Monday December 1st, 2008
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The Reusable Bag Gets an Eco-Makeover
Posted by Siel on October 7, 2008 - 12:07pm.
>> Sheryl Crow's designed a reusable tote bag for Whole Foods! The bags (right), made from 80% post-consumer plastic bottles, will go on sale Oct. 15 for just 79 or 99 cents each, depending on the size.
>> Of course, reusable bags aren't actually green unless you, you know, reuse them! If you've got all the reusable bags you need, don't take new ones even if they're being given away free. Stick with what you've got for the best enviro results: "If each bag is used multiple times -- at least once a week -- four or five reusable bags can replace 520 plastic bags a year, says Nick Sterling, research director at Natural Capitalism Solutions, a nonprofit focused on corporate sustainability issues."
>> Still need more bags? Make your own tote -- from reclaimed fabric! Threadbanger shows you how via this cute instructional video:
>> Got too many reusable bags already? Turn totes into messenger bags! On Flickr, duganj provides a photo-illustrated guide for this DIY project.
Photo courtesy of Whole Foods
Every store I walk into these days sells their own brands' re-usable bags...(at least in NYC), and you still see a lot of plastic flowing out of the store...
Makes you have to ask, are we really helping? or are we just producing more waste? (i.e. those re-usable bags hanging there in the store that will just get thrown out, if they are not sold...)
Have any of these co's released impact reports showing the results of introducing re-usables is working to reduce their waste? and that less trash is going into the landfill?
I am actually really interested to know...I'm not looking to harp, or tear an effort apart, just interested.
I use my re-usable's, but I am sad to say when I go to the store...I am one of only a handful of customers doing the same (and I know us "bag-toters" are making a difference).