Creating another sustainable habit!
Reusable bags.
For Trader Joes runs.
For Target runs.
For everything and anything runs.
And here are some compelling reasons why:
The average family accumulates 60 plastic bags in only four trips to the grocery store.
It’s estimated that worldwide plastic bag consumption falls between 500 billion and 1 trillion bags annually.
That breaks down to almost 1 million every minute.
One MILLION.
EVERY minute.
Only 0.5% to 3% of all those bags wind up recycled.
A single plastic bag can take up to 1,000 years to degrade and remain toxic even after they break down.
1,000 years!
Not sure about y’all, but I’m just not alright with draping this planet in plastic.
Solution:
Reduce and eventually eliminate use of single-use plastic bags.
Gone. Goodbye. Out of my life.
There are a gazillion products in the world, however, that come wrapped in plastic bags; more on how I’ve been working to solve that problem by creating another sustainable habit in a future post.
For now, we’re talking those filmy plastic bags typically used for carrying out goods from the store to the car; from the car to the home.
I have reusable totes that I carry around as often as I can, but it hasn’t yet become a habit to keep them easily accessible, at all times. When I forget them……….. And when feasible, I’ll shove purchases into my oversized purse (after paying of course!) to avoid walking out of an establishment with a paper or plastic bag full of guilt and my tail between my legs. But sometimes huge jugs of rice milk and boxes of Barbara’s (gotta love cereal for dinner) just don’t fit in the hobo-style over the shoulder purse.
But enough is enough. No more half a**ing the reusable bag use. I’ve got to make this a consistent habit.
I’m off to an alright start; I have two sturdy, reusable bags that serve their purpose each time I think far enough ahead to grab them before walking out the door.
Problem is, sometimes I forget them. And they’re a little stiff which makes keeping one in my purse pretty much impossible.
So here’s the action plan:
You see that bag above? The greenish-white one from Traders? The one that costs a whopping $0.99?
I’ve got two of them and they’re both going and staying in the trunk of my car.
Will be purchasing two more this week to add to my stash. Maybe in a different design to mix it up a bit. This will hopefully solve the problem of bringing bags into the house and forgetting to bring them back out which creates the ultimate problem; finding myself on an impulse shopping trip without bags and too much food to fit in my purse.
However. If I find myself without a car, without any of my four bags and in need of a carrying apparatus, I’ll be purchasing at least one of these bad boys:
The reuseit™ Bluesign Workhorse - it folds into its own mini-sack attached inside the bag. Once stuffed into its pouch, it measures only 4" x 3" x 2," easily fitting into the palm of your hand and small enough to stash in a purse or pocket. Weighing in at only 1.5 ounces, these lightweights perform like champs. Each bag opens into a heavy-duty, water- and mildew-resistant 19"x 16" x 6" sack and holds up to 25 lbs. With this Workhorse, you may never have to take a plastic shopping bag again.
That’s right! Never again.
Taking on the challenge with me? Live in the Ventura, California area and want to combine orders? Get a few Workhorses on the same ticket? Message me a.s.a.p.
Not ready for the challenge? Hold on to those plastic bags then.
Yes, all of them. Upcoming post will share some responsible, eco-friendly ways to be rid of them.
