No, I’m not talking about my husband, though the same statement would apply. I am talking about reusable bags. Back in 2013 we travelled to Morocco and saw first-hand the impact plastic waste has on the environment. As we travelled from Marrakech to Essaouira we could see multi-coloured plastic bags scattered across the landscape, caught in trees and tangled in fences. It was pretty overwhelming and had a big impact on me.
The war on plastic bags has been going on for a long time and has been getting a lot of traction in recent times. I was very happy to learn that Morocco has now banned single-use plastic bags, and they are not alone, with other countries in Europe, Africa, and some states in Australia doing the same. And with the most recent announcement, New Zealand’s largest supermarkets are phasing out plastic bags by the end of 2018 which is a huge win (I may have shed a tear of joy).
My stash of reusable bags, easily located close to the front door
A lot of people I know are already using reusable bags when they go to the supermarket, however, it can be hard to remember to bring them along to every supermarket shop. So what can you do to make sure you don’t forget to bring our reusable bags? For me having a reusable bag on hand is second nature now, but it took me a while to get there. I know a lot people who leave them in their car, so they always have them on hand when going to the supermarket, but if you’re like us and don’t own a car then this isn’t really a solution. Therefore, we either need to plan in advance, buy a reusable bag at the supermarket, carry everything in our hands or ensure we have a reusable bag on us at all times!
Starting out I would grab reusable bags when I knew I needed them, but inevitably I would forget or have unexpected shopping trips. Getting a plastic bag was not an option for me, so I would be stuck having to try and squeeze everything into my handbag or carry the items in my hands, which really is not the best solution. So I knew I needed to find something that I could carry in my handbag at all times. It had to look good of course, be completely functional and as small and light-weight as possible.
My reusable Loqi bag folded up, ready to pop into my handbag
This little guy now has a home in my handbag, next to my reusable coffee cup. My favourite part is that it rolls up and clips together so it doesn’t unravel in my handbag - genius! Both my husband and I have a reusable bag on hand and always say no to plastic bags, even if there is the odd occasion we have to carry stuff in our hands. With larger grocery shops we need more than one bag, so forward planning is still required, but if you make it part of your daily life and start forming a habit it becomes easier to do, and can even have a positive impact on your lifestyle (but that’s for another post).
