Insulated shopping bags
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381875)
Rockingham, Australia
March 21, 2026 2:42am CST
I was talking to @TheHorse about shopping bags so I thought I’d show you mine.
The photo shows one of our shopping bags. They are made in Vietnam of at least 30% recycled materials and have a foil-type insulation on the inside. The name of the store, Coles, is on the outside. These are sold quite cheaply by Coles and you see them everywhere.
When plastic bags were first outlawed, cloth bags were often seen. Some had logos or company names on them. Some stores did, and do, supply paper bags at a small cost.
It only took me a few months to remember to take shopping bags with me when I went to get groceries but now it’s second nature.
18 people like this
18 responses
@Juliaacv (56227)
• Canada
21 Mar
I have a few insulated bags like that which I actually received at no cost from a store when they were celebrating an anniversary or something. They do come in handy.
I mostly use the thin less than cloth bags that the Chinese food restaurant puts your paper bag of food into.
They do fine for light things but for tins I always use a thick canvas cloth bag so that the weight doesn't tear the cloth or put extra strain on the handles.
I do not miss, and am thankful that we no longer have to mess with those awful plastic bags.
I think that its been well over a decade since I got caught without a bag. And it was my own fault, I went to pick up a couple of items that I could easily carry, but bought more than that. Now we have a thin bag neatly folded on the back of each of the front seats in the car, just in case.....
4 people like this

@snowy22315 (208801)
• United States
22 Mar
@JudyEv I know.. I concentrated mightily yesterday and managed to get the bag in the store. I will put the bag in the carwhen I go out.Hopefully..

2 people like this

@DaddyEvil (174296)
• United States
21 Mar
We have shopping bags like that, too, but we still get free plastic bags at Walmart and King Food Saver. The shopping bags like you're showing cost $5 each and can be reused over and over again.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174296)
• United States
22 Mar
@JudyEv We don't bother buying bags when stores still give the thin plastic bags for free.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381875)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Mar
@DaddyEvil Fair enough but there are no free bags here now. The paper bags are very cheap.
1 person likes this

@Traceyjayne (11277)
• United Kingdom
21 Mar
We have a few insulated bags ….we mainly use them when we are at the caravan.
I always have a foldaway bag in my handbag ….you never know when you are going to need a bag.
We keep a supply in the car too….
1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381875)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar
I rarely take my handbag anywhere these days unless I think I'm going to need my cards. Vince always has his wallet and we buy everything on Visa.
@Traceyjayne (11277)
• United Kingdom
22 Mar
@JudyEv if I didn’t have my handbag I would have nowhere to put my very important items ……some folk would call it junk …..
Phone, tissues, keys, cards, glasses, pen, foldaway bag ,hair ties, sweets,
1 person likes this

@Ineeddentures (34008)
•
22 Mar
We have at least two of them on the house and I keep one in the top box on the bike
If aingo and collect a take away I think the insulated bag keeps the food warm
1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381875)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Mar
@Ineeddentures Good for you recycling bags. I wonder why people ditch the cloth bags.
1 person likes this
@Ineeddentures (34008)
•
22 Mar
@JudyEv
They all vary right enough
I can't believe people go to shops without bags and get ripped off to buy plastic bags
I have found people ditching the cloth bags so I pick them up
Wash them out, dry them,
And I have new to me bags!!
1 person likes this

@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
21 Mar
I have a huge selection of shopping bags on hand. Some are pretty, some are not. Some insulated, some not. I do not always remember to take them into the store. I am getting better.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189820)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Mar
We still use the plastic ones. I like that they are recycling to make these bags you show.
1 person likes this

@celticeagle (189820)
• Boise, Idaho
22 Mar
@JudyEv ........I have my groceries delivered so I'm getting the plastic bags.
1 person likes this

@wolfgirl569 (135643)
• Marion, Ohio
21 Mar
That is always my problem. Remembering to take the bags
1 person likes this

@wolfgirl569 (135643)
• Marion, Ohio
22 Mar
@JudyEv I have tried that too and then would forget to take them in the store 

1 person likes this

@RasmaSandra (97957)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Mar
That is exactly what we did in Latvia; we had a suitcase on wheels we used for groceries.
1 person likes this
@AliCanary (4401)
•
21 Mar
I like to use cloth totes for shopping, too. I don't have any insulated ones, but my husband does, and I have borrowed his before. That's a very cheery design!
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222285)
• United States
21 Mar
I do all my online food shopping at Walmart; and they use plastic bags. I reuse as many of them as I can.
1 person likes this
@freelancermariagrace (29342)
• Philippines
21 Mar
Plastic bags are not allowed here, especially when shopping at the grocery store. So, I always carry eco-friendly bags with me whenever I go out. I also believe in making a positive impact on the environment, even in small ways.
1 person likes this
@freelancermariagrace (29342)
• Philippines
23 Mar
@JudyEv Yes, they really look sturdy!
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (120622)
• United States
21 Mar
Plastic bags are still used here, but more and you’ll see people with their own shopping bags. I order groceries to be delivered, and they always come in plastic bags. However, I always reuse them. Even if I didn’t, there is a place to hand off your recyclables very easily. You don’t even half to talk to anyone. They take plastic, cardboard, and electronics.
1 person likes this
@pitsipeahie (5758)
•
21 Mar
We have that kind of shopping bag too. I usually bring an eco bag with me. They’re convenient and, more importantly, environmentally friendly. Even in small ways like that, I try to reduce my plastic consumption.
I’m just not a fan of paper bags, those brown ones that aren’t sturdy. It’s the worst when they tear and everything you’re carrying ends up falling out.
1 person likes this





















