There are so many types of reusable grocery bags. I started using them more once I found my favorite type.
My introduction to reusable grocery bags were the big square bags that you can purchase from grocery stores like
these adorable ones from Amazon. I collected gobs of them since
they were so good for the environment (and usually free or very cheap). Well
turns out
having the reusable bag is
a different story from
using the
reusable bag. Hubby and I would be halfway to the grocery store and one of us
would ask, “Did you bring the bags?” Usually the answer was, “No…oh well.”
I thought moving the bags in my trunk would be the solution,
and it helped, but I was still plagued by other problems. I would have to
remember the bags were in the car before entering the store. Or I would have to
run back out to the car. Then if they were used I’d have to remember to put
them back in my car for next time.
Also my husband drove most of the time and we never would remember to put bags
in his car. So while it did help, they mostly just stayed in the trunk. I've since learned the trick of putting them by the door so you see them when you head back out to the car.
Then for Christmas one year I got a small reusable bag as a
stocking stuffer similar to
these* or
these*. I thought it was a great idea, it folded up into this little
2 inch cube. I could carry it in my purse! Unfortunately it had to be folded up
in a very exact way, and very tightly, otherwise it wouldn’t snap close and
you’d just have a loose bag to deal with.
Have you ever tried rolling up a
sleeping bag only to have it not fit back in its pouch, so you have to keep
re-rolling it tighter and tighter until it finally fits? It’s annoying, and
dealing with that bag was the same thing. I must not be the only one with that problem, because the examples I show above seem to be designed better, thank goodness.
I was also in a different phase of
life, so while I may have carried it around and had it physically in my
presence more I still didn’t use it much. I’d like to think that if I were to
receive one now I’d use it a lot, but the hassle with putting it back I doubt
it would be a go-to.
When I moved to Hawaii I was given a free reusable bag
for signing a petition to refuse plastic bags. This bag was revolutionary to
me. It was a soft sided bag that came with its own pouch! Rather than having to
roll or fold the bag to make sure it fit, I could just cram it in the bag and it had extra room to spare. This
made storage a little bigger, but it was still only about the size of a
sunglasses case so it easily fit in my purse. Also the pouch was attached to
the bag. You didn’t have to worry about losing it.
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| My free bag from Plastic Free Hawaii. See how it fits nicely into a small bag! |
Having a plastic bag in my purse at all times meant that I
didn’t have to pre-plan trips or run out to the car to get bags. When we would
be halfway somewhere I could finally answer, “Yes, I have bags in my purse!” It
was also water resistant and washable so if something spilled I could either
wipe it up or throw it in the washing machine (I think you were technically
supposed to only hand wash it, but it was fine in the washing machine the few times I washed it).
That bag lasted me about two years before some of the stitching in the handles started coming apart.
In the meantime I had bought a bag from
EnvBags. They were
very similar to my favorite bags with a few differences. What first drew them
to me, was their fun prints! No longer did I need to have a boring light blue
bag with a logo on it, I could have one with
fun fish*! Next, the bag is sturdier than ones I've had before. It is still a soft sided
bag, but it has a little more heft to it. Finally it has a gusset (whatever the
heck that is), but it means it has a flat bottom which helps it carry more
things. Gone are the days where I would get 5 bags for 7 items…it all fits in
this bag. They say it can hold up to 40 lbs. and I am surprised by how much it can carry. To store it has a similar fold and snap closure like the bag from
before, but the bag nearly folds itself and the snap straps are very generous.
I sometimes even roll it too tight!
 |
| Rolled EnvBag |
For me the biggest downside is the bag comes with a pouch. However
the pouch is detachable from the bag. You can attach them, but I’m lazy and
never would. So for me the pouch became waste, although one could easily
repurpose it.
 |
| The EnvBag bags in use |
Now technically these bags are still plastic since they are made of nylon. A better alternative would be to use a cloth bag such as
these* I love that they roll up too! However in my attempts to conserve plastic I won't be on the hunt to replace these bags until they no longer work. EnV Bags will provide you a way to recycle their bags if you contact them, which is very nice of them to offer.
So what was your reusable bag journey? Do you have a
favorite bag to use when you #skipthebag?
Love using your bags? Check out the
#SkipTheBag Challenge.
