10 best reusable produce bags for reducing waste (2023)

FAQs

What reusable bags are best for the environment? ›

Canvas, nylon, polyester, or recycled plastic bags are not just eco-friendly, but they also can hold a lot more stuff than flimsy high-density polyethylene (HDPE). They're also much more comfortable to carry, either over the shoulder or in the hand.

While the average disposable plastic produce bags available in most supermarkets may seem like a fine option, they can actually cut the shelf-life of your produce if you don't leave them open. Plastic traps moisture, but reusable mesh bags allow air to circulate, which can help prevent premature spoilage.

I use them for just about all of my produce with excellent results. The key to success with these bags is making sure the produce is completely dry before placing inside. I also like the bags because they don't take up so much space as some of the produce containers, and they can be hand washed and reused a few times.

The law makes California the first state in the nation to phase out pre-checkout bags, which must now be replaced with recycled paper bags or those made of compostable materials. The law as set forth in SB 1046 takes effect on Jan. 1, 2025.

A major advantage of plastic bags is that, when compared to other types of shopping bags, producing them carries the lowest environmental toll. The thin, plastic grocery store bags are most commonly made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE).

But on the other hand, Reusable Bags like Paper Bag, Cotton Bag, Canvas Bag or Jute Bag are made from compositable and biodegradable materials which make them 100% environmentally friendly.

Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Plastic bag litter has also been the culprit of flooding as they clog drains important to proper drainage. Reusable bags made from renewable resources help to prevent the buildup of greenhouse gases.

The lifespan of a reusable grocery bag depends on factors such as the material it's made from, how often it's used, and how well it's cared for. With proper care, cotton and canvas bags can last up to three to five years, respectively, while polyester and nylon bags can last up to two to five years, respectively.

Produce that keeps best at room temperature needs air circulation. Plastic bags equal premature spoilage. Even if the bananas, potatoes, or onions you bought came in a perforated plastic bag, they'll last longer if you take them out and let them breathe.

Can I store broccoli in a ziplock? ›

Broccoli & Cauliflower: To keep fresh, break up heads and refrigerate in a Ziploc^® brand storage bag.

Woven mesh or net bags work well for buying fruit and vegetables. While you don't need to put a handful of apples or a head of cabbage in a bag, some veggies are wet and are more easily transported using reusable produce bags.

Mesh Produce Bags replace plastic and net bags, and are great for both produce shopping and storage. The mesh fabric is highly stretchable, allows for easy identification of contents, and provides excellent air circulation. You can hang full bags of onions, potatoes, and garlic by the drawstring for extra pantry space.

Use Produce Bags in place of disposable plastic produce bags to hold your fruits & veggies. Mesh Bags are ideal for thick skinned produce like apples & oranges, or root vegetables like onions, potatoes, & garlic. For produce that needs ventilation, hang the produce right in the Mesh Bag in a pantry to air dry.

Plastic bags environmental footprint

According to the study, the plastic bags are the greenest ones. In eight out of nine impact categories (i.a., carbon footprint, ecotoxicity, eutrophication, human toxication), it has the lowest impact among all tested bag types.

1 | Recycled Paper Bags

Unlike plastic, paper bags are 100% recyclable! Paper bags can decompose more quickly than plastic bags. Just imagine, it takes around 20-30 years for a plastic bag to degrade in a landfill! Some scientists say that it can even last up to 200 years.

Paper bag production requires more energy and more water than plastic bag production. Furthermore, paper bags produce 70% more air pollutants than plastic bags and 50% more water pollutants than plastic bags. Paper bags also produce more GHG emissions than plastic bags.

A high-quality, environmentally safe bag is manufactured from materials that will not harm the natural environment. Production of these bags does not include the use of harmful chemicals and the bags are biodegradable. There are no negative impacts made on the environment with the production of eco-friendly bags.

Polylactic Acid-Based Plastic (PLA)

Considered to be the most promising sustainable biopolymer currently available, as it is uniquely 100% renewable, biosourced, and biodegradable. PLA is derived from lactic acid produced by sugar cane or corn by fermenting dextrose.

Reusable bags are easier to carry than paper or plastic, can hold more items per bag, and make less garbage! Remember, if you are buying just a few items, it's okay to go without a bag altogether.

How many reusable bags should I have? ›

Hold Onto No More Than 12 or So Bags

"I recommend keeping four to five of the thicker reusable grocery bags, two insulated bags for cold items, and definitely no more than five of the fabric/cotton totes," she says.

Wash bags after each use, following care instructions. See the fabric care label or the table below for more details. Wipe insulated bags with a disinfecting or sanitizing cloth, especially along the seams.

Polypropylene (PP)

Most of your supermarket 'reusable' bags are made of nonwoven PP- not the thicker plastic-y bags, but the ones that feel a little like fabric. This is another extracted resource, but polypropylene is at least readily recyclable.

Cheap-quality reusable shopping bags are often made of poor-quality materials and constructed with subpar craftsmanship due to the low price point. As a result, they don't last very long and end up being tossed away after a few uses due to tearing seams and/or weak materials that cannot handle heavier weights.

