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Reusable Shopping Bags - Have You Seen Them In Your Neighborhood Stores?

How many times have your groceries been loaded into plastic bags, only to have the bag split and the jar of mayonnaise drop and break on the driveway? By the way, why is it always the mayonnaise that breaks? It's got to be the hardest thing to clean up...

Many of my favorite stores, at least in my area, are now offering an inexpensive alternative to the "Paper or Plastic" question.

Walgreens Holly Springs Resuable Shopping Bags

Resuable Shopping Bags

Walgreens was the first place I noticed resuable shopping bags for sale. I picked up enough for all my groceries - at $.99 each, they weren't a bad investment, and I figured it was the only way to stop all the plastic bags that fall out of my cupboard every time I open it. I hate to throw them away, so I save them... for something.

I stuck the bags into the door pocket of my car, and now every time I open the door, I'm reminded to take them in the store with me. By the way, I found the bags at the Apex Walgreens - ask for their terrific store manager, Tate Moorefield, if you can't find them!

Look at that sky - what a GORGEOUS winter day we're having here in beautiful Raleigh, NC!

Bonus Programs Offered by Retailers

Lowe's Foods was the second place I saw them, in the Holly Springs store. There's even a bonus - they'll give you 50 greenpoints for every bag you bring in and reuse. But you may have to remind the cashier, seems like they're early in the training process.

My local store has gone from a small mention of bags to multiple displays at every register. There's no signs, but I'm told they all cost $1.00.

I'm sure there's a lot of savings to the retailers for less use of paper and plastic - after all, these bags are big, they're strong, and no double bagging is necessary.

Resuable Shopping Bags Costco Walgreens Raleigh NC

Can I get that SuperSized?

Now my friend has just come back from the North Raleigh Costco and brought back a gigantic resuable bag! This one has a more "tent-like" feel to the material, but appears strong enough to hold at least some Costco size items. And at only $1.00 for this bag, it's a deal. Just might need to watch the weight limits a little.

The bag on the right is from Walgreens.

If you've seen reusable shopping bags anywhere else, can you share the cost and the quality, as well as any "bonus" programs for using bags, like the Greenpoints program at Lowe's?

I wonder how long it will be before these types bags are used as promotional or fundraiser awareness items...

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Posted by Stanton Homes - Penny Hull New Home Builders - Raleigh NC Area on 01/31/2008 09:35 AM

Comments (24)

Shopping in the Regional (Localism) Channel

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24 Comments on Reusable Shopping Bags - Have You Seen Them In Your Neighborhood Stores?

JAN

2008

Penny, I have 12 of them, one I purchased in the late 70s at a grocery store in Virginia. Back then was the birth of the environmental movement. Its taken 30 long years for people to "get the picture". However, even though the bags are cheap and found everywhere, I never see anyone other than myself using them )-: What will it take to get people to wake up in this country? All over Europe, if you shop in a store you pay for the plastic bag or bring your own.

Just got them in our local Albertson's TODAY.

FEB

2008

Penny-

I got my first reusable bag at Ikea - you know, the huge blue one that's just like the huge yellow one you can use it the store. Now that's a touch cookie! I keep that one in my trunk.

Mesh Organic Cotton Bag My darling hubby bought me 5 of these beauties (though he's since commandeered one for himself).

Now we enjoy taking these to the grocery store! I've noticed several other stores selling bags, too. Trader Joe's has some really cute Hawaiian-themed ones.

~Emily

The San Diego Real Estate Expert

Hi Penny, the only place I've seen them in our area is at the Aldi's for .10 a piece. Hopefully they will be in our area soon. They are such a great idea.

Penny, I've seen them in my area a bit, though haven't used them myself. Maybe I should. Way too many plastic bags used around this place, though we do re-use them constantly.

Penny...Wednesday I was in the doctor's office and picked up a copy of Living. It showed how to make a reusable shopping bag with a tee shirt.

You just sew the bottom closed, take a big mixing bowl and place half of it on the shirt at the neckline (boy, I hope that makes sense) using a pencil draw the half circle and cut it out. Cut off the sleeves and you have two handles.

I'm no Martha Stewart so I'm sure if I did it, it wouldn't look anything like "hers." Of course the one in the magazine had a big red heart and I Love New York on it.

Cheers,

Kathleen

Penny -They have been our area for a few years now the quality varies so you have to watch which one you buy. Some of our stores are beginning to offer very small incentives when you use your own bag (it does not have to be theirs)

I have used them for awhile now, we've gotten ours at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, they even have the ones that are great for frozen items.

I'm thinking that they might be a great marketing tool to have some printed with your logo and contact information-they are reuseable so my name would be seen over and over and associated with a good cause.

Thanks for the idea!

Danielle - Maybe someone can let us know if they have a good source for printing!

Kathy - I've seen some that a very small, or that are made out of fabric but aren't washable. It's great to know about incentives, as it's something most of us don't notice. Which stores are offering something back for reuse?

Kathleen - One of my hobbies is sewing. I've worked with t-shirt material before, and I can just picture those bag handles STRETCHING! But it's an interesting idea.

