Say NO to plastic bags

JayneC

I always reuse my carrier bags until they fall apart!! Raises some eyebrows when i use tesco carriers in morrisons or vice versa!! Staff always shuffle uncomfortably when i give them a big bag of my own carriers for them to pack!! Some have ignored me and used new bags anyway so now i take a child and they unpack trolley while i pack bags! Also if i acculmalate a stockpile, charity shops and small local shops will often reuse old carriers so take them there.

starlite_2

Saisburys used to give you 2p for every carrier you reused..
when we were students my housemates used theirs until they were falling apart..lol

oh..and when i do have carriers (i.e buying things and don't have a big bag with me) i give them to our local greengrocer who is always happy for them..she asks all her customers to bring them in.

but apparantly some people will be horrified and demand a 'proper' bag when she gives them their fruit in a a tesco/ sainsburys etc bag...

noodlebutty

Sorry to lower the tone but I currently use old plasitc bads a poo bags when out with the dogs...does anyone use a more enviro friendly alternative?

There are plenty of small bags that would normally go straight in the bin, that come in handy for this. When I had a dog I used to keep the small plastic bags you get loaves of bread in, bags from some plastic wrapped fruit produce and various other food items, catalogue bags etc. My sister in law also used to give me all her old bread bags for this as well.

willow_girl

I make sure I now use a reusable bag. I recently bought one from Ikea. They class it as a beach bag (unfortunately it it plastic) but it holds a huge amount. I am looking for a pretty cotton one to use everyday as a handbag/shopping bag that isn't too big but will hold some items if needed, anyone know of any?

gromituk

I guess it's a sad testament to our throw-away culture that shopping bags are so hard to find!

Hermia

willow_girl wrote:

I make sure I now use a reusable bag. I recently bought one from Ikea. They class it as a beach bag (unfortunately it it plastic) but it holds a huge amount. I am looking for a pretty cotton one to use everyday as a handbag/shopping bag that isn't too big but will hold some items if needed, anyone know of any?

I am a bit wary of cotton bags as this is a rainy country! I used to use one, but ended up with everything in my bag being ruined when the heaven's opened on my way home from work! Even the money in my purse was wet! I have bought a couple of plastic bags which will last for absolutely ages as they are very strong. The National Trust have a good range of fold-up bags in their shops.

Katgoddess

I work in a supermarket petrol station have now started asking customers if they *need* a bag rather than would they like one. It does annoy me when people want a bag for some chewing gum and cigarettes.

I have a collection of bags for life that I keep in my car boot as I often go to Lidls. I don't think it would be good for a member of staff to use Waitrose and M&S bags when I'm shopping after my shift in uniform in a working class supermarket. :rotfl:

There is a link here to a thread on O/S about string bags. I'm thinking of getting one.

I brought 2x tote style bags from Wilkinsons the other day for 70p but I don't think they are very strong. They were reduced.

Trying_really_hard

I wholeheartedly agree with this thread!! :beer:

Having lived in Germany for some time I got used to paying for bags (the fabric ones) and using them until they fell apart.

Therefore, I still shop and Lidl and Aldi therefore getting the benefit of the nice German food that I got so used to, saving money on said food and, best of all, saving the planet (even if in only a tiny way). :cool:

1sttimer_2

Not quite the same topic, but I bought some items in Lush today and they gave me a paper bag (don't know if it is made from recyled paper or not) and they stamp a smiley face on it and if you re-use the bag and have it stamped each time (4 times on the size of bag I got) you get something (not sure what) but at least they are trying.

skipton

Zziggi wrote:

Does anyone know where you can get those 'cloth' bags from? When i lived in germany i had a whole supply of these and used them when i came back to the UK. However they have all worn out and been chucked after several years of use and i am now, reluctantly, back onto carriers. The only one I have was one given to me by the health visitor with some books at DS's 7 month health check. Can anyone point me in the direction of getting some more cloth bags please?

I get mine from trade shows (usually from German companys) but my mum said her local health food shop now sells cloth bags. I got my first cloth bag from The Body Shop but I haven't seen them there for ages.