It's time to rag that plastic bag!
Most of us recycle and reuse our disposable bags. Some of us have cloth bags we have bought to replace them. Unfortunately, we frequently forget them when we return home. We are used to going to the grocery store barehanded and returning with non-essential plastic bags full of essential items.
It’s a hard habit to break.
A few small changes to your surroundings can make a big difference. Maybe a drawer here, a closet there, or even a trunk for the bags!
Remember your reusable bags when you go on your next trip to get groceries by following these simple steps -
- Keep a bundle of eco-friendly tote bags in the trunk of your car or scooter. Even if you leave in a hurry and forget to carry bags, you’ll have a backup in the trunk of your vehicle.
- Make a nook at the entrance of your home, preferably near the door. It could be a simple drawer, or storage bin, and keep a bundle of your most loved reusable bags in it. This way you’ll always remember to dig inside the nook and carry a reusable bag when going out shopping.
Be the sustainable legend you were meant to be!
Reduce, reuse, and recycle
Psst! There’s one more small thing you can do to reduce your use of single-use plastic. Save the bags you fill up with rice, veggies, and other weighable items when you’re at the grocery store. Instead of throwing them away or reusing them for trash keep a small bundle of them in your reusable grocery bags. Remove the price and product stickers or mark them out when you come back home.
Next time you’re at the grocer, no need to pull out a fresh bag of plastic to fill up with rice and veggies. Just use the ones you have saved up!
Plastics are non-biodegradable items and take at least 1000 years to break down. A small change in your grocery shopping habits could save a fraction of plastic trash from ending up in landfills. Our goal is to reduce our personal use of plastic as much as possible.
Sustainable living at its finest!
The future is green
Did you know that one reusable bag is equal to 22,000 single-use bags over one person’s lifetime? The benefits of using cloth bags far outweigh the convenience of their paper and plastic counterparts.
Cotton is a renewable and biodegradable resource and hence better for the environment. A bag made from cotton can be reused time and time again. They are durable, and machine washable. They can also save money, and reduce waste.
Their convenience lends them dependability. While cotton totes may cost more than paper or plastic, their reusability makes up for it.
Paper bag production on the other hand is a devastation of nature. Producing paper bags consumes 10% more energy, four times more water, and causes fourteen times more water pollution than manufacturing conventional polythene bags.
The environmental impact of cotton and plastic bags
Plastic was once considered a great human invention because it did not require any naturally occurring material to be created. It was believed that it would help protect the environment and the animals in it.
But today, polythene is manufactured using another finite natural resource - petrol. The process of manufacturing plastic leads to the emission of a high amount of greenhouse gases. 3.4% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, to be exact. And we all know how devastating plastic has been to animal and aquatic life.
Couple that with the piles of plastic gathering in landfills and oceans. About 91% of plastic either ends up in our oceans or landfills instead of being recycled. And experts think that this year alone we will consume about 5 trillion bags.
That’s 5 followed by TWELVE zeroes!
On the other hand, natural and recycled cotton contributes more towards preserving our environment. Since bags made of cotton are resourced from a renewable source, their impact on global warming will be far lesser than that of synthetic materials.
Did you know that it takes only 170 uses for a bag made of cotton to make up for its environmental impact during manufacturing?
Looks like you are carrying the weight of the future in that tote bag of yours.
Make It Last!
Coming back from a grocery trip sure is exhausting. Walking aisle after aisle picking up fruits, veggies, and home essentials. By the end, you are all knackered - but before you retire to the comfort of your couch, quickly empty the bag to prevent mould and mildew from building up.
Even better, hang it up to dry in a cool, dry place when not in use to prevent wear and tear. After a couple of trips to the grocery, shopping for essentials, and more, wash the bag with warm water and mild detergent This will help keep it clean and hygienic.
Cotton is still a natural material and has its drawbacks. If taken care of properly, you can use it past the point of expectation.
Durability is the Middle Name of Cotton bags
Cotton is a durable and breathable material. So, you won't need to worry about your bags breaking and spilling your shopping haul across the street!
At Beco we have durable and eco-friendly Cotton Tote Bags crafted from 100% natural cotton. It doesn’t tear or rip easily, so your groceries stay safe and secure!
Benefits of Using Reusable Cotton Bags
Making the switch to reusable grocery bags can have many benefits.
First, it can save you money. Reusable bags are usually more expensive than plastic or paper bags but last considerably longer. Not as long as a vampire, but long enough to last you at least a quarter of your lifetime.
Second, using reusable grocery bags can help reduce waste. Plastic and paper bags are not recyclable and end up in landfills, where they can take up to 1000 years to decompose. Cotton grocery bags, on the other hand, are reusable and can be recycled. This means less waste in our landfills and oceans.
Third, using reusable grocery bags can help reduce your carbon footprint. Plastic and paper bags are made from non-renewable resources, which means they require more energy to produce. Cotton grocery bags, however, are made from renewable resources and require less energy to produce. This means they have a much lower carbon footprint than plastic or paper bags.
Finally, cotton grocery bags are usually made by small businesses, so your purchase helps support local businesses.
Supporting dreams and stimulating an economy...way to go!
With the right reusable bag, you can go green and save money at the same time.
So why not switch to eco-friendly cloth bags today?
Go Green with Us! Shop at BECO Now!