Reusable Shopping Bags: Are They Really Green?

An article about reusable shopping bags in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal brought to light some important points.  Turns out some of them might not be as green as you think. Here are some green living tips to consider when it comes to choosing reusable shopping bags:

Where are they made? Many supposedly green shopping bags are manufactured in China or other foreign countries.  That means that it takes a lot of fossil fuel and carbon emissions to get them you.  If you’re going to use reusable shopping bags, try to find ones that are manufactured close to home.

What are they made of?  A lot of the free shopping bags that so many retailers are promoting as green products are made of plastic, which is often criticized containing VOCs, and doesn’t biodegrade well. Reusable shopping bags made of hemp and bamboo are greener options. I love the designs on these reusable shopping bags at ReusableBags.Com.  They’re made of cotton and manufactured in the USA.

Related posts:

1. Green grocery shopping
2. Trash Bags Made from Corn
3. Bambu reusable plates
4. Recycled Denim Ideas
5. How to Choose a ‘Green’ Sofa