Paper, Plastic Or Reusable? | Eco Friendly Homemaking

I know that you have probably been to the store and been asked ” Paper or Plastic”

. I was reading an article on the Hands On website that said despite it’s “natural” image paper is the worst industrial contributor to air, water and land pollution. It also messes with climate change and is among the largest consumers of water, energy and of course forest fiber. Every hour the U.S. uses 1.14 million brown paper supermarket bags!

Plastic is dangerous to our planet. It is a synthetic toxic killer that is everywhere. It should be eliminated entirely. ( I have a very enlightened post coming up about plastic that I think most people will be very surprised about ) Every 5 seconds 60,000 plastic bags are used in the U.S. and what is even worse they are not biodegradable!!

Just recently I came across http://greenbaglady.blogspot.com/ I was so impressed with what she is doing and was so excited to find out that she is also from here in Nashville. She is an associate professor at Belmont college and she started making reusable bags to give to people in 2008.

She uses donated material to make the bags and gives them away free if you promise to use them instead of paper or plastic. How cool is that?? When this video was made she had given away over 16,000 worldwide but as of July 1, 2012 the number of bags given away is over 21,000!! The video only takes a couple of minutes to watch and I think you will be blessed by seeing it. Also if you click on the link to her website she offers free patterns to make the bags as well as a video showing how to sew them.. Is that not awesome?

I started making our bags about six years ago. They are so easy and hold so much more than paper or plastic.

All of this

Fit into here

Then folded down to this! Fits so neatly in your purse or car.

I have also made some from coffee bags that my husband picked up for me at the docks in the Bay area of San Francisco.

Are you a paper, plastic or a reusable bag kind of person?

Don’t forget to check out all of our all natural organic chemical free products which includes our new mineral make-up, blushers/ bronzers and eye shadows at Eco Natural or at any of the 100 retail locations here in the Nashville / Middle Tennessee area that sell our products.

http://www.foodgal.com/ Carolyn Jung

I’m all of the above. I bring canvas bags to the supermarkets and farmers markets, but still use the plastic bags for the produce. And I still covet the occasional brown paper bag because they come in handy for so many uses. ;)
Janebalexander

Definitely a re-usable bag person here! We have several fabric bags purchased in Germany when on holiday about 15 years ago, some from France where supermarkets stopped giving out bags and only sell you a reusable one some years back and some little nylon fabric ones which are small enough to pop in a pocket just in case. Maybe nylon isn’t that green but I have had mine for years and years so saving many hundreds of plastic ones.
http://www.cafefashionista.com/ Cafe Fashionista

I love how stylish reusable bags have become. The different prints, textures, and colors they’re available in nowadays makes them so much more appealing! :)
Mary Jo at Trustyourstyle

I love reusable totes and carry them everywhere.

xo Mary Jo
Cottage and Broome

I use reusables most of the time, need to get better about doing it all the time. But I walk the grocery store in the summer. I save on gas and get exercise, another way to help the environment.. Thanks for sharing and stopping by, Laura
http://LannaeLong.blogspot.com/ Lannae

I have one of her bags from 5 years ago or so. I actually never take paper… I won’t reuse them. I do try to bring my own bag most times, and well, I use plastic for pet poo. Ya know it is a Nashville ordinance to scoop poop, and plastic bags seems like a better idea than using my bare hands.
Shelia

Hi Alicia! I do try to use reusables too. I continue to buy the reusables at my grocery store so I’ll have a good amount.
Thanks so much for popping in to see me and I hope you’re doing well.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Karen Brown

Please delete. Thank you.
Out On The Prairie

I use reusable bags, the others are such a waste of time. Many times stores are asking if you want a bag with small purchases and I always thank them.
http://cherylbarker.blogspot.com/ Cheryl Barker

I hate to admit it, but I haven’t started using reusable bags yet. I once had heard that it might not be the cleanest/safest thing to do with certain food items, but I see another commenter mentioned using plastic for produce. That might be a good solution!
Thesummerporch

Hi Alicia ~~ Your posts are always so informative and a great reminder to recycle. I love your bags you made they look great. I do use recycle bags. Must look out for the future of our children.
hugs Rosemary…xoxo
Debra Ann Elliott

Thanks for stopping by.
Skye Copeland

I didn’t realize that there were “negatives” to paper. I’m a reusable bag person…except when I forget them! I am horrible about that sometimes. If I don’t have my bags then I go paper because I reuse them around the house. What do you think about the areas that are banning plastic bags? I know a lot of people don’t like it, but I’m kind of a fan. If you’re forced to purchase bags (paper) or bring your own then I think that you’re more likely to remember.
http://adaanddarcy.blogspot.com/ Kellie Collis

What a lovely project! I’d go for reusable whether it’s made of mesh, plastic or paper. Have a fabulous weekend, Kellie xx
http://www.makinen.fr/susa/wordpress/ Be Inspired! – Susu

That coffee bag bag… so chic!
Lavender dreams

We carry reusable bags everywhere we go! I posted about a summer survival kit I put together and your insect repellent is in it….of course! Stop by when you can! Hugs!
Jordan@the2seasons

I do my best to remember to bring my reusable bags. When I forget I usually have a purse big enough to put some things in it. This is a great project the green bag lady is doing.
http://myjourneywithcandida.blogspot.com/ Terrylee5151

I like the reusable, but I have to admit. Sometimes I take the plastic bags.
http://mischievouskitty.blogspot.com/ Stephanie

Reusable, all the way! My husband and I switched to canvas bags about 5 years ago and have been using the same 5-6 bags ever since. Although once in awhile we will leave the canvas at home and use the plastic bags. They’re the perfect size for the bathroom garbage can, or for tossing the dirty bedding from the rodent cages. So I guess that’s the “reuse” part of “reduce, reuse, recycle”! ;-)