Nowadays, when shoppers enter most large grocery stores, they will find canvas bags for sale, generally near the front of the store and usually going for around $2. We've known for a long time that plastic bags are bad for the environment, but are the frequent sightings of these bags for sale due to the stores trying to be more "green" or are they just trying to get shoppers to buy something else?
In some countries, it makes sense to bring your own canvas bag into the store because some places charge their customers for the bags that their groceries get put into-even the cheap plastic ones. In countries like Ireland, who has put a customer tax on the plastic bags themselves, it's cheaper to take your own bag than to rely on the ones at the store.
Yet, other countries tend to be less dependent on their vehicles than we are in the United States so you find more people walking to their grocery stores or riding their bikes. Fewer groceries are actually bought at one time, although more frequent trips to the market are made.
In the United States, with our abundance of large vehicles and long distances, shoppers tend to visit the grocery store just a couple of times per month and buy large quantities at once. For this kind of shopping, is it practical to use canvas bags when one shopping trip alone can garner more than a dozen of the plastic bags?
Yet, we still know that canvas is better for the environment. Some cities in the United States are now making laws to try to curb our plastic habit. San Francisco recently passed a law making it illegal for large grocery stores to use plastic bags. As an alternative, they offer biodegradable paper bags. Boston is also considering doing this, although some customers allege that doing this causes a new kind of problem with the environment-the cutting down of trees.
However, most customers who have switched to the canvas bags report that they feel good about themselves. They feel as though they are doing their own part in helping the environment.
Even though many plastic bags end up clogging drains, piled in the landfill, and flying helter-skelter through the streets during a gusty day, some people have found other ways to use the bags, even though less than 3% are recycled. You can always use them to line small garbage cans instead of buying a large box of garbage bags or use them to line cat littler boxes.
Some shoppers argue that plastic bags aren't as sturdy as canvas bags are the poor quality makes them awkward to use. It takes more plastic bags than canvas bags to hold groceries since plastic has to be doubled for heavy items and can rip on box edges. Canvas tends to hold more weight.
Although paper bags were used in the past, they were often cumbersome and awkward since they didn't have handles and customers could rarely carry more than one at a time. The canvas bags, at least, have handles like the plastic bags do, allowing customers to sling a few over their arms.
If shoppers don't wish to buy a canvas bag at the store, there is also the option to buy one somewhere else and take it to the store on shopping trips. There are many websites that sell canvas grocery bags, and some can be personalized.
If you shop around, you can find canvas bags that have shoulder straps, as well as handles, making them easier to carry if you are walking a longer distance.
Although it does make more environmental sense to use the canvas bag instead of resorting to the plastic bags, it also takes a little more work on the customer. Instead of making large purchases at the store, it might be helpful to go a couple of times a week and purchase fewer groceries at one time. Or, to just buy quite a few canvas bags.
On the upside, although the canvas bags run around $2 per bag, they do generally last a while. If used correctly, they should last the average shopper around six months. Some are even made from recycled material for those who are environmentally conscious and can be washed several times.
At the moment, it's up the customer as to whether or not they want to use the plastic bags or purchase canvas. However, if laws continue to be passed making it illegal to use plastic, it might not be a choice for much longer. In that case, it might be a good idea to go ahead and switch to the canvas bags now.
In some countries, it makes sense to bring your own canvas bag into the store because some places charge their customers for the bags that their groceries get put into-even the cheap plastic ones. In countries like Ireland, who has put a customer tax on the plastic bags themselves, it's cheaper to take your own bag than to rely on the ones at the store.
Yet, other countries tend to be less dependent on their vehicles than we are in the United States so you find more people walking to their grocery stores or riding their bikes. Fewer groceries are actually bought at one time, although more frequent trips to the market are made.
In the United States, with our abundance of large vehicles and long distances, shoppers tend to visit the grocery store just a couple of times per month and buy large quantities at once. For this kind of shopping, is it practical to use canvas bags when one shopping trip alone can garner more than a dozen of the plastic bags?
Yet, we still know that canvas is better for the environment. Some cities in the United States are now making laws to try to curb our plastic habit. San Francisco recently passed a law making it illegal for large grocery stores to use plastic bags. As an alternative, they offer biodegradable paper bags. Boston is also considering doing this, although some customers allege that doing this causes a new kind of problem with the environment-the cutting down of trees.
However, most customers who have switched to the canvas bags report that they feel good about themselves. They feel as though they are doing their own part in helping the environment.
Even though many plastic bags end up clogging drains, piled in the landfill, and flying helter-skelter through the streets during a gusty day, some people have found other ways to use the bags, even though less than 3% are recycled. You can always use them to line small garbage cans instead of buying a large box of garbage bags or use them to line cat littler boxes.
Some shoppers argue that plastic bags aren't as sturdy as canvas bags are the poor quality makes them awkward to use. It takes more plastic bags than canvas bags to hold groceries since plastic has to be doubled for heavy items and can rip on box edges. Canvas tends to hold more weight.
Although paper bags were used in the past, they were often cumbersome and awkward since they didn't have handles and customers could rarely carry more than one at a time. The canvas bags, at least, have handles like the plastic bags do, allowing customers to sling a few over their arms.
If shoppers don't wish to buy a canvas bag at the store, there is also the option to buy one somewhere else and take it to the store on shopping trips. There are many websites that sell canvas grocery bags, and some can be personalized.
If you shop around, you can find canvas bags that have shoulder straps, as well as handles, making them easier to carry if you are walking a longer distance.
Although it does make more environmental sense to use the canvas bag instead of resorting to the plastic bags, it also takes a little more work on the customer. Instead of making large purchases at the store, it might be helpful to go a couple of times a week and purchase fewer groceries at one time. Or, to just buy quite a few canvas bags.
On the upside, although the canvas bags run around $2 per bag, they do generally last a while. If used correctly, they should last the average shopper around six months. Some are even made from recycled material for those who are environmentally conscious and can be washed several times.
At the moment, it's up the customer as to whether or not they want to use the plastic bags or purchase canvas. However, if laws continue to be passed making it illegal to use plastic, it might not be a choice for much longer. In that case, it might be a good idea to go ahead and switch to the canvas bags now.
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