Get Hip, Get Green, and Bring Your Own Bag

polypropolene(?)

Polypropylene and PET, both plastic made from oil. I'm trying to stay away from plastic bags.

I've had a bag made from this material for 2-3 years, and it is as worn out as the canvas bag I have been using for 9 years.

It seems like replacing recyclable plastic bags with designer recyclable plastic bags isn't really moving forward. But better than land fill.

Still waiting for hemp totes large enough for a trip to the market.

I use a big bag I got in Vietnam made of plastic strapping used for wrapping around shipping boxes. Everyone in Vietnam uses them, they are on the backs of most motorbikes. I love mine!

Here is a link to a similar one:

http://www.abundantyarn.com/shopping/knittingbags/index.php?id=14

>>We can't think of anything less chic than trashing the environment. Or toting a disposable plastic bag, for that matter.

That's the problem with all this "green chic." You are giving up common sense for "looking" the part.

What are you doing with all those plastic bags that you already have? Throwing them into a landfill because you are afraid to look unhip? Please! If you've got plastic bags already, REUSE them!

DON'T buy new bags made from oil, no matter how much longer they last than disposable plastic bags. EVERYTHING is disposable over time.

Read my rant about this very topic:
http://www.fakeplasticfish.com/2007/08/be-careful-on-reusable-bags-bandwagon.html .

I have been a supporter of many Ecological as well as animal groups that give canvas bags away as a gift for sponsorship.
I have enough to not need plastic bags. I also buy those @ stores that boost thier marketing w/ their logos on the bags.
I also have a motto that if I do not bring in a bag & I purchase a small few items I can carry w/o a bag I refuse it. The look on the cashiers faces is interesting--I refuse a plastic bag!! They are shocked. The other thing is to educate cashiers on listening--I place my canvas bags first on the conveyor, telling them put all my items in my bags. I have ot watch as they mindlessly go for their plastic many times.
As an artist, I also have bags from my many different projects--try the ones there as they are blank--decorate it to spread your own message.
If you want a canvas bag, then buy one that will last longterm or make one. Not that hard. & there is some hemp material out there, just have to really look for it.

Funny but now that I use reusable grocery bags, I have to buy garbages bags to replace the cheapo plastic bags I used in our garbage can.

is that any greener ?

I just started using reusable tote bags for my groceries and other shopping trips. You can get some great reusable bags at http://www.Rejavanate.com . Not only do they eliminate the waste caused by plastic and paper bags but they are made from recycled burlap coffee bags, keeping tons of burlap waste out of our landfills AND the manufacturing process provides employment for individuals with developmental disabilities !!!! It’s a Win, Win, Win !!!

Thanks Ben, those burlap coffee bags are cool.

I find it takes a lot of effort to keep the grocers from instantly putting things in a plastic bag, as Dragonmyst was saying. It's practically a race to tell them not to before it happens. And the worst is when they take my single item out of the plastic bag, and then throw the bag away!!!!!!!!

And like Smog (above), grocery bags were my source for trash bags. I've adapted by composting my food waste, maximizing my local recycling program and not buying a lot of packaging. What's left goes into the bags that the grocers inevitably give me when I am not paying attention.

No one said revolutions were easy.

Cant we get bags made in the USA or at least not in china were they have slave labor and no environmental standards
I would like a bag made in the North America region or Europe were its not a communist country made from 100% recycled post consumer pet plastic. Is that hard I would be willing to pay more to reasonable price of coure

China bag $1.00
USA bag $ 2.00
I would buy the USA one reasonable price

I know this is a really old post, but just in case anyone was wondering where to recycle their polypropylene bags:

I spoke to my local waste management company and they told me to place used polypropylene bags into the recycle bins at my local grocery store. Hm. Who knew?

The thing that is bugging me now is...what happens when more places ban "standard" plastic bags? Those recycle bins will go away...and now we're left with non-woven polypropylene (and nylon...ugh. nylon!) bags filling our landfills 10 years later. Postponing the problem is...a problem.

I encourage the use of bags made out of natural, bio-degradable materials: cotton, jute, wool (yarn) that can be cut apart and placed in a compost bin when worn out.

(I also happen to make sets of bags out of recycled and reclaimed fabrics available at tote2go.com)

You can't live without reusable bags anymore. I like being able to show my individuality with my Green Chic Bag Company resuable bags. Once you have a great bag, you find many ways to utilize it. Bye bye plastic!

http://www.GreenChicBagCo.com