Reusable bags have taken the world by storm. They are not a new concept at all, but their use was few and far between until the last few years. This increase of reusable bag usage is great – for the most part.

First, some information on single-use plastic bags to encourage you to make the switch:

1. In America, we use approximately 100 billion plastic bags a year, which requires 12 million barrels of oil to manufacture.
2. Also in America, the average person uses 365 plastic bags a year.
3. It takes the same amount of oil to produce 14 plastic bags as it does for a car to drive one mile.
4. About 87% of plastic bags go unrecycled.
5. It takes 1,000 years for a plastic bag to degrade, but they don’t break down completely. They simply become micro-plastics that leach into the environment and release toxins, which then make their way to you.

Source for the above facts: biologicaldiversity.org

Overall, switching to reusable bags is a definite plus for the environment, and I encourage each and every one of you to do it if you haven’t already. However, the saying “too much of a good thing” comes into play here. Many companies have started making reusable bags with their brand smacked on them for marketing purposes, then they give them out to people for free. The biggest problems with that are this: these bags are generally cheaply made, therefore, don’t last long, AND we are producing way too many reusable bags, which kind of defeats the purpose.

My recommendation is this: find yourself some sustainably made, eco-friendly reusable bags that are able to be recycled at the end of their lifespan (because many are not). Also make sure that they are durable, so they will last you a long time. Get the amount of bags you think you need (they usually hold much more than plastic bags, and I personally think 4 is a good number), then don’t buy any more until those need replaced.

Next time someone offers you a free bag? Say NO. Why? Because you have 4 very nice bags already, and you don’t need their el-cheapo branded bags.

Another plus side to using reusable bags aside from peace of mind? Sometimes they even save you money. Next time you are checking out at the grocery store, ask them if they provide a discount for bringing in your own bags. You’d be surprised how many say yes!

One of the biggest arguments I hear against reusable bags is that people often forget them at home. There really isn’t much I can say to help you with this issue. You just need to try harder to be conscious about NOT doing that. My routine is this: when I get back from the grocery store, I put my groceries away, put all my bags inside one bag, then hang the bag on the door handle. Then the next time I leave to go to my vehicle, I see the bags and take them out to my car with me – even if I am not going somewhere that I will be needing them. This way, I always have them in my car and handy for whenever I do need them.

Another argument is that they are unsanitary because of things like meat juice leaking into the bags. First of all, ew. Second, just wash them. Always put things that may contaminate your bag in onto one single bag, then wash it when you get home. Problem solved.

Some of my favorite bags are linked here to get you started. They are from the brand ECOBAGS, and they make shopping bags, lunch bags, produce bags, etc.

Pointer: If you know someone who doesn’t have any reusable bags, they make great gifts. For their next birthday or holiday, put their gifts inside of one of these bags instead of a gift bag. Zero waste AND you are helping encourage them to make the switch, but in a subtle manner.