BYO Shopping Bag
by Bonnie Alter, London 
on 08.22.06
One of life's little annoyances: getting to the supermarket and discovering that, once again, you have forgotten to bring a bag for the groceries. More plastic bags destroying the environment... but here are two convenient--and eco-friendly--compact solutions. The Onya (as in, having one "onya") bag is so small that it can be attached to a key ring. It is made of parachute nylon, comes in 12 colours and holds about 14 quarts of goods. Another handy shopping bag is the Oneless bag with a pocket that allows it to be tucked away neatly. It is strong, light and easy to carry around. As an extra plus it is made of recycled saris so it comes in bright pinks and yellows--combining good design and ethical values. This bag is from the first edition of “Sustainable London”, a directory of more than 50 small companies working with materials or ingredients that are either recycled, organic, fairly traded or environmentally kind. Since the creators are all involved in the production and design of clothing, accessories, furniture, stationery and foods, it is a veritable goldmine of stylish and responsible goods. :: Sustainable London
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I'm a big fan of Chico Bags. They cram into a tiny little bag, so I always carry one with me.
I've been using plastic bags from supermarkets as trash bags for years (and as a result, have never actually bought trash bags...).
But lately I've been wondering, lots of places recommend using a tote in place of these baggies, but is there a more sustainable (and still inexpensive) way to line my trashcans then?
Use biodegradable plastic bags for your trash.
Imagine that if it takes 1000 years for a plastic bag to biodegrade, what must your rubbish look like inside it? There may well be new lifeforms! Can you imagine what happens to a nappy that has been thrown away in a plastic bag? I shudder to think...
Biodegradable plastic bags are available in most health/organic food stores and online.
Many supermarkets now have drop bins just inside the front door for recycling plastic bags.
My favourite back-up option if I happen not to have my own bags when venturing into the store is to grab some bags from the bin on my way in. Make sure to check them out when loading up to avoid big holes or anything nasty (*run-on alert*: I have never found anything nasty in a bag yet, but I don't know whose bags these were, and it is best to be sure they are clean enough for my food, which is sometimes painfully overpackaged anyway and would be unharmed if submerged in a vat of sewage).
If you want a really tiny reusable bag check these out
Granite gear Air Bag