We're totally on the reusable bag train. We've been championing it since... well, way before most of our friends jumped in on it, driven by their lust for the Anya Hindmarch bag. We've got small bags, big bags, cold bags, bags that fold up into tiny packages and bags we keep in the car. The problem is when we get up to the check-out counter and realize that we forgot our bag...
And then we have to sheepishly answer the most embarrassing question a Re-Nest writer can encounter: "So, will that be paper or plastic?"
So, in our quest to combat our bagnesia, we asked our friends what they'd recommend. Here are the tips we got:
- One friend bought a dozen of those bags that fold up and keeps one in each of her handbags and one in the car.
- Another friend has schooled her daughter to remind her to bring her reusable bag: "There's nothing like being admonished by a four year old at the top of their lungs in the middle of a crowded grocery story that you are a bad mommy for forgetting your bag to sear it into your brain."
- Another friend only buys what she can carry or fit into her admittedly large handbag.
- When faced with this dilemma, a fourth friend just made several trips to the car, carrying his purchases by hand. He's been dating one of the women who helped him out of this predicament.
- On our part, we've decided to order a bagnesia kit which contains a key chain lanyard, a steering wheel wrap and a door hanger reminder as well as a reusable bag, a cold bag, a carabiner clip and four produce bags.
What do you do to help you remember your reusable bags? Share your tips in the comments!
(Image of Baggu Bags via AT:NY)
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It is important that even the reusable bags are made of natural materials rather than synthetic...that will serve the purpose in the long run. I doubt if the resuable bags sold at walmart are made of eco friendy material (not just recycleable cos thats the easy way out which people who use plastic bags argue about),...cos i dint think so..I use bags made of jute which come in as compliments when my mom buys her sarees in india...:)..they come with a bamboo handle...but what i am worried about are the HDPE lining which come along in the inner walls of these bags
I've started using my bags instead of the hand basket at the grocery store. That way, if I have forgotten my bags, I realize it at the outset and can run back to the car to get them.
I've got there eventually; it's taken 18 months to put the new habit in place and finally remember each time!
I've made a You Tube vid of what we do; it's not rocket science by any means, but sometimes a visual reminder can be strong.
http://myzerowaste.com/2009/01/how-to-remember-your-reusable-shopping-bags/
On occasions we have forgotten, we have done as your fourth friend did and carried it by hand - there is nothing like pain and inconvenience to make you remember next time LOL!
And finally, my wonderful husband came up with this ingenious idea when we were caught out sans reusable bag:
http://myzerowaste.com/2008/07/shopping-without-reusable-bag/
I love your idea, m-j-s72; it's simple but effective!
MrsGreen--good idea! I don't think I'd get away with that last solution, though.
My bags (many Envirosax) live in the car, so if I forget to bring them into the store, it's just a dash back out to the parking lot.
We live in an area of the country that is big on plastic bags, and the unnecessary use of plastic bags. (Bagging gallons of milk? What the..?) I usually have to explain that I'm not trying to buy my reusable bag, and that it's not necessary to put my items in plastic bags, then put those bags in my reusable bag. The dread of that annoyance is usually enough to remind me that I need to bring my bags along.
That, and I try to keep a minimum of two bags in my purse at all times. I have several from Target which crumple into their own attached pouch, which I have found to be very convenient.
I am not sure how I have learned to remember. I think it started 5 or so years ago when we would bring our grocery bags back to the store to be recycled. Then my husband and I would just try to reuse the same few grocery bags we had until they fell apart. The habit of bringing back old grocery bags was fairly easy to then switch to just bringing my reusable cotton bags. Although, just in case, I do keep one of those little fold up ones in my purse at all times too. I also recently realized we were no longer getting weird looks for having our own bags. And we weren't the only ones in a regular (not whole foods) grocery store with reusable bags either!
I was really surprised a few weeks back that Target will "refund" $.05 for bringing in your own bag.... I used to get weird looks there for bringing in my own.
I do what the others do--I carry one in my purse, and I keep a few in the car. It's now just habit to grab the heap of bags before I head out the door.
When running to the close-by store, I use the bag we keep by the front door.
