Comments on: Reusable Shopping Bags – Not So Eco-Friendly

By: Charlotte

Charlotte — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:35:08 +0000

I agree that it could be more eco friendly to make the bags out of other materials, but my family uses the Meijer bags, they were a dollar to buy, and we use them almost EVERY SINGLE time we go, except for spur of the moment shopping stops that we may have not thought about and left the bags at home, but those usually only use one bag. Being a mother of 3 is no excuse. My mom is a mother of three and uses them everytime, the plastic/woven/polyprothene material has not gotten gross, dirty, contaminated, or whatever. They have definitely reduced our waste and they have yet to break down or show wear and we have had these for 2 years, mind you our grocery bill was always easily 300-400, and thats a lot of wear and tear on those bags. The quality has proved to be the savior.

By: Morgan

Morgan — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:32:57 +0000

to the person who wrote this posting, do u burn your trash or do you have a disposal company pick it up from your house and throw it in a dump?

By: Kelsey

Kelsey — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 19:09:45 +0000

Spend a few extra dollars and get yourself a ChicoBag rePETe (www.chicobag.com). It is made of recycled PET, is durable, and won’t need to be replaced for many years. Even better, the company has a repurposing program for worn out reusable bags so none of them end up in the landfill. The poor quality knock off’s they’re selling at WalMart and Target might as well be disposable…

By: Kathy Green

Kathy Green — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:43:29 +0000

What good does it do to “look” green by carrying around a reusable bag when the truth is that bag is not good for the environment. I believe we need to be good stewards of what God has given us and not worry at all what other people think about us.

By: Robby

Robby — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:34:06 +0000

The cleaner environment is a part to the myth of reusable bags. For the most part they are made in China from crude oil derivatives, and under non-EPA controlled conditions at best, and then they are loaded in containers and shipped across the Pacific. They are not recyclable in any practical sense of the word. The carbon footprint, pollution, raw materials, energy, and security of US produced PE (Polyethylene Plastic) bags is literally a fraction of the NWPP (non woven Polypropylene) reusable bags, plus the PE bags being one-use bags do not harbor bacteria.

The issue that most people dwell on is not the science, but the aesthetics. That is where a social change is necessary to recycle. We are getting much better at it. We believe that retailers should offer both plastic and paper, but encourage the recycling side. That is the lasting solution and it closes the cycle.

I am not one to promote government intervention, but in this case a deposit on plastic bags may actually help the recycling movement. At least it is something to think about and is working in many other countries.

Robby Meadows
Nashville Wraps

By: Ms. Reusable Bag

Ms. Reusable Bag — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:12:25 +0000

Despite the material used in some of these reusable bags, are they not better than plastic bags? Perhaps it’s not what they’re made of but, what reusable bags stand for, a cleaner environment.

By: Donna Ritchie

Donna Ritchie — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:42:40 +0000

I was ahead of my time. Ten years ago I purchased bags to carry my food items home. I was proud to do my part to save the earth. The baggers at the store were always surprised that I had my own bags. Now, once again, I startle the baggers by NOT having my own bags, giving it up when I became a Mom and demands on my time became greater. I pump my gas, invest my money for retirement, get my drinks at many fast food counters, and am happy to let the stores provide plastic bags which I do recycle.

By: Bear

Bear — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:00:21 +0000

We use cloth shopping bags and throw them in the washer with the towels. No fuss, no muss.

By: Buffie Baril

Buffie Baril — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:06:41 +0000

Dennis makes an excellent point as does the video about reusable shopping bags. As a mother of 3, I do not have time to wash multiple reusable bags and keep up with what food products go in which bag for fear of contamination. I certainly want to be eco-friendly but like most moms, I have to be practical too. The bans and fees being assessed for using plastic bags in some communities totally misses the point for the environmental movement. The biggest problem is not the shopping bags, but all the packaging that comes with the products we buy and the fact that many local communities still do not have organized recycling programs. In addition, the fast food industry is not being targeted even though they cause an enormous negative environmental impact because of the food packaging thrown away or littered. In the meantime, I will continue to use plastic shopping bags and simply recycle them. Convenient, eco-friendly and no health risks.

By: Robby

Robby — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:26:16 +0000

There is an ongoing debate now concerning these reusable totes. Some of the points are that they harbor bacteria when used multiple times. Also there is concern they are difficult to recycle because of lack of infrastructure at recycling centers. Oh, and they are “plastic”, the typical ones are made from polypropylene. What we feel is the real solution requires social reprogramming and it may be the next generation before it becomes the norm, but it is recycling the lowly plastic grocery style bags. These bags have the lowest carbon footprint, are easily recycled without loss of strength and use low energy. The bags can be made to degrade with additives. And even if the bags are not recycled, the resins are made from natural gas byproducts here in the USA. See Recycled and degradable Plastic Bags – Eco Retail Bags at http://www.nashvillewraps.com/ShowType.ww?Class=030

Robby Meadows
Nashville Wraps