GreenBags and other similar products contain a mineral that absorbs ethylene, so they do the exact opposite of the banana trick, slowing down the ripening and en-wilt-ening process. (The bags will keep bananas themselves from going brown as quickly, too.)

Wash them by hand in warm soapy water and line dry. Cotton and canvas reusable grocery bags are the easiest to clean! Throw them in the washer with detergent and hot water and you're good to go. They're even dryer-friendly.

Reusable sandwich bags are an eco-friendly way to start reducing the copious amounts of plastic waste being thrown into landfills daily. Plus, buying them can end up being cheaper than regularly buying disposable sandwich bags—you buy them once, and they can last for years.

Freeze Food in Stainless Steel Containers

Like glass containers, metal containers can also be reused over and over again. They are a great solution for those who want to freeze food without plastic.

Is silicone better than plastic? ›

Silicone, which is made from silica found in sand, is much longer lasting than plastic in the environment as well as while being used in products. Silicone endures extreme fluctuations in temperatures - from very cold to oven hot - without melting, cracking or otherwise degrading.

Avocado, apples, bananas, citrus fruits, berries, peaches, apricots, and nectarines should be stored out of the fridge. Refrigerating these fruits will result in loss of flavors and textures.

For whole berries: Freeze the berries in a single layer on a baking sheet to keep them from getting stuck together. Once they're solid, transfer the berries to a container, such as FreezerWare™, or a zip freezer bag such as Glad® Freezer Zipper Gallon Bags.

Yes, you can use zip lock bags to store fruits in the refrigerator. Ziplock bags are a convenient and efficient way to store fruits and keep them fresh. Just make sure to choose the right size bag for the amount of fruit you want to store and ensure the bag is sealed properly.

Stash the broccoli in a cold part of your refrigerator — like the crisper drawer — preferably away from fruits and that produce excessive ethylene gas like apples. If there's no room in the crisper, store it on a shelf near the back of the fridge.

The 10 cent charge: Offsets the greater cost of paper and reusable bags for the grocers/retailers. Ensures that customers who bring their own bags don't have to supplement the cost of other shoppers' bags anymore. Encourages the use of reusable bags.

Sprouts said in the press release it decided to stop offering paper bags because they “are generally not reusable, often are not recycled (with 80% ending up in landfill) and have a high environmental cost in terms of water, energy and raw materials used in their manufacture.”

Jute material is a natural vegetable fibre which is made from the outer stem and skin of a jute plant. Jute is an incredibly versatile material which also makes up hessian cloth, however, it is most commonly used now for making durable items such as eco-friendly jute bags.

Are silicone bags good for vegetables? ›

Silicone vegetable bags keep your vegetables crispy fresh as they are freezer safe. In contrast, plastic produce bags don't. Silicone bags are versatile as they can be used for steaming veggies, boiling and even freezing.

The best alternative to a mesh laundry bag is a pillowcase. Putting your delicates in a pillowcase allows the water and detergent to soak through the pillowcase and wash the items inside. The pillowcase also protects them from being thrown about by the spinning drum.

The short answer: No. As The Atlantic shares in its latest piece, misguided environmentalists constantly drill the idea that “reusable” bags are the environmentally friendly option, despite the fact that “canvas bags might actually be worse for the environment than the plastic ones they are meant to replace.”

Plastic bags environmental footprint

According to the study, the plastic bags are the greenest ones. In eight out of nine impact categories (i.a., carbon footprint, ecotoxicity, eutrophication, human toxication), it has the lowest impact among all tested bag types.

By using a reusable shopping bag, you can decrease the resources used on plastic bag production and disposal and protect the environment from plastic pollution. At the same time, you can save money, look stylish, and enjoy a better quality of life.

Bacteria Growth

There are some cons to having an eco-friendly canvas shopping bag, and the big one is bacteria.

Most silicone products are highly reusable, unlike single-use plastics. This makes them a better choice for the planet.

Reusable bags are tougher and more resilient than single use plastics, meaning they last longer. This also means there is a lower number needing to be disposed of, which reduces the amount that end up in landfill or in our oceans, also reducing the harm to marine life or animals caused by them.

How many times does a reusable bag need to be used? ›

Even if you took your bags to the store every day, it would still take you nearly two decades to reach that mark. Reusable bags made from durable plastic materials like nonwoven polypropylene have a smaller carbon footprint, and only need to be used around 37 times before the purchase pays off.

Compostable bags have natural components. These bags are made with natural plant starch and are free from toxic material. Compostable bags, as their name entails, can be put in your compost system and will break down quickly to form compost.

#2 Clean up cities, parks and oceans – because plastic bags are so lightweight, the wind easily blows them out of trashcans, refuse trucks and landfill sites to litter the landscape. If we replace them with reusable bags, our surroundings will gradually become clean and beautiful once again.

Generally, reusable shopping bags last between 3-4 years. But the lifespan of your reusable depends on a lot of factors like materials, how often you use them and how you look after them.