Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Your Own Big Blue Bag of Dreams



Maybe you’ve seen the sticker on the frame of some hipster’s fixed-wheel bicycle. PLASTIC BAGS BLOW. Well it’s true. They do blow. Hard. They also suck. I don’t care what the American Chemistry Council says (even if their token-effort recycling site is kind of awesome and you should visit it—grudgingly). Heck, the whole darn city of San Francisco has banned the baggies. The problem is that plastic bags are so ingrained into American retail culture that it’s hard to avoid taking a plastic bag even if you try. I’m not even going to blame cashiers who stuff my pack of gum into a giant bag after I politely decline the sack. I usually don’t have the heart to ask twice. Working a register is a hard, boring job that pays very little. I’ve done that sort of work and it turned me into a zombie for entire 8-hour stretches.

There is hope. Slowly but surely, companies are figuring out that they can save money by encouraging customers to bring their own bags rather than supplying endless millions of them every year. Every grocery store in my area now sells reusable bags at the checkout lines. 99% of shoppers ignore the eco-bags, but it’s a start.

Here’s my tip: bring your own bag to the store! But not just any bag. Bring a whompin’ big blue IKEA bag. Here’s why:

• They cost a mere 59 cents
• Your 59 cents will be donated to American Forests (at least for now)
• These bags are huge and indestructible. If you have the guns, you can haul an entire load of groceries in ONE BAG. If you don’t have the guns, use two bags.
• Other customers will look at you in wonder as the cashier effortlessly fills your giant bag
• Bags can also be used for laundry
• Because I said so

On the downside, you’ll have to make a trip in a car to IKEA. Maybe that’s your thing. I’m not one to judge. Also, you may have doggies and need the bags for poop patrol. Maybe there's another solution? I’ll look into it.

What’s your favorite reusable shopping bag? Eh? Eh?

San Fran Bans Plastic Bags
IKEA Starts Charging for Baggies
IKEA's environmental stance
Reusable Bags

6 comments:

Jasmine Phillips said...

This summer, the hot bag for fashionistas was a cheap ($5 to $10, I think) reusable bag with "I'm Not a Plastic Bag" written on it. Say what you will about people jumping on the bandwagon for style not substance, but I'm all for items / activities that get people to start being greener. Besides, these bags sold out so fast that there was a huge market for other reusable bags, such as ones saying "I'm Not a Smug Twat."

Roger said...

You can easily ride your bike to IKEA to buy the bags. I do it all the time. They even have two bike racks.
If you can't ride your bike 10 miles, maybe its time to do an evaluation of your life. In the future physical fitness will create the divide between the have's and the have-not's, as transportation prices increase. Those who are not able to transport themselves are going to be spending most of their money on transportation. It will become standard for these people to live in their cars, and bathe in the rivers that they have polluted, making it impossible for them to hold down a high-paying job.
What I am saying is, we may as well start riding our bikes everywhere now.

Anonymous said...

The bags are also great for collecting yard waste, which you can then compost, and then you can use the compost to fertilize all the beneficial plants you are growing. Ahh, the circle of life (or something quite like it).

Smedelicious said...

Fine me an alternative for plastic bags to package kitty poop and pee and I will use it.

Oh, and I bought a insulated trader joe's grocery bag for $1.99. Beat that!

Anonymous said...

Nice post as for me. I'd like to read a bit more about that matter.
By the way check the design I've made myself A level escort

Natural Viagra said...

Great site! Good job!