Paper or Plastic
I know it’s better for the environment to use paper bags instead of plastic (let’s forget the irony that we moved to plastic bags because we didn’t want to chop down all those trees to use paper). How can the supermarket, or anyone, expect me to use paper bags when there aren’t any handles? You’re limiting me to carrying only two bags at a time.
I know it’s a stupid little thing, but I would guess that I’m not alone. If those environmentalists want consumers to start using paper bags, make bags with handles (that won’t rip). I think that is what’s holding back the whole ‘paper bag’ initiative. Until I see handles, I’m always choosing plastic.
12 comments so far
Leave a reply
Ooooooooooor… you could use reusable bags. I’ve amassed quite the collection of canvas bags over the past year and bring them with me when I go shopping (food or otherwise).
The catch is that you have to remember to bring them with you, but you could always put them back in your car when you unpack them so they’re there next time you need to shop.
Aside from the environmental advantages, they’re much easier to carry than plastic (or paper). The handles are more comfortable in your hands and some have long straps so you can carry them on your shoulders.
I got a lot of mine for free from different places, but there are some really affordable options out there:
$26 for 5 bags
http://www.neelabags.com/market/pack
and a lot of grocery stores sell them for less than $1 each.
Why not spend $4 – $5 on those reusable bags you can buy at the store? They are stronger than the plastic or papers handles.
Oh and that is $4 – $5 for 4 – 5 reusable bags, not $4 – $5 for one reusable bag (EVEN at Whole Foods for that price).
Ryan, Kate: I could see myself using reusable bags when I live in a house and my car is 5 steps away from my house. But currently I live in an apartment building where my car is parked at least 3 minutes away (walking). I’m not going to remember to bring the reusable bags back into the car.
I feel that I could carry many more plastic bags at once in my hand compared to paper or reusable bags. I think the handles are just thin enough but not to thin. I am going to be sticking with the plastic bags. Shocker.
You make a very good point. I think you should edit your post, make the case where people are often walking by a shop, decide to pop in and buy some stuff, and then are forced to make this environmentally uncomfortable choice because they did not have these reusable carry bags on them… Silly, since it is quite obvious that no one ever has this carry bag on them, but at least then people will actually comment properly.
In addition to the many canvas bags I have for groceries I keep a little fabric bag that folds up into a tiny pouch clipped onto my regular bag (sort of like this: http://www.containerstore.com/browse/Product.jhtml?searchId=17133035&itemIndex=39&CATID=255&PRODID=10023849).
Granted it’s much easier if you’re a girl and have a purse/diaper bag. It’s perfect for stops at CVS or whatever when I didn’t bring my other bags for a grocery run.
Russians I hear used to always carry net/mesh bags for when a load of anything arived at the GUM story. They take up very little space in a car or pocket.
I did buy my sister in law a bike with a detachable front basket (little smaller than the baskets you get at a super market) that detaches and has a mid-mounted handle that lets it be used in the store. Then you snap it back into place in front of your bike and away you go.
My next invention is a fine mesh T-shirt that converts into a bag.
I’m all with you, why should I pay for reusable bags when plastic is free. What if I don’t have the reusable bags with me…
I agree with have paper bags with handles that don’t break.
I want to go green, but there just isn’t enough of help with that area.
even easier to use than bags are those folding file storage boxes. Steal a few from work and throw them in the trunk. We used them at price right a few times and it works great. (they charge you extra for bags at price right)
agentx, I’d have the same problem. I’d forget to put boxes in my trunk for the next trip. Maybe what we need is a new type of shopping cart that puts storage boxes (paper) in the cart itself. That way there is no bagging. You bring your cart right to the car and put the boxes right in. What does everyone think?
I too do not live in the suburbs or even have a car. However, if I know I am going shopping I try to take a canvas bag. Many times I do find myself in the same situation though, where I forgot to bring a bag but I feel better about it when I remember that I save the bags for later use a garbage bag. What is so wrong about that? Better than buying bags to be used for garbage! If I am truly buying a lot of groceries, I get them delivered and then they come in one big re-used supermarket food box, which gets flattened and recycled yet again. A win for all!