I am thrilled to see so many people bringing reusable bags into the grocery store these days. It really is so uplifting to know that people finally recognize the wasteful nature of plastic grocery store bags. According data released by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, somewhere between 500 billion and a trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year. I’m happy to say that my family makes every effort not to contribute to that staggering statistic. While my collection of reusable bags is mismatched and a bit tattered, it serves me well and has unexpectedly become a fun collection of souvenirs – one bag is from my mom when she dropped off dinner, one from my favorite neighborhood produce spot, one from a fun grocery store in my husband’s home state of Connecticut…
While bringing in your own bags to the grocery store is great and should be applauded, its time to start bringing your own bags into EVERY store EVERY time you shop. I always keep a stash of reusable bags in the trunk of our car and in the basket of our stroller. Whether I’m buying clothes at J Crew, stocking up on necessities at Target, or picking up a few books from Barnes & Noble, I never use a bag from any store.
Perhaps it won’t be long until all stores start charging for bags. I wonder if a fee as low as 10 cents per bag would be enough to entice shoppers to think ahead and bring their own?
Homemade Mothering is a movement that aims to simplify life and foster self-reliance while being kinder to our families and the planet. Its about encouraging people to get back to the basics when it comes to mothering and homekeeping. 
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We could not agree more… At ConservingNow, we are committed to providing future generations with a healthy environment. We have a very large and active community and the comment we hear most often is that people forget their reusable bags. So we have created a FREE car window static cling to remind individuals to use their own bags for all their shopping trips. Your readers can get theirs at http://www.conservingnow.com. Keep up the good work!!
Great idea! Anything that helps people remember their bags is a GOOD thing!!
Hey Maureen,
Congrats on the birth of little Mack….enjoy your family time. I just wanted to say that in the last two months I've really committed myself to keeping my reusables in the car (yes, mine are a varied assortment, too, but I like that). I'm finding a few less grumpy looks from store clerks when I tell them to use my bags….progress, no doubt! Keep up the anti-plastic bag crusade…I think we're getting somewhere.
Donna, I agree that we are finally getting somewhere with cutting out plastic bags. It is now "cool" to carry reusables!
Hi Maureen,
Just wanted to post that I've started to give gifts in reusable bags instead of traditional gift bags….they have gotten great reviews! A great way to spread the reusable idea.
Donna, I LOVE LOVE LOVE that idea! Gift bags drive me nuts – not only are they wasteful, but they're expensive, too!