Plastic Bag Replacements

I know. The Amazon is burning and hurricanes are happening, so do plastic bags still matter?

I had the same thought when I started to write this, but I think the most powerful thing we can do in the face of large-scale disasters is look at our own daily lives and ask what we can do to help.

So, I’m writing about my favorite reusable shopping bags. Not specifically helpful for the Amazon but certainly for the oceans.

I’ve had these two bags – Envirosax (left) and ChicoBag (right) – in regular use for four years now. They go with me to the grocery store, the farmer’s market, and whenever I’m out running any sort of errands. After all those years of use, I can see just a few small holes and some abrasions on the bottoms of them. The seams are in good shape.

They each carry roughly 40 pounds, come in a variety of colors and patterns, and fold up small enough to easily fit in my purse. I’ve had some grocery clerks comment on how great they are because they hold so much. I’ve had other grocery clerks (and shoppers) comment on how pretty they are.

They’re functional, they look good, and they’re helping me keep plastic out of our waterways. Multiple wins.

Which one is better? I don’t know and here’s why…

ChicoBags are more convenient – they have an attached stuff sack which makes them very easy to store. Envirosax requires me to take the time to fold the bag and snap it closed, which means it often doesn’t get folded.

Envirosax are more fashion-y – their patterns and colors are more stylish than ChicoBags. They also stay relatively pressed looking, because you fold rather than stuff them.

I couldn’t choose four years ago, and I still can’t. That’s why I own one of each.

Here are the links again – ChicoBag and Envirosax