Are You Ready to Make the Switch?
Just about anywhere you do your grocery shopping, there’s a good chance that your visit will end with this question: paper or plastic? Many retailers today are working to change this. The costs of using one plastic bag may not seem high: at their cheapest, they only cost about a nickel a piece. However, when you consider the fact that more than a trillion bags are used worldwide in one year, the price paid by retailers is huge. The costs don’t end there, of course. In just the United States, 12 million barrels of oil are used each year to manufacture the bags. After being used once, about 100 billion plastic sacks are thrown away.
If the costs of creating the bags aren’t enough to discourage you from using them, then maybe the realization of their impact on the environment will. One scientific estimate puts 46,000 pieces of plastic in every square mile of ocean. These bags wind up on beaches all over the world and lead to the deaths of sea turtles, fish, and other marine animals. About 70% of the plastic bags making their way to the ocean will ultimately sink to the ocean floor. These bags photodegrade, so they won’t degrade at the bottom of the sea. Fortunately, there is a simple and cost-effective solution that both retailers and consumers find attractive. Take a look at the following infographic for more information about making the switch to reusable shopping bags.
31 Comments
Richard Hicks
I have not started using the reuseables yet. I might start using them in the coming months.
Miles Imhoff
I’ve been reusing plastic bags for things like small garbage can liners. Plastic grocery store bags are so versatile for reuse, I think if I were to make the switch, it would only be partial.
God bless,
Miles
Angelica
I always use reusable bags and a cooler bag for all of our cold stuff. I live near Seattle where they charge for bags and got in the habit real quick! Before I got used to bringing my own bags I’d walk out of the store with an armload of groceries so I didn’t have to pay for a bag. Lol!
Aimee Robison
This is a great post. I always use reusable bags when I shop. I have to be honest, I have quite a collection of them, lol. My favourite one was sent to me from my pen pal in India.
colleen long
I have to admit I usually use plastic bags, but after reading this I am definitely going to switch to a reusable bag.
Sandra Watts
We are using more of our own bags lately. I think it is a good idea and every little bit helps toward saving our planet.
Stacy
I have been using reusable bags for years. I don’t think a plastic bag has entered by house in at least five years. And as for lining wastebaskets, the collection we had already amassed before we switched is STILL providing us with enough to use in our home. And to think we are a two person household that had that many bags!
Tracy Robertson
Mixed feelings about it. Where I am in California, we have to pay a quarter a bag. I used reusable totes most of the time long before we were charged, and I believe in conservation, but I sure miss being able to get the occasional plastic bag to use for a wastebasket liner, for carrying books in the rain, and packing shoes in my suitcase. I wish everyone paid a nickel nationwide instead of some areas getting off free while we overpay if we really need a bag.
Laurie P
We always use our reusable bags…..and when ours get worn out a little, our local grocery store will replace them for free! Love that!
Nikolina
What a great article Connie, I really enjoyed reading!!
janetfaye
I keep reuseable bags in my purse and tote and I use them for shopping.
Sandy Cain
Very imformative. But I do use plastic bags for my groceries. But we have what amounts to now as a plastic bag collection, and they get re-used, over and over. We use them for trach bags, to empty the vaccum into…everything. No plastic bag is wasted or used only once here. (Saves money, too!)
Sandy Cain
Make that TRASH not trach. Although eventually I’ll end up with with a trach, we’ll find a way to use the plastic bags for that, too!
Maureen
I use the reusable bags when I can.
Shannon
I actually use the reusable bags almost all of the time and recycle the plastic ones that I do get back to the store. I even make my own bags as well from plastic bird feed bags and cat food bags.
Jeffrey
Wow! The information about the bags is really interesting. I have never read about it in such a detailed informed way.
David Fultner
I have been winning using totes that are great for shopping.
Nancy
It is easy to use re-usable bags for your shopping. We just keep them in the car so they are always available.
Elaine Buonsante
We switched to reusable bags some years ago and keep them in the trunk of our car so they are always handy.
Marnie G (Derrick Todd)
We’ve switched to reusable bags. I’m very pleased that we made that transition. Bags account for such a HUGE waste. The only time I ask for plastic bags is when I’m going to use them for a project or something.
Huguette E.
I must make a better effort to use the reusable bags. Plastic is just the norm here.
Robin Abrams
I carry and use cloth bags when I shop anywhere. I have been doing this for 2 years now.
Rosie
I have made a switch, and I notice when you go to whole foods they give you a 5 cent discount for having your own green bag.
Sarah L
I’ve been using reusable bags for many years. I love my Chico bags and always have two in my car.
Debbie F
Yay!!! I wish everyone would switch – I hate to see when animals are harmed by plastic everywhere.
I’ve been using cloth re-useable bags for at least a few years now.
They’re easier to carry in the house – fewer trips.
Cynthia C
I need to make more of an effort. I carry bags with me in my car trunk and always forget to take them into the store 🙁
Pamela Gurganus
I really enjoyed reading this post. It’s very informative and the infographic is great! We always use reusable bags when doing any kind of shopping.
Tamra Phelps
I know we definitely need to start using reusable bags, & I have several. The one issue I see is that for those of us who do most of our grocery shopping for the month all at once, that demands quite a few bags. Reusable bags, if you need 10 or 12 or more, can get pricey. I look for opportunities to get free ones (groceries & environmental organizations often give them out during promotions.) Over time, you can collect enough to do your BIG shopping, lol.
Laura
I really need to start using reusable bags! Even with the plastic ones, our family always makes a point to use them multiple times and then repurpose them.
Sherrie C.
I live near an Oceanside town that has banned the use of plastic bags altogether for this very reason. It’s kept roadside litter down and it’s been really good for the environment.
KATE SARSFIELD
Here in Ireland we’ve had to pay for single-use bags for about 10 years – it just makes sense. It cuts down on enviromental waste & something I’ve noticed is that the amount of roadside litter has practically disappeared. So all good!