For at least two years, we have been trying to use reusable shopping bags whenever we go to the grocery store. At first, we picked up a few at the store and would forget them at home. Over time, we have obtained many bags and always have a few in the car for emergency trips to not only the grocery store, but any other location that we shop at.
It may seem odd, but we appear to have quite a little collection going. We have bags from Price Chopper, Wegmans, Hannaford, Trader Joes, Disney World, Target and one from Environsax (dream about owning more from them since they have so many gorgeous styles). Along the way, several have had to be retired from use, not being made as well as others, and being ruined from other uses. The reusable bags haul things to school, work for TechyDad, to Nana and Papa’s house when the boys stay there and other fun places near and far. No two bags are created equal and there are many different materials used to make them. We definitely have our favorites and know which do the best with frozen food, cans, boxed items or toys.
Of course, using reusable bags all the time does have a draw back or two. When you actually need a plastic bag for something, well it is often impossible to find one in our house. Those moments are few and far between, so we now keep a few plastic bags strategically located in our house. Of course, even the boys like the reusable bags. Check out the little guy playing with one the other day, and then resting by some on another shopping trip.
So my question to you this week:
Do you use reusable bags when you go shopping? If you use them, do you have a favorite brand/company? If you are not using them, is there a particular reason?
Please be sure to check out my Marcal Small Steps Products (great for Earth Month and beyond), National Geographic Little Kids, and Human Nature – Reach Out. Stay tuned because more will be coming next week.
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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the MckLinky there if you are participating.
Aloha #96
I have several reusable shopping bags, but I honestly seem to forget them almost every time I go shopping. I always feel so guilty about it. My favorite bags are from Trader Joe’s. They are cheap and always have fun prints and pictures on them instead of the store name (like target’s logo) plastered all over it. lol. I tend to use the reusable bags mostly for traveling and as a beach bag, too, especially the oversized Target bags. I am going to start using them more at stores. When I lived in Germany stores did not give you bags so, you had no choice!
.-= Roxanne D.´s last blog ..Aloha Friday =-.
We do use them. I have some of the little Chico bags clipped to my diaper bag so I always have something. I really love the ones sold by Trader Joes… sorry a West Coast specialty store. They are cute and hold up well.
.-= Owen’s Mom´s last blog ..UBP After Party! =-.
No I dont!:(
.-= twincerely,Olga´s last blog ..ALoHa FriDaY!!! =-.
We try to use them, but often forget to put them in our cars. I just like the kind with the hard plastic in the bottom. The ones that are like tote bags aren’t super useful!
.-= Becca´s last blog ..Aloha Friday #25 =-.
I have them but can’t remember to use them. That is sad.
.-= JamericanSpice´s last blog ..Let’s Ride! – Aloha Friday =-.
I use them sometimes but it is rare as I usually forget them at home or I forget I have them in the car.
.-= The Social Frog´s last blog ..Aloha Friday =-.
Yeah we always use reusable bags when we go shopping and to be honest this is just for one simple reason.. the plastic ones cost from 15 cents to 1 euro each.. so we always save money:) plus it helps the earth.. right?:)
Aloha!
.-= Niky @ Design It Chic´s last blog ..Aloha – Who’s the queen of….? =-.
I have several reusable shopping bags, and like you I use to always forget them. In the past I preferred plastic because I used them in bathroom trash cans, however I recently switched over to reusable bags only. My favorites are the ones from trader Joes.
.-= 3 Cuzins @ Cuzinlogic´s last blog ..Aloha Friday #11/Friday Follow #9 =-.
We leave them in both cars so that there are no excuses! Target is the worst about their bagging system – you could buy a toothbrush and a pack of gum and somehow walk out with three bags!
My preferred bag is the one that our church did – we did a nice logo with the website on it too. Now when we go places it’s almost like subliminal advertising. :o) (Hmm, when we are in another state that would be silly. Maybe I will have to give my bag to someone here!)
.-= RobMonroe´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday – Tightrope Walker =-.
I use quite a few. I think my best one is Envirosax. I like those because they are large but fold up to fit in a purse. I put the link to the post on these bags in my Auntie E name.
My Aloha Friday Link is here for you
.-= Auntie E´s last blog ..I’m Planting Trees While Blogging. =-.
There are brand name re-useable shopping bags?!
I just use whatever ones have been given to me for free or the green ones they sell for $1 at the checkout.
Unfortunately, I have started shopping online recently and the plastic bags are starting to mount up. I am going to look into the competition as I think they deliver in cardboard boxes that can be recycled.
My post for Aloha Friday is far more frivolous–you have shamed me! ;-)
CommentLuv is not pulling my most recent post so here it is: http://tropicalmum.blogspot.com/2010/04/its-aloha-friday-2-embarrassing-secret.html
I do use the reusable shopping bags – I at least remember to bring a small stack but sometimes I won’t have enough with me. My favorite are the insulated ones from our local grocery store because they’re roomy and ‘boxy’ so they travel well when packed. I’m not a big fan of the Target ones because you can’t fit much in them since they don’t have a square bottom, but I do have a couple of those, too.