Peggy - Wow, $.10 at Aldi's. The cheapest I've seen them is $.99. They must be banking on lower bagging costs.

Penny...Shame on Martha. I'm not a sewer and so have never worked with that fabric but I realize you are right. The only time the t-shirts don't stretch is when I wear them!

Cheers,

Kathleen

FEB

2008

I have seen them in many stores for a while now. I finally bought some to the Costco ones as they seem sturdy. I gave one to my mom and the other two are in the back of my minivan. I may see if I can move them to my door as you suggested as I seem to forget them. I may have to find some that are a little smaller for shopping at a regular grocery store. I have yet to hear of incentives offered by stores around here (in Spokane, WA). You'd think that some of the stores would give them away since it is free advertising for them (they all seem to have their names on them with a logo).

FEB

2008

I actually remembered to use mine at Costco today. What a difference it made too! It was so easy to carry everything in from the car and no big box to recycle!

FEB

2008

Libby - I lived in Spokane for about 5 years, so I know you're probably shopping at Safeway, Albertsons, Rosaseur's, or Yoke's! I do miss the snow, as Spokane really gets the perfect amount. Not too much to drive in, but plenty to enjoy.

I hope more of the grocery stores start offering incentives to draw attention to these bags - even if it's a "frequent shopper" award, maybe bring your own bag five times, then you get $2.00 off your order?

You are right Penny! I usually shop at Yoke's, Safeway or Fed Meyer. As for snow, usually it is the right amount. Last week we got about 2 feet and it shut the schools down (even the ones in town)! We are back to normal though.

I think they are great, but a MAJOR deterring factor (especially for people that don't have the extra dough) is the amount of money they charge for them here!

For $10 you can get this reusable bag... SO many people don't have that extra 10 bucks.... now... if they offered a free reusable bag with every $100 purchase??? they would probably catch on a bit more

FEB

2008

Sara - Wow, $10!! You can get 10 bags here for that amount. Maybe we should ship some up to you? You could pay $1 and sell them for $2, make some money on the deal, and undercut the competition by 80%! Better yet, sounds like you've got a great area to test the idea of bags with your name and logo on them, since you won't have any bag competition!

We have them at our local supermarkets, as well as Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. I haven't used a plastic bags in months.

MAY

2008

Many US groceries carry the .99 cent totes but they don't offer the typical shopper any "convenience" other than the consumer's desire to "go green" and eliminate another guilt trip in our cluttered minds. Personally I disliked having to carry 8 mini-totes with me every time I go shopping... So last year I founded a company to market a tote that is functional first....and "green" as a side benefit.

This tote is expandable and clips onto the shopping cart to load the goods. The best part is that all you need are 2 of them, which fit perfect in the cart; $100.00 worth of food in 2 bags!!! They have a folding flat bottom so on the drive home they don't fall over...and once home...1 trip to the kitchen...I also market a beverage/wine bag which is great for wine or soda bottles and heavy cans. (Holds up to (6) 1.5 liter bottles).

They are made from polypropylene because it is safe for food, unlike the canvas/cloth bags can harbor mold and mildew and food borne bacteria. They wipe clean and drip dry if food spills in them, making them more eco-friendly than a bag made out of cloth or canvas which has to be washed month after month to keep it bacteria free.

Read the testimonials on my web-page and you can tell the consumer response to the product...they are real people excited about a simple tote...because it has made their shopping experience better.

I am dedicated to introduce more products to the line, such as wheeled totes for the elderly and urban shoppers, as well as insulated totes to transport frozen foods...all with the same functionality as my eco-totz product.

Winning the war on plastic bag pollution means delivering a functional product first...and oh by the way that has green benefits....

Take a look at www.eco-totz.com and please contact me with any suggestions or comments.

Hi Penny,

Most of the grocery stores and pharmacy stores around here offer them. They vary in size, quality, material, etc, however they're all an excellent value. Shopper's Drug Mart has huge ones that are extremely sturdy with double handles. The ones at the Independent stores are smaller, however a very attractive design and of a cloth material. Then there are the standard canvas ones offered at various grociery stores...they last forever.

I don't always remember to bring mine back down to my car after each use...something I'll have to get in the habit of doing.

MAY

2008

Jo - Now that these bags are widely available, it's remembering to bring them with me that is the big battle!

One of our local grocery store was giving away the reusable bags a few weeks ago. Very nice, much strudier than th e plactic ones.

Reusable bags are in the grocery stores here, even mainstream ones. I do not see too many others using them, but more than we saw five years ago. We have used them for years. I have about 18 canvas bags of various sizes these days. I pefer the ones with long handles because I am a shoulder carrier, but the small ones with short handles can be handy too.

My new love is cotton mesh produce bags. They are so nice for bagging together apples, onions or whatnot in the produce section.

MAY

2008

Bartley - Good to hear of someplace giving them away! I also think it's great to get points for using them.

Brenda - You're right, the cotton mesh are great for produce. They are the hardest to find though.

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