Once upon a time this question was asked in grocery stores. Sure isn’t any more, not where I live. I don’t know if I could even choose paper if I wanted to. Anyway, it turns out the environmental issues aren’t as clearcut as we’ve been led to believe.
Plastic lasts forever in the landfill, but oh the chemicals used in making paper! The new bioplastics aren’t strong enough to hold groceries, though they do decompose. So is the answer canvas? Seems obvious, but the folks at The Rooftop Blog carefully look at all sides of the issue. It’s not quite hands down…you’ll want to read this.
I know one thing’s for sure: I often forget to toss my canvas bags back into the car after unloading the groceries. That’s no help!
We have a small rack of hooks next to the door where I hang up my pot holders and aprons. We hook the reusable bags on the hooks. Having them next to the door makes it easy to remember to take them back out to the car. 🙂
You’d think I could remember them better myself, but I do a good job for awhile and then it seems I start slipping. My hook for the canvas bags should be ON the door!
I found a tutorial once on making reusable bags(shaped like the plastic ones) from old t-shirts–I used 2 x-large shirts and it made a huge bag, perfect for boxed cereals and such. I need to make myself some more. I have been hesitant to use the bags provided by the stores because they often have a chemical odor that does not agree with me.