In 2009, consumers made an average of 2.1 trips to the supermarket every week, says the Food Marketing Institute. That’s 109 shopping trips per year. If every shopping trip resulted in four disposable plastic or paper grocery bags, that would equate to 436 grocery bags needing disposal or recycling per person every year.
Keep in mind that the 2010 U.S. census reported there are 308.7 million people living in the United States. That’s a lot of grocery bags.
There are numerous benefits to using reusable grocery bags. Here, I’ve broken those benefits down into unselfish benefits and acceptably selfish benefits.
Unselfish Benefits
One of the biggest unselfish benefits for using reusable grocery bags is that a reduction in the use of disposable grocery bags could result in a dramatic reduction in the nation’s overall oil consumption.
Grocery bag manufacturers typically use oil as a base for plastic grocery bags, in addition to using energy to create those bags. According to the Department of Energy, 83% of the energy used in the United States comes from fossil fuels, much of which are imported from other countries. That means using disposable grocery bags is adding to our nation’s fossil fuel dependence.
Another unselfish benefit to using reusable grocery bags is that we’ll use less landfill space and less energy for recycling. While it is always better to recycle whenever possible, it is even better to not use products that need to be disposed of in the first place. By using reusable grocery bags, you can save hundreds of bags from having to be transported and disposed of.
There are at least two acceptably selfish benefits to using reusable grocery bags. The first is that many stores offer a cash incentive for bringing your own bag. One store I frequent gives me five cents back for every reusable grocery bag I bring in. Another lets me enter into a monthly drawing for a $100 gift card every time I bring in a reusable grocery bag.
The second acceptably selfish benefit is that it might save you money in the long run. Disposable grocery bags cost money, a cost which stores pass on to customers. By bringing your own reusable grocery bags, you’re helping the store save money and you just may be rewarded with lower prices in the future.
What to Look For in a Reusable Grocery Bag
Not every reusable grocery bag is created equal. Some use more energy to create than even one hundred disposable grocery bags. When looking for a reusable grocery bag, try to buy organic cotton bags. Polyester bags use more plastic to make than the bags you’d probably be replacing. Another benefit to organic cotton is that it helps keep chemicals away from your food, in the form of pesticides and chemicals that often leech from plastic and polyester materials.
Look for a reusable grocery bag that appears to be strong and sturdy. You’ll want the bag to last a long time. That said, reusable grocery bags tend to get dirty after a while. Buy bags that are machine washable and wash your reusable grocery bags at least once a month to help protect yourself and your family from illness.
One other thing to look for in a reusable grocery bag is its nation of origin. Try to buy reusable grocery bags manufactured in the United States. Energy must be used to transport goods across national and state lines, so always try to buy local products to help reduce the nation’s energy usage.
Other Considerations
If you are considering purchasing reusable grocery bags from a local retailer, I would discourage purchasing bags that have any kind of advertising on them. If a store wants you to be a walking billboard for them, while also saving them overhead costs, they should give you the bag for free.
If you decide to stick with ordinary grocery bags, try to use paper instead of plastic. Paper is a somewhat-renewable resource, bio-degradable if left outdoors, and doesn’t cause quite as many problems as plastic bags do.
Whether you choose to save the world or just save yourself some money, consider using reusable grocery bags.
For expert tips on how to make your grocery shopping easier than ever, read the article Smart Grocery Shopping.
