What is/are alternatives to using plastic bags from shopping centres?

Question

What is/are alternatives to using plastic bags from shopping centres?

Answer 1

The reuseable bags are an option, but Costco and some other warehouse type stores, like Smart and Final, reuses the cardboard boxes the product originally came in.

Answer 2

you can use bags made from synthetic fabric which are reusable..

Answer 3

I live in Minnesota and most of the grocery stores here offer cloth bags as an alternitive otherwise go online and look for cloth grocery bags

Answer 4

Take your own bags.  I am in Dallas/Ft. Worth, and most of the stores here sale cloth bags for about a dollar.  These will generally have the store name on them.  Also regular tote bags will work fine.  You can even buy plain canvas ones at craft stores.

I am not sure what people are doing were you are at, but the take your own bag thing is slowly but surely taking on here.

I am slightly obsessed with taking my own bags.  I have quite a collection of them from the grocery stores, and a couple of nicer tote bags that I take if I am buying something besides groceries.  I try to have one folded up inside my purse, because if I forget my bags, then I just carry it.

I have to catch the cashiers before they put stuff in the plastic bags, but they are usually pretty cool about it.  If they are not, then that is their problem.

One tip - If you are at the grocery store and have a lot of stuff, try to get your bags out and ready while you are waiting in line.  This seems to make everything go faster and will help to prevent those behind you in line from being annoyed, so hopefully they will be encouraged to start bringing their own bags too.

Answer 5

I use tote bags-- often i find fun ones on vacations, also check out your local health food store mine has many alternatives. Also boxes and backpacks are also good alternatives.

Answer 6

what i do is I'll bring the cart out to my car then in my trunk i always have two big empty cardboard boxes that i always put my stuff in them.so when i get home i bring them inside put my groceries away then bring the boxes back to the car.

another way is to get a tote bag(s) and bring them in with you then when you are checking out just pay put them in the tote bag(s) and hop in the car and go home.

Answer 7

In lieu of non-biodegradable plastic bags, you can use simple or fancy jute bags or bags made from newsprint, both of which are biodegradable and eco-friendly unlike plastic. which has to be incinerated and causes more pollution.

We are supplying both (jute & newsprint bags) successfully.

Eco-jute: Strong & beautiful for the Beautiful & the Strong - Back to nature.

Answer 8

I take my reusable grocery bags.  My grocer sells them.  I have also bought some plain canvas ones from the craft stores.  I got a chico bag as a gift.  They fit into a little pouch attached to the bag and then I can keep a couple in my purse.

Answer 9

You can use tote bags or any sort of cloth bags which will usually work.  That's the best way to go green.  Or if you don't want to use that, I'm sure you can use boxes..although if you use them, don't dispose of them..or you might dispose of them so don't use them since they're made out of cardboard paper.

Answer 10

personally i use cardboard boxes, they are available at the end of most uk checkouts, they are handy alternatives when you get them home to plastic boxes for storing stuff in the loft. best of all when they get tatty you throw them out with your recycled paper...

Answer 11

Big pockets.

Or you could just eat the food you buy there, out in the parking lot.  Better yet, why not just live in a (recycled) cardboard box behind the shopping center and just buy what you need each day, that way you wouldn't have to have any bags at all.

Answer 12

Canvas bags, other cloth bags (most stores are offering these now for around $1), or even just reusing paper and plastic bags from a previous visit. And most of the stores I have been to are giving a 5-10 cent refund for each bag you bring with you.