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One of the most well-known and talked about ways to avoid single use plastic is by refusing plastic shopping bags.
The problem: it’s so easy to forget those little guys.
Even in states where plastic bags are banned—or the stores charge a per-bag fee to customers—if you’re not in the habit of carrying a reusable bag, you wind up silently cursing yourself in the checkout line.
Whether you spontaneously stop into a store, or you’re on a well-planned shopping trip, remembering to have your reusable bags with you can feel like an inconvenience.
My husband and I used to forget our bags all the time. We have six or seven really good reusable shopping bags, in different materials and sizes. And although using reusable bags is important to both of us, it took a LOT of intentional habit building to get us to the point of remembering them on a regular basis.
The thing that was probably the most helpful was spending six weeks in Europe last year. In Spain and Germany (where we spent the majority of our time), reusable shopping bags are the norm. Although you can pay to get plastic bags at the big supermarkets, it’s just not common to do so.
During those six weeks, I NEVER left our Airbnb without a reusable shopping bag. We walked or rode the metro everywhere, so we had to carry shopping bags with us. Even when we’d go to the gym, I’d have my water bottle (reusable, of course), headphones, workout towel, and a shopping bag (just in case).
When we got back to the States, my European habit easily transferred over, even though I’m mostly traveling by car here. When I popped into TJMaxx for a shower curtain a few weeks ago, I got to the checkout and said, “I have my own bag, thank you!”
And that’s really what it’s all about: creating a habit. Just like waking up with the alarm or taking your multivitamin every day, once you create the habit, having a reusable shopping bag on you all the time is just something you do.
Tips & Tricks To Always Remember Your Shopping Bags
Invest in a super lightweight, compact bag
Let me be clear, here: By invest, I mean spend a few bucks (less than $10), and by compact, I mean that the bag should be completely scrunch-up-able.
I think that all of the people who design reusable bag think they are making a ones that are compact, but not all bags are created equal.
The best options that I’ve found are bags that can’t stand up on their own/do not have a flat bottom. Molded flat bottoms add weight and make it difficult to really get the bag down to a small size.
Here are two of my favorites:
I got the orange nylon bag (on the right in this photo) several years ago at a convention. It was free, and by the next day I was singing its praises and wished I had asked for another!
Not only does this bag have Velcro tabs that let me scrunch it into a little ball (which easily fits in my purse, backpack, or pocket), it also holds a TON of stuff!
Seriously, this bag is sturdy, y’all. It’s made from nylon, which I (now) know is a plastic-based material that is NOT biodegradable. So it’s not the best alternative to plastic bags, but I’ve used my nylon bag HUNDREDS of times, thus avoiding plastic (and paper) bags.
In addition to the nylon bag, I also have a great little cotton bag (also pictured above). Cotton is a sustainable fabric, and is also very strong. This tiny bag is a boss at holding a lot of heavy items.
Both of these bags are so lightweight, I don’t even notice that I’m carrying them with me. They both roll up smaller than a tennis ball. And whenever I’m anywhere needing a bag, I’ve got them handy.
PRO TIP Fabrics like nylon and cotton are easily washable, so keep your bags clean! Nobody wants to carry around a dirty bag, or put food items into one. Toss your bags in the wash every couple of weeks.
Identify a designated spot for your bags
This is part of the habit building I was talking about earlier. Having a designated storage spot for your reusable bags is one of the keys to never forgetting them.
This may sound super obvious, but you need to store your bags where you’ll remember them right before you go into the store.
Storing them in the mudroom, by the front door, or in the trunk of the car is not helpful. Do you always check the trunk of your car before running into the store? I doubt it.
If you always carry your purse into the store with you, then your designated spot for your bags should be in your purse. If you carry a backpack most days, that’s your spot. If you always drive to the store, pick a visible, easy to access spot in the car.
My favorite spot to store collapsible shopping bags in the car is in the empty little space on the inside of the door.
I don’t know what this space is actually made for. There’s one on both the driver’s and passenger’s side of the car, which makes it the perfect home for reusable shopping bags. Whether it’s me or my husband making an errand run, there’s a bag handy.
Put reusable bags back in their designated spot IMMEDIATELY
More habit building, here.
Look, I know what it’s like to get home, empty the groceries, and then need to start cooking a meal (or maybe sit down to eat the grocery store sandwich you picked up). You just want to be done with your tasks.
But listen: you’re going to have to put the reusable shopping bags away EVENTUALLY. So why not put them back where you’ll find them/use them right away?
By remembering to put your reusable shopping bags back in their designated spot as soon as you’re finished with them, you’re ensuring that you won’t forget them in the future. Think of it like replacing an empty toilet paper roll; it’s just what you do!
What To Do When You DO Forget Your Bags
Okay, so let’s say you actually do end up forgetting your bags at home. Nobody’s perfect. Here are my go-to tips for when you’re without a bag:
Use what God gave you. Seriously, there are so many times when I don’t even need a bag! Even if I have one in my purse, if I’m only buying one or two things—that I literally just carried to the register without a basket or a cart—why on Earth do I need a bag of any kind?
My motto: If I can carry it to checkout, I can carry it to my car.
PRO TIP Refusing single use plastic bags also includes those horrible plastic produce baggies (you wanna talk about pointless single use plastic?) Either use mesh bags or just put the produce in your cart. The cashier can still weigh everything just fine.
Ask for a paper bag. If you’re in a pinch, a paper bag is better than a plastic bag. It’s true that many stores don’t carry paper bags anymore, but some do! It can’t hurt to ask.
Ask for a box. If there’s one thing that stores DO have, it’s boxes. Soooo many cardboard boxes, many of which are just waiting to be broken down and sent to recycling.
If you’re freaked out at the thought of holding up the line of people behind you, ask if you can step aside while someone gets you a box. Refusing single use plastic requires standing your ground, even if the people behind you are heavily sighing and tapping their toes!
