about your brand because they associate you with sustainability.

I have never used more than 3 or 4  at one time.

Really?

Does anyone else feel like these bags are problem? Have you gone to the store, realized you forgot your re-usable bag and purchased another one? Better yet, have you purchased a re-usable bag because you have to have the new design? I am guilty on both accounts. A friend from Japan says that people will pay big bucks for the latest Trader Joe’s bag. Huh?

If we really want to help the environment, we might want to hold back on buying or accepting re-usable bags. Why don’t we take those handy dandy Trader Joe’s bags to the mall when we shop? You may not look cool when you schlep your Whole Foods bag into Bloomingdales, but you will actually be helping the environment. Oh dear, now I am going to have to walk the walk!

Comments, questions, complaints, suggestions, musings, poetry?

By |2018-10-03T16:33:25-04:00July 13th, 2010|

5 Comments

  1. shannon July 13, 2010 at 2:48 PM

    Well, I have never claimed to be fashionable, nor particularly worried about what others think, and I DO use my handy dandy feed 100 bag when I shop for stuff other then groccerys! I carry it faithfully in my “good” purse and whip it out at Sephora, and world market (never been into bloomingdales!but would use it proudly if I ever went!) Makes a great beach bag too 🙂

  2. shan July 13, 2010 at 2:57 PM

    I love my reusable bags! And yes, I have all of the Whole Foods bags, as yes, I have to have the newsest ones cause they’re cute! But I have to admit, I don’t use them on purpose occasionally as I need the paper for our recyclables! Its a no win situation! To save the planet by recycling, you have to choose to kill a tree every once in a while! Oey Vay! The delima!!

  3. Leigh Ann July 13, 2010 at 3:27 PM

    I lug my ginormous Costco bags everywhere. I’m famous for getting all of my groceries in the house in one trip. I could never do it without them!

  4. Yuko July 15, 2010 at 5:51 AM

    I bring my reusable bag that I got at Trader Joe’s in SF whenever I go grocery shopping.
    Why there is no Trader Joe’s in Japan…
    Please come to Japan!! If so, they would be soooo successful!!!!

  5. Angie September 27, 2010 at 5:12 PM

    I always have in my purse either a reusable Target bag that zips into a small square or a Chico Bag. You’ll never forget again!

    http://www.surlatable.com/product/id/187897.do?affsrcid=Aff0001&mr:trackingCode=A16AAEDC-D781-DE11-B7F3-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA

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