Shopping bags and types
By maximax8
@maximax8 (31053)
United Kingdom
November 14, 2012 2:58pm CST
I always take my fabric shopping bags and I had two of them full. I went to a very cheap clothes shop and bought a few warm cardigans for the cold winter and some Hello Kitty clothing for my daughter. The shop put the clothes in a large paper bag. Outdoors it was raining. Walking to the bus stop the bag broke and some of the clothes fell on the ground and got dirty. I bought a couple of food items in a health food shop and they gave me two small paper bags. The handles were in danger of snapping on our way back home on the bus and train. We got to my car and one of the bag's handles dropped off.
Some of my fabric shopping bags are getting old. I may have to buy some new fabric shopping bags for the future. My largest fabric shopping bag has a picture of the city of Bristol on it. I put light food packets in it. I have some medium sized fabric shopping bags which I put normal weight food. I like to put the heavy food items in my small fabric bags.
The fabric bags are made from jute.
Have you ever had shopping in a paper bag?
Do you avoid plastic bags at shops?
Which sort of bags do you use for food or clothes shopping?
2 people like this
22 responses
@Anne18 (11029)
•
14 Nov 12
I have been to the supermarket today and I took my own bags with me. Wipe clean bags so they always stay clean if I spill something in them. I shop at Tesco's and the bags they sell are very strong and last ages. They can take lots of heavy shopping.
Only shopping I get in paper bags are fruit and veg when I shop on the local market
2 people like this
@rockyk (159)
• India
15 Nov 12
You know it is always a good idea to take your own shopping bags. That way you are sure that the things you buy remain intact. I would rather avoid plastic bags. They are definitely not good for the environment. If you get a sturdy bag, you will be able to carry your clothes as well as food items easily for quite a few months and even a few years. You can even go a step ahead and go for recycled bags. I just bought one made of Indian saris. These look gorgeous and are made of discarded saris. Look great as well as I ended up doing a small bit for the environment. Check these out. These are quite great.
http://wizzley.com/recycled-bags-for-sale/?pr=4256
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
15 Nov 12
Hi maximax, it is nice to go through the details.I too love fabric bags since they are light,can be washed and also is very nature friendly.I have the habit of collecting any fabric and material.I have made two patch work bags for my daughters which they have modified by adding on some beads and shells...I have made one with some denim material which I use regularly...I also like jute bags which are available in plenty in India with many shapes and sizes...have a nice day
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
11 Jan 13
The Wal-Mart Supercenter that we always go to, has just recently changed from plastic to paper bags. Right about the time Fred Meyer also changed to paper bag. I appreciate the 'environmental change', but since it's almost always raining here in our area, I've experienced a few ripped bags just loading the grocery in the car.
I've started to collect fabric bags.
@pahak627 (4558)
• Philippines
15 Nov 12
I remember when I bought a bottle of juice at the mall and it was placed in a paper bag. Before I went out of the counter, the bag was torn because of the weight of the bottle. Fortunately it was a plastic bottle. So every time I went to the mall, I always bring with me an eco bag where I can place what I bought.
1 person likes this
@heaytheblogger (2876)
• Philippines
2 Jan 13
I love buying on boutique shops because they far have good and unique shopping bags that they wrap over the things you buy on such shops.
I like also that some boutique shops are eco-friendly and putitng fashion and biodegradable materials in one. Such as shopping bags that are made from cloth or fibre leaves.
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
21 Nov 12
Well, I have a couple different types of bags. Some of these we were given Free, and then some of them I have had to pay a little for. I really do not like the places that give out paper bags as they can rip easy, and a lot of times do have access to my better bags, and try to remember to always carry some with me. The ones I enjoy the most are the ones that have a liner inside them. These were ones I had to pay a little for, but more sturdier.
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
15 Nov 12
most stores still give out plastic bags, some stores charge for them but here in Canada where i am, they have these largish bags that are not plastic but not material, i guess they are a little of both which makes them durable enough for groceries. for clothes (which i seldom buy anyways), i generally get a plastic bag.
@sweety_81 (2124)
• India
16 Nov 12
Unfortunately, while plastic bags are not good for environment, they are normally sturdier than paper bags. Fiber bags are still good, and one can purchase a few for repeated use.
@sweety_81 (2124)
• India
16 Nov 12
Unfortunately, while plastic bags are not good for environment, they are normally sturdier than paper bags. Fiber bags are still good, and one can purchase a few for repeated use.
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
21 Nov 12
In the state of Selangor, Malaysia we have 'No plastic Day' on
every Saturday. In state of Penang, Malaysia it practice no shopping
bag everyday. If the customers need plastic bag, they have to pay
for it. I normally carry along a reusable cloth bag. But if we put
too much heavy items, the holder will give way too. Bags made from
jute is very good and more lasting. Paper bags are easily torn.
Nice to see but not very practical, only for light items 
@JamesKYTan (1605)
• Malaysia
21 Nov 12
Since I am a man, I hardly carry the recycle cloth bag. However, on certain day
where my country practice no plastic day, I will carry one to put the things that I bought from the mall. At times I carry the cooler bag to put the cold item like
sausages, meat etc. However, I normally carry a back pack with me wherever I go.
It is very convenient and practical too!
@asliah (11137)
• Philippines
29 Dec 12
hi,
now a days some places here in my country implement no plastic bag anymore,so i tried now to buy a thing and paper bag will be used,i am more preferred to use paper bags as long as the item is not watery or wet.and sometimes i always bring a bag so that i don't need to use paper or even the plastic one.
@toxic_lifestyle (1213)
• Philippines
15 Nov 12
Here in our place, we are already using paper bags as it is prescribed in our city. And my family find it really hard using it. Most especially, when we need to buy wet goods. :)
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
15 Nov 12
I tend to use the plastic bags supplied by the supermarkets. I have had a few paper ones because there is a shop that I occasionally use that always pack the products in one. They are not very practical and I would not choose paper myself.
There was a period a few years ago when most of the supermarkets decided to abolish the standard plastic bags in order to benefit the environment. Instead they offered good quality reusable bags at a reasonable price, which was an excellent idea. Unfortunately the system simply did not work. Like many other shoppers, I would buy a bag but never remembered to take it with me the next time, resulting in having to buy another. I suppose that I would have learned in time, but the supermarkets abandoned the idea and resumed the supply of cheap free bags.
@gitfiddleplayer (10362)
• United States
15 Nov 12
Here in San Jose, CA they did away with plastic bags. Many people got upset because they got charged five cents for a bag which was paper and $1.00 for a cloth bag. I know it seems stupid but we should have been bringing our own bag long before the city decided to tax us for buying theirs. Besides, you can buy some pretty cool cloth shopping bags that will last a lot longer than plastic bags anyway.
@natliegleb (5175)
• India
15 Nov 12
they are really fancy to carry and each time i prefer to take them wherever i go because its trendy and also the varieties are more to comfort food while travel
@sishy7 (27169)
• Australia
15 Nov 12
Many shops here do not use plastic bags or they will charge you extra for it. So I always have my own green bag in the car to take with me when I am shopping. No one really use paper bags anymore. For large or heavy items they put them in used carton boxes. In local hardware stores, they have used boxes of all sizes for their customers to choose from to put the purchases. And in local chinese take aways, I've seen people who ordered many items carry the take away food in boxes. For single item purchases, the customers usually just carry the item out as is...
@riyauro (6421)
• India
15 Nov 12
We are getting some fabric bags here now in the supermarkets. it is good thing that plastic is not allowed now. I have a fabric bag which i have for shopping and some bakery and all give things in the recycled newspaper bags. It is good bags. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful day ahead..
