Dan's Papers - May 9, 2008 - Bag the Plastic with Reusable Totes

Last Memorial Day weekend, a twenty-something "city person" who just got off the Jitney in Bridgehampton caught my eye - or rather, the bag she was carrying did. Written on her tote in squiggly navy blue letters was "I'm Not a Plastic Bag." No kidding, I thought, as I stared at the obviously canvas bag. It was so unoriginal, yet I secretly wanted one.

Much to my surprise, this accessory was the "in-thing" of the moment. Designed by Anya Hindmarch and available exclusively at Whole Foods, these ironic bags sold out in just minutes. People actually waited in line for more than three hours to get them. And at one point, the going rate on eBay for one of these bags, which retail for $15, was over $200.

Hindmarch said in reaction to the craze, "I hate the idea of making the environment trendy, but you need to make it cool and then it becomes a habit."

Since the "I'm Not a Plastic Bag" hit the market, reusable bags have become increasingly stylish. Far from the boring canvas bags once reserved only for tree-hugging types, major retail chain stores, such as Target, sell reusable shopping bags in a variety of materials, styles and sizes. Also, many stores now offer eco-friendly shopping bags featuring their logos, including Macys, which sells reusable tote bags for $3.95 each, and Duane Reade, which also sells reusable tote bags for $1.99 each.

It's estimated that Americans use over 1,000 plastic bags each a year, and they're not biodegradable, contaminating our soil and waterways among other harmful impacts. Now, using reusable bags when at the grocery store or shopping mall has become a simple lifestyle change - not just a fad - more and more people are accepting.

The philosophy at Envirosax.com is to help create a better future for our planet by spreading the environmental message through colorful, lightweight, waterproof reusable bags. There are dozens of styles and designs to choose from, and the bags can be purchased in pouches of five or individually. The website offers a "kids series" as well, featuring smaller reusable bags with fun cartoons and designs. The bags are inexpensive, ranging from $7.50 each to $37.50 for a pouch of five, and also have become a favorite among celebrities.

For perhaps the widest variety of eco-friendly bags on the Internet, visit reusablebags.com, where you can shop by size, price material, shape and style. This website has a bag for everyone's needs and personal taste, and even offers a variety of reusable lunch bags and water bottles.

Available exclusively at amazon.com, the FEED bag is more pricey ($59.95) but does more than protect the environment - it also benefits the UN World Food Program. The organic, hemp tote bag was designed by Laura Bush, is available in two colors and each bag sold provides a school year of meals for one child in need. Can't beat that.

For those who want to make more of a "statement," Ecobags.com offers a variety of fashionable totes with quotes, including "Make Love Not Carbon," "Get Hip Get Green," and "Nothing On Me Is Plastic." Or next time you're asked, "paper or plastic?" proudly respond, "paper nor plastic!" At papernorplastic.com, bags with that phrase are available for $9.99 each, and for every three bags ordered, you get one free.

Nowadays, there is no excuse not to own a reusable bag, and as far as lifestyle changes go, it's way easier than diet and exercise. It's true what they say - every little bit counts. And why not be stylish while doing it?