.-= Stacy (the Random Cool Chick)´s last blog ..Aloha Friday Follow – Reducing the Clutter =-.
I use them on short trips, since I only have a few of them. Everytime I get one, I give it to someone else. I’ve been giving a lot of things away lately.
.-= Laufa´s last blog ..AF: Location and Uniquity =-.
I do try to use them regularly, but I’ll admit that I sometimes forget them at home. When I go to the commissary I don’t have enough bags. I have 5-6 reusables but come home with 20-25 bags. I do recycle the regular bags I use though. We drop them off at our Kroger to be recycled.
I shop at Sam’s Club where I get shipping boxes for my business for my items. I also use their freezer bags for my perishables.
Have a great Friday!
http://harrietandfriends.com/2010/04/when-is-bigger-better/
We like the bags, but I know what you mean they aren’t made to last forever. I like the boxes as well, but find them a little hard to lift.
.-= pam´s last blog ..Aloha! =-.
I have a fabric bag for life from Asda (Walmart), but if we do get any normal carrier bags come into the house, we recycle them
.-= Rach´s last blog ..Aloha Friday =-.
should use them more…I forget. :( I know… when I remember, I have some from Target that I love
I have some of them but don’t use because I forget to keep them in the mini van.
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Happy Friday and great weekend.
.-= Annie´s last blog ..Aloha Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =-.
I have 2 Sam’s Club insulated bags for frozen/cold food.
I also have an assortment of fabric bags I bought from different stores that I use for the rest of the stuff I buy. Last weekend I bought one of those tarp like bags from IKEA to use when I go there.
.-= Vicki´s last blog ..Book Tour & Review: The Bridegrooms =-.
I use them all the time. One of the grocery stores in my area gives me 5 cents off for every bag I use if I bring my own.
Of course we have reusable bags, I want that 5 cent discount at Albertsons. ;) However, sometimes I forget them in the truck and have to push the cart and kids all the way back to get them. We have 4-H walmart and Albertsons, quite the collection.
.-= killlashandra´s last blog ..The Porch Continues =-.
I have a few (the ones that they sell at the grocery store), but always forget to use them. I am also a bit leery on how sanitary they are….I don’t mind them for dry goods, but really don’t want my meat & veggies in them. The cloth harbors germs.
We have several that we keep in the car for shopping trips. No favorite brands though.
Yes we do. We have shopping bags in the trunk of each of our cars. I also carry one or two in my handbag.
.-= Simply Cathi´s last blog ..Aloha Friday – Men & Clothes =-.
I shop so little I just use what the grocery store gives me :) Have a great weekend :)
.-= Thom´s last blog ..Weekend Reflections – #31 =-.
I try to use them. I forget them easily as often as I remember them. :) I actually usually use the ones they sell at my grocery store. :)
.-= Upstatemomof3´s last blog ..My Trip =-.
We use them – Jon is better about remembering to bring them than I am, I’m pretty good when grocery shopping but it’s the quick trips to Target or something that I tend to forget them. If I don’t have a reusable bag and only have a few things I’ll usually fore go the bag – I can carry a package of Pull-Ups just fine without a bag. We do use plastic bags as trash can liners or return them to Wal-Mart to be recycled when we get too many. We only have a few different kinds – the ones we bought at Shop Rite, a JC Penney bag and one from Target that we got after mailing back used plastic Target bags. I love that one, it’s very unique looking and quite sturdy. We also have a handful of canvas bags from various places, I use those for library trips or when I need to bring things to keep Zach busy at Scouting events.
.-= Nancy´s last blog ..Review: Pretzel M&Ms =-.
I always forget to grab mine and bring them with I remember and then forget them in the house for the next trip.
I have one attached to my purse but most of the time If I just buy a few things I skip the bag
We have reusable bags, we got 1 from whole foods, then a pack from costco. We use ours all the time, the only time we don’t use them is when we forget to take them back out to the car.
Happy Aloha Friday!
.-= Deal Daddy´s last blog ..20×24 Online Poster Printing Wall Sticker Giveaway =-.
We have a bunch of them. I always forget them when I head to the store but love them for traveling or just stuffing some of the kids things in the them if they’re staying at the grandparents over night.
Those pictures are so funny and cute!
.-= Tired Mom Tésa´s last blog ..What Do You See? =-.
It looks like almost everyone is suffering from reusable bag amnesia! I used to until I found this great company called Bagnesia. They’ve got all kinds of reminders and eco-friendly shopping kits that they sell on their site http://www.grabyourbags.com. I got one of their reusable bag reminder kits and with the door hanger (for the house) and steering wheel wrap (for the car) that are included I never forget them anymore! Now I use all of the bags I’ve collected and the one they include with their kit (alot like envirosax’s bag) is really compact so I always carry that in my purse to use at the mall or the drug store.