Reusable shopping bags to reduce plastic waste

It’s a very difficult thing to completely eliminate plastic from our lives but we have to start somewhere. One very simple way that you can make a difference is through reusable shopping bags. You can shop in style and do one little thing towards making the planet more plastic free.

1. Blu Bag Reusable Shopping Bag

These ones come in a variety of colours and patterns. Best of all they fold up neatly to be stored with an elastic band or pouch. It can hold 50 pounds or 22 kgs and its dimensions are 19 ” or 48cm by 24 ” or 61cm. It’s made of polyester and is machine washable but I see in the reviews that people also air them out and hand wash now and then to make them last longer. The company that sells them also donates 20 cents (that is US currency) to Ocean Conservancy for every bag sold.

In these pictures I am showing you firstly the “Lana Black” bag and then the “Citrus Red” bag rolled up and in a pouch.

2. MyBaguse from Faithful to Nature

This is a similar bag which also comes in a variety of colours. They are made from 40% recycled nylon and can be machine washed with cold water.

3. Produce bags

You can buy these at Pick n Pay (I have two mesh ones from when I was in Joburg) but if you can’t get hold of them, I suggest going online. This can make a huge difference in your plastic consumption to use these bags.

Here is one from Faithful to Nature – it’s called Tiptoe Totes Reusable Fresh Produce bags:

4. Bags for good

You’ve probably already seen these at your local Woolworths, but you probably didn’t know the story behind them.

This company uses community projects in Cape Town to produce the bags but the money you spend when you buy them goes to a variety of causes: from maxillofacial surgery for children to various conservation projects: endangered species, energy and water.

This rhino bag raised R900 000 for WWF South Africa for rhinos over a period of five months.

5. Eco Friendly Bags

These bags are not only made from recycled materials and are biodegradable, they also make lovely corporate gifts.

6. Shop Zero

This online store has a variety of options including produce bags as well. I had to laugh at this one:

7. Reusuable cooler bags

If you’re looking for a cooler bag to shop with there are a few options out there.

This one is pricy and imported but it looks like it will last well:

Here is another option: a jumbo mesh bag from Takealot:

Many shops nowadays have reusable shopping bags in store – so have a look around. You can be stylish and reduce plastic waste at the same time!

You may be thinking… why bother? Why is it so important that we reduce our plastic consumption, specifically for the ocean? Did you know that a duck pecking away at a discarded plastic bag has consequences? The plastic may block their digestion system, make them absorb harmful chemicals and even make holes in their stomach.

Water travels downstream into the oceans, carrying the plastic with it. It can damage a whole lot of other animals. They can get tangled up in it. Plastic can also disintegrate into micro plastic and even wind up in our food products. We have to start at the point where the plastic is dropped into the water before it does any more damage.

Make the choice today and start with your shopping bags. Let us all make an effort to reduce our plastic consumption.

I’d like to hear from you – which reusable shopping bags do you use? Hit me up with your suggestions!!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links and is written in collaboration with Nakturnal.

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