Everyone knows the ban on plastic bags is coming.
Even the biodegradable plastic isn’t holding up to the deal; So far, two states in the US have placed a ban on plastic bags so far.
And it’s no surprise. I’m sure a lot of people reading this have countless amounts of plastic bags in their kitchen.
So how do we remove plastic bags from our kitchens?
Well, our best option is to use reusable bags. They’re better for the environment and get’s plastic bags out of our houses.
Contents
What To Look For When Buying Reusable Grocery Bags
Price
Before adding your reusable grocery bags into your cart, you should consider the price you’re willing to pay. Remember, a high price doesn’t always mean the best quality. Make sure you compare the features with the cost to find your best reusable bag.
Size
Weekly shopping is a stressful enough experience. And it will only get worse if the new grocery bags can’t fit your shopping in. Think about how many bags your shopping usually takes up. It will give you the best idea of what size you’ll need.
Material
Reusable grocery bags come in a variety of materials. You need to think about what will work for you. Are you looking for a plastic-free option? You should go for cotton, Or if you’re looking for something tear-resistant, your best option is looking for Ripstop nylon.
Maximum Weight
I mentioned earlier that shopping could be stressful if you can’t fit everything in the bag. But, it’s even worse if the bag splits from being overloaded with food. Make sure you check how much weight your reusable shopping bags can carry before you go to the store.
Colors
With most reusable bags, you the option of choosing between different colors and styles. You should always browse around and see what designs suit you best.
Tear Resistant
Tear-resistant grocery bag can be Godsend, especially if it’s been snagged on a Sharpe edge as you walk past. If you are unlucky enough for this to happen, you’ll be cursing the fact you didn’t find a tear-resistant shopping bags. Trust me, you will.
Waterproof
The weather can be a cruel mistress sometimes, and if you get caught out in the rain, keeping your items dry is a necessity. If a bottle leaks in your bag, you don’t want to go all over your car. The waterproofing will keep the rain off your possessions.
Machine Washable
Sometimes hand washing isn’t an option; it takes a long time and never gets it as clean as the machine can. For me having a machine washable bag is necessary. After a while, bags get smelly; and the best way to get rid of the smell is by sticking in the washing machine.
Reinforced Bottom
If your reusable grocery bag is full of heavy food items, the bag can start to feel very flimsy. Having a reinforced bottom can stop this. It gives you more support when carrying your food shop, and it brings more suitability when packing the bags.
Guarantee
Some times manufactures get things wrong; they’re only human after all. But, if your bag does break from a manufacturing error, then it’s nice to know they have covered.
Which Are The Best Reusable Grocery Bags
I know how hard it is to make a decision sometimes, especially with so many choices out there. That’s why put together a list of the best reusable grocery bags and jute bag for you to look through:
Organic Cotton Mart Shopping Bags
The bags are made with high-quality organic material, so it’s good for the environment.
A nice feature on these bags is, it comes with glass bottle pouches sewn into it.
Not only are the bags large, but they have heavy-duty handles to match.
You can easily sling these reusable bags around the shoulder to make it easier to carry.
The simple yet stylish design only comes in one color which can be machine washed, although, it is cotton so you might shrink a little.
Key Feature
- Machine Washable
- Pack of 3
- One color
- Organic cotton
For me, the wine pouch is a done deal. The organic cotton looks strong enough to deal with a massive shopping trip as for the flimsiness. I noticed the manufacture has suggested putting cardboard at the bottom to overcome its flimsiness.
Pros
- Comes with bottle holders
- Large size
- Easy to clean
Cons
- They can get heavy
- Handles are too long for short people
BeeGreen Shopping Bags
Each bag can replace 2-3 plastic shopping bags.
You also get the choice of six cute geometric designs to add a bit a style to your shopping day.
Their bags are made with 100% Ripstop nylon, which is lightweight and tear-resistant.
And the long handles allow you to carry your reusable grocery bag around your shoulder.
They also feature reinforced bias tape to help when carrying heavy loads.
Key Features
- Ripstop nylon
- Machine washable
- Pack of 6
- 6 Designs to choose from
- One-year guarantee
I really liked the look of the colors and the designs you get to choose from; the overall strength of the bags isn’t too bad. With six large bags, I find it very unlikely you’ll run out of space.
Pros
- Large Size
- Waterproof
- Strong and durable
Cons
- No solid bottom
- Scratchy material
- No solid bottom
GreenBee Elastic Zipper Bag
The heavy-duty bags are made with 100% polyester material, which is machine washable.
The bag has extra-large carrying capacity and can carry up to 50 pounds in weight.
The reusable bags can be rolled up into a small ribbon, making it easy to carry in your pocket.
Which is great while browsing your grocery store.
When you’re not using them, they are stored in the carrying pouch that comes with them.
Key Features
- Pack of 10
- Five different colors
- Machine washable
- One year guarantee
- Made with Polyester
Although some thought the bags were small, they still had incredible strength. Maybe it would be more suited for couples shopping habits rather than a family. Plus, you get ten in the pack for an attractive price. I like them, they fold small and comes with a pouch.
Pros
- Easy to carry
- Waterproof
- Strong
Cons
- Flimsy bottomr
- Smaller than expected
CreativeGreenLife Reinforced Bag
And to make it better, they don’t tip over in the trunk.
The Reusable grocery bags have a large capacity and have the ability to fold flat when not in use.
