For years now I’ve been taking my own bags to the supermarket when I do my shop so I don’t have to bring home a million plastic bags. But when it’s come to purchases here and there I usually end up getting them put in some sort of bag – usually plastic – because I have had nothing with me. Until now.
I’ve finally found the answer to being able to put those other non-supermarket purchases in. It’s a nylon fold-up bag and it’s working for me.
This is what it looks like when it’s folded out and believe me you can fit quite a bit of stuff in this.
It’s really easy to fold up too, and quite quick. Fold it in half lengthways, fold the handles down as shown and then keep folding lengthways and then roll it up.
Once rolled up it’s very compact. I took a photo with my sunnies in the background (sunnies I bought from the Camberwell markets in Melbourne a good 20 years ago for $1) so you get an idea of how big the bag ends up being.
Isn’t it great? And the great thing for me is that when I get home, I unpack the bag, fold and roll it up and put it straight back into my handbag. This way, it’s there for the next time. Planning Queen, you would be proud because it’s so organised of me.
There’s even more reason and incentive for me to do this because as of early May there will no longer be lightweight plastic bags available here in South Australia. I know this one bag won’t handle my weekly shop, but it does solve the problem of having to get plastic bags occasionally when I buy clothes etc.
And even though other disposable bags will be available in other retail outlets at least I won’t have to use them any longer. My plastic bag bag (and no, it’s not plastic) I have at home should start to get emptier.
Anyway, the nylon bag I’ve shown above in the photos are available at Envirosax. There’s heaps available and they are quite affordable.
PS: I know this all sounds a bit like a sales pitch but it’s all because I think they’re great, not because I’ve been paid in any way to say they’re great.
So I want to know, do you take your own bag/s when you go shopping. If so, how do you remember them?
Well, I’m in Adelaide too. I frequently leave mine in the car, which is annoying! I have had a few instances where I have wanted plastic – I hate getting meat in my reusables in case of leakage, but I have decided to just have a couple of meat ones and wash them as needed. I tend to have a baby bag or stroller with me so I find I can usually get away without having to use plastic from other shops. I have a few friends who use the MIMCO fold up ones. They are beautiful.
I’ve got a similar type of folded up bag tucked away in my handbag, and I usually grab a back-pack because it’s a case of “you never know what you might come across in your travels” with me lol.
I have a few reusable bags of the daggy green variety in different colours. I usually keep one in the storage section of my stroller. I also have a couple of calico ones as well and I will now add one to the stroller because it can be washed if I use it for meat, milk and other leaking/thawing products and then I can lessen the use of plastic bags which I do as often as possible. I recently saw something about plastic waste and how it is piling up in the ocean, think of the mass of debris swept by the 2004 tsunami, plastic waste build up is a concern for us all. Cheers.
I really should get some of these. Just this morning I left my large green bags in the car and had to use plastic bags. I do think the envirosax are a great idea.