When going for a bigger shop, I use the bags we keep in my car. As long as I can see them I remember to bring them in. Until I started keeping them in the car I rarely remembered to bring the bags. The key is getting them BACK in the car. Once we unload the groceries, we hang the bags on the front door knob. The next time we leave the house, out go the bags.
I have one of these and keep it in my handbag so I always have a bag. http://www.rumebags.com/index.php
In Toronto, by law they have to charge you .05 for a plastic bag. Many of the other cities and communities close by have done the same. National retailers have also grabbed onto this motto and across Canada have to pay for a plastic bag.
Does it make me remember my reusable ones? yes it has. Does it make everyone remember? No, my MIL will pay .05 for every bag in her grocery order. Sometimes adding 5 dollars to the cost of her groceries.
I was also recently surprised at Target! It was very nice to hear.
I do try to keep bags in the trunk of my car and one in the big messenger bag I carry.
I do best at remembering bags for when I'm at the grocery store but worst when it's something like Target or the drug store when all of a sudden I have mroe than fits my hands. Typically I can shove it into my big bag, which helps.
I cycle everywhere so I notice when I'm leaving home if I've attached my panniers to my bike or not (because if I haven't, my handbag is on my shoulder, and you notice that on a bike!).
I'm still bad at remembering bags when I go out on foot/PT though, possibly worse in fact, because I'm so used to just having the panniers there. Usually I'm not buying much though, so it's not an issue - I just carry it all.
I still get weird looks for reusable bags/panniers in shops other than food ones though - for example buying clothes, knitting stuff, books - I'm always offered a bag, even when I've made it clear everything's going into the bag I have with me. Maybe they're worried my bag's dirty...?
@foodiegreenie: I get that all the time! I do have the dubious distinction of being one of the few people to bring reusable totes to the Pleasure Palace as well. Got some funny looks on the way home.
I live in Germany where it is definitely the norm to bring your own back - plastic ones cost money!
If I forget, I just grab an empty cardboard box from the produce department - they are almost always hanging around - or just ask. Then, load your groceries into the box and carry it home!
If you're there with your car, do what most Europeans with cars do: keep an empty cardboard box or a pretty basket in your trunk and wheel your cart directly to your car - with the groceries in the cart, without bags. Just load your groceries directly from the cart to the box in your trunk - and carry the box directly to your door at home! So easy! take our the "middleman" bag!
Another tip that most people follow here: shop more often, then there won't be too much to load and you won't need too many bags!
I also live in Germany (but I'm American) and here I ALWAYS have at least 2 bags in my purse at all times! But when I'm back in the states I tell them, 'no bags' and do as we do in Germany, like American Wolpertinger explained, put the groceries in the cart & bag them with the 10 bags I keep in the back of the car. Also, we have returnable plastic bottles here, so putting those in my bags helps me to remember to have extra bags with me if I'm doing a big shop. Doing smaller shops also helps - I don't buy more than will fit in the two bags I have in my purse!
HELP!!!!
I have been trying to use my reusable bags, but I tend to forget them, I must admit (I will try some of the advise given here though.) However there is one problem that has come up; I don't have anything to line my dustbin with, as I've always used the grocery bags for that. How have you guys solve that, what do you use?
great ideas - and small shopping is preferable in urban areas (in non-urban areas, frequent trips may mean more fuel wasted - negating your green efforts).
Question - for those who are non-veg -
what do you do when buying meats? is the one plastic bag a required sin (to avoid raw meat juice on vegetables!)? do you have a specific bag for meats that you always use for only meat?
And one more q - for those using bags that aren't easily thrown in the wash - how do you keep them clean? I'm thinking specifically of the heavy-duty plastic re-useables from shops such as IKEA, Pier 1 - great for things that might leak (berries or meats), but tough to easily keep clean without wiping with cleansers.
Thanks :)
I use the free bags I get from makeup counter purchases. much prettier than some and now I have a use for them other than going to the beach!
If you are looking for a truly green and sustainable reusable bag, try Project GreenBag. They are made from 100% organic cotton, biodegradable, and made in San Francisco California = green American jobs!
http://www.ProjectGreenBag.com
http://www.facebook.com/ProjectGreenBag
http://twitter.com/projectgreenbag