They claim to be able to carry 30+ lbs.
The box bags have three different design styles to choose from and are built to last.
It’s made with a non-woven cloth, with metal rivets at the handles to give extra strength.
And to make it better, the handles are long enough to shoulder carry.
Key Features
- Pack of 3
- Three different designs
- 100% money-back guarantee
- Reinforced shopping box
- Canvas material
I like this canvas tote. The reinforced bottom makes an excellent addition to the list. They look durable and easy to use, which can only make your shopping experience better. I should be careful in the rain though, the material isn’t waterproof, and you don’t want a soggy bottom.
Pros
- Very Sturdy
- Folds Flat
- Looks Stylish
Cons
- Not good the rain
- Not good the rain
- Could be bigger
Lotus Trolley Bags
The bottom of the bag is made from a mesh material in case of leaks. This stops your food from sitting in the liquid until you get home.
Their bags come with rods that fit across any average shopping cart in the states. When you are finished, the rods are removable so, it easy to pack away.
The reusable bags feature one insulated grocery bag while another has a pouch to keep your eggs safe.
Key Features
- One insulated grocery bag
- Carries 50+ lbs
- 100% money-back guarantee
- Two different colors
I liked the idea of these reusable grocery bags, and the fact it came with an insulated bag just made it better. I would be a bit concerned about the poles slipping off the cart. They did seem pretty huge, though, so I probably wouldn’t get just for me.
Pros
- Fits in a shopping cart
- Cooler bag
- Lightweight and foldable
Cons
- Pole might slip
- Might be too big
How Do Reusable Grocery Bags Help The Environment?
The main reason is, they stop people using plastic bags; plastic is becoming a serious problem which is damaging our planet, and it’s natural habitats.
On top of this, the pollution created by manufacturing plastic is directly effecting the climate change issues we’re all facing. The pollution created isn’t just hurting the planet; it’s hurting our health too.
But, there’s more too it:
By choosing to use reusable grocery bags, it stops large amounts of plastic ending up in our environment, which protects wildlife.
Far too many animals have died from eating plastic bags. When it gets digested, it clogs there colon, and the animal starves to death.
Using reusable grocery bags also helps to keep our cities, parks, and oceans stay clean. Plastic can easily get picked up by the wind out of trash cans and landfills; from there, it makes its way to the ocean.
By introducing reusable grocery shopping bags, we will slowly start to clean up our:
- Streets
- Oceans
- Beaches
Plastic bags are hard to recycle, and quite often end up in a landfill site. The good thing about reusable grocery bags is they are usually made from materials.
I mentioned before that reusable grocery bags help to keep litter off our beaches and the streets. And for this reason, it can save the taxpayers money.
Why?
The amount of money states are paying on cleaning beaches, and parks is astonishing. California spends roughly $300 million a year on cleaning, which could go to something else.
I’m sure you know plastic is made from oil and that using oil is terrible for the environment. Well switching to a reusable grocery bag helps to keep the oil in the ground. In turn, it lowers our emissions and helps with global warming.
I can’t lie when we stop using plastic, jobs will be lost, but why not support a more sustainable and eco-friendly cause. The more support we give to the businesses, the jobs they create.
And by going for reusable grocery bags, you help to support more sustainable farming. Which are usually ran in less developed countries; you can directly help support farmers and their families.
And one last thing, using reusable grocery bags, help to improve our drainage systems, plastic bags end up blocking storm drains so if you live in a flood zone, this could directly affect you.
The plastic build-up is one of the biggest causes of drains blocking. And because they don’t decompose, they get stuck there until someone is paid to clear it. Which of course, means more money spent by the city.
Hopefully, that gives you the motivation to switch to a more eco-friendly and sustainable option.
I know it was enough for me.
Reusable grocery bags made from cotton or hemp are machine washable on a low temperature, and so can most polyester.
But, it is important to remember that anything made with 100% cotton is likely to shrink, especially in hot water.
The only materials you might have problems with when it comes to machine washing is:
- Polypropylene
- Jute
- Recycled PET
Another thing to remember is that machine washing your reusable grocery bag lowers the lifespan; Try to save machine washing for emergencies.
But how do you wash them?
Are reusable grocery bags washable?
I recommend hand washing your reusable grocery bag using warm water with plenty of antibacterial soap. Once clean, leave them out air dry.
For a laminated reusable bag, you need to take a slightly different approach. Take a wet cloth and wipe the laminated reusable grocery bags down with disinfectant.
Any other non-fabric shopping bags should get cleaned in the same way.
Make sure you don’t use bleach, it will get caught in the fibers and stain the reusable grocery bag.
Finally, make sure your reusable bag is dry before you store them. Don’t store them in the trunk of your car, it’s:
- Dark
- Warm
- Humid
Summary
To review what I said, check the material is what you’re looking for, and think about what size you need. If you have a big family, heavy-duty bags will suit you well.
Don’t forget to check if you’re reusable grocery bags can go in the washing machine before sticking it in there; you don’t want to shrink it. Always think, does the price match the feature of you’re reusable grocery bags it will help you make the decision.
If you live far away from the store, an insulated reusable grocery bag would be a great option.
I hope this helps you in making your final decision comment below if you have any questions, or let me know what you went for. If you liked this guide to buying reusable grocery bags, don’t forget to share it on Facebook. And while you’re at it why not take a look at the best reusable produce bags, they might be just what you need.