A New Bag of Tricks

How many of you are trying really hard to be environmentally responsible with shopping bags but are having a hard time organizing the bags themselves? An Austin company has invented the first system of reusable shopping bags, and Real Simple magazine just called it the "smartest system!" (You know how I love systems) I met with one of their founders last week. Blue Avocado makes kits of shopping bags for the three different purposes we need:

• Hauling (shlepping bags)
• Ventilation (produce bags)
• Insulation (cooler bags)

And all of the bags fit together into one kit when you're finished using them for the day. Their site says, "...by using a BlueAvocado pod instead of plastic bags you avoid 200 plastic bags and 9.5 lbs of CO2e if you use the bag for a whole year. That's the equivalent of NOT driving 11 miles."

I think these bags look great and I love how they organize back together into a neat package. I have cloth bags but am having a hard time stuffing them into the pockets of my car door, so this is really timely!

If you read my blog regularly, you'll know I am pretty choosy about highlighting specific products like this. I have to really like it, and ideally have some kind of knowledge of the owners or how they run things. I am impressed! And, they agreed to give our readers a 5% discount off orders over $60-- you can use the coupon code "goodkarma5."

I have always grocery-shopped (is that really a verb?) in an organized way-- I write my list in groupings by areas of the store (all frozen stuff together, all produce together, all household items together, etc.) so that when I am walking through the store, I don't have to backtrack. Then when I get to the checkout, I try to group cold things together on the conveyor belt so that they'll be together when I get home and need to put them away. Now when I use this insulated bag, that is even more motivation to group the cold stuff together, since it actually has its own special bag. I send the right bag along the conveyor belt along with the stuff that goes into it.

What I have also found by using them is that I remember my bags more easily, because I can't wait to use them! How do you remember your bags when it's time to go grocery shopping? Blue Avocado has some tips on this here. Tell us your own tricks in the comments!

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Comments

[Sherri (Serene Journey)]

Those bags look awesome! I love the idea of different types for different products.

When we do groceries we take reusable plastic tubs. It makes packing and unpacking on the conveyor belt really easy. Also, there are considerably fewer trips back and forth to the car when bringing groceries in.

Our bins live in the van so once they are unpacked they go right back in the next morning. They are always there when we shop.

Thanks for sharing the information on the bags!

[Jude]

This seems ridiculous to me. I've been using reusable canvas bags for at least 15 years. I don't forget them because using them is a long-term habit, and because I store them by the door. I also have extras stored in my vehicles in case I make an unexpected trip to the store while I'm already on the road. My life is complex, and this would complicate things even more.

[Catherine at NurturingHope.com]

Great question! Our shopping bags live in our straw marketing basket, right next to the front door (with the umbrellas). In the morning if I know we're going shopping I'll move the straw basket so it's actually in front of the door. We make a big effort to reduce our plastic use and my husband blogs about it at http://www.Plasticless.com .

[Re]

I usually carry a small tote that folds up in my pocketbook in case I need to pick up odds and ends during the day.
For groceries we usually walk to the supermarket. We have posted on the back of the front door a post-it reminding us "Don't forget to take the shopping bags." Simple but it works.

[Jane]

I've put an over-the-door wreath hanger on the inside of my back door. This is where I hang my shopping bags. (I have bags from several grocery stores, seminars, etc. all unually tucked into the largest bag.) They are staring me in the face when I head out that door to my car. I also have a few plastic grocery bags and reusable totes in the trunk of my car for unexpected stops at the grocery store.

[Lorie Marrero]

Great ideas! Thanks, everyone! "Jude," you are one of the few who has been doing this for a long time. Many of us are only just now getting in the habit of using cloth bags, so it's harder to remember. Also, personally, I have a very hard time fitting a number of normal canvas bags into my car's door pockets. We need a lot of them because we have a family to buy for, and I find them unwieldy. That is why I love this system--it all folds up together into a little tote but has all of the bag space-potential I need for a full shopping trip.

[EKay Doray]

I love this idea! One grocery store in town kind of frowns when you say you "forgot" your cloth bags!
However, at the other "discount" store they frown when your have them as they are used to packing everything into their plastic bags on the turn style. Any suggestions to make this easier...???

[Lisa]

I really like the system by Blue Avocado but I have so many bags already from seminars, events, freebies, etc. that I can't justify buying all new but this system tempting. And good looking. As far as remembering the bags - I keep them in the trunk so they are always there. But if I forget to return them to the trunk or to take them into the store, I have them put the groceries back into the cart and bag myself at the trunk.

[EKay Doray]

Oh gosh, great idea...putting the items back in the cart. I would have to show my receipt at the door on the way out, but that is OK too. I want to do what I can. The town we lived in before had a great recycling program..so far I have not found that here. Thanks, Lisa! You go girl!
PS: I agree, this is a really cool and great looking system!

[Genny Esterline]

Great blog, I want to be more "green" in my actions. My fiancée's daughter bought me some great reusable shopping bags that are in my car. My issue is remembering to bring them into the store with me. Even in the door I would tend to fly right by them. Any suggestions to get in the habit?

Genny
www.connectionsforwomen.com

[theCara]

Living in SF has forced me to use reuseable bags. And like many in downtown SF, I don't own a car. The only way I remember to carry a bag is to have one stashed in my purse at all times, and one that has its own mini-bag actually attached. It looks like Blue Avocado has this type in several varieties. I picked up a Chico Bag a couple of years ago and haven't looked back. :)

[W]

I keep my reusable bags folded up inside another bag in the front of the car at all times so I can see them and remember to carry the bags out when I make a trip to the store. After several trips using them, it becomes a habit now. One store actually has a sign that says, "Don't forget your grocery bags." You could always write yourself a sticky note in the front of the car perhaps to remind yourself.

[EKay Doray]

Me again...I really like this system..does anyone know if these bags are machine washable?
I may have missed that. Thanks

[Tammy]

I really like the designs and would be willing to switch from my boring ones but....why does it have to be so expensive? The ones I have now were only $5 a piece, these start out at $10. And I certainly don't have the money right now to spend $60 to use the discount.

[Jennifer Baltz]

I love this idea...and I think the fashionable style will draw attention in the store and encourage other people to try it, too.

[Amy George]

To answer a question posed, ALL of the bags are machine-washable (but the insulated bag), made of recycled material from plastic bottles, and 1% of sales is invested in kiva.org to support women date entrepreneurs (24 micro-loans made to date). Thanks for the great reminder ideas and insight into ways to create more value for you! - Founder