Re-think Reusables

The word is getting out about the fact that we as Earth citizens (you Martians are totally exempt) need to gather together to consider how we are consuming up our planet at a rapid pace.  If you think about how all those little trips to Starbucks or the Sprinkles cupcake shop can add up and take a toll on your wallet and your thighs, you know that every little thing each of us can do to clean up around this world can--and will--make a difference.

Since we weren't created with more than two arms to carry things (I envy you, Henry the Octopus), bags are a necessity for anything from regular grocery shopping to the impulse buys we make throughout the week. Every time we shop, we come home with yet another plastic bag made of petroleum that will never go away (biodegrade) and will likely end up killing marine life somehow, somewhere.  I wish I was being over dramatic or making this stuff up, but I'm not that slick.  The stats don't lie:  it is estimated that there are 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags consumed and discarded annually worldwide--that's over 1 million per minute.  Yes, it's that bad.  What's worse, 96% of these bags end up in landfills where they will never, ever go away since they're made of petroleum.  That same petroleum kills off birds and sea mammals who mistaken the shiny, slippery pieces of doom for food.  If you think you're helping out by saying "paper" instead of "plastic", think again.  It actually takes more energy and creates more pollution to manufacture the paper bags.  Let's not discuss the loss of the magnificent trees, because this is beginning to be a sad and scary pile-on.  All in the name of convenience.

Thankfully, there are plenty of companies out there providing other options for bags, and we're able to reuse to our every mood swing and daily whim. We've reviewed a couple brands before, and now we've tried out a few more that have also obtained the Mama Speaks seal of approval.  For the bag you'll want to keep in your purse for those impromptu shopping trips or when a friend wants to hand over a bunch of apples or some clothes for the kids, Reisenthel is a great choice.  Their Mini Maxi L [$10] shopper looks like a nylon/polyester version of your typical plastic grocery bag, but bigger.  It easily rolls up into a tiny carrying case for keeping in your purse or diaper bag.  It also comes in eleventy-thousand colors, so any taste and style can find a home with these bags. 

Next up is Skeeda [$15], whose cotton, sturdy bags are that perfect shape for the farmers market or any larger shopping trip.  They are wide, just-right-deep, and light as can be.  A great item to stash in your car, and unless your purse is tiny, they'll fit in there too.  Skeeda carries plenty of preppy and funky colors, so take a gander at all the options. 

Lastly we come to Get Hip Get Green.  Their flat bottom style is perfect for groceries, and at a price you can't beat [$6], and more you buy the more you save, it's my go-to bag for those big shopping days when I'm tempted to forego the reusables just on account of ALL THE FOOD.  A portion of their sales goes towards a charity helping to educate kids on going green and cleaning up the planet, so you get much more for you money than just a rockin' bag. The hardest part in reusables is remembering to take them with you, so making a habit of keeping one in your purse, and your grocery ones in your trunk is the best way to make this lifestyle change.  It might be an investment at first, but you can use these bags for much more than shopping--think about bringing things to parties, going to the beach (if only!) or when traveling.  Getting a cute bag AND helping the planet is a combo we can all get behind.   

Want it?
$5 off an order of two or more bags with the coupon code MAMA at Skeeda.

-Arianne