Paper, Plastic or Canvas? - Home Talkers Off-Topic Cafe'

Csara · #1 (**permalink**) 12-13-2007, 06:17 AM

Just curious what type of bags you use when going to the grocery store?

yonksgirl · #2 (**permalink**) 12-13-2007, 06:29 AM

I use plasic, I want to find nice canvas I just have not done it yet

meliz · #3 (**permalink**) 12-13-2007, 07:49 AM

I have purchased a zillion fabric bags sold by local stores-- and have a great incentive to use them (a discount on groceries)... but of course I always forget them and end up with more damned plastic bags.

heather6773 · #4 (**permalink**) 12-13-2007, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yonksgirl

I use plasic, I want to find nice canvas I just have not done it yet

I thought that this morning but with the amount of groceries I buy and the size bags the stores sell I would need about 15-20 of them

Sexy Strawberry · #5 (**permalink**) 12-13-2007, 01:16 PM

In Spain you get as many plastic bags as you want in shops and supermarkets, it's not very friendly to the environment, but I always reuse them and use them for rubbish.
In Germany you have to pay for them, but I can't get used to it. I never leave home to go buy something, I generally go shopping after work... so most of the time I have to buy bags... then I reuse them.

RedBedHead · #6 (**permalink**) 12-14-2007, 05:11 AM

I'm slowly making the switch to canvas. I hate plastic because they always rip open and I wind up with a can of something hitting my foot!

yonksgirl · #7 (**permalink**) 12-14-2007, 06:51 AM

I am thinking about making my own bags.....I think the hubby is getting me a sewing machine for christmas...so we shall see!

CC21 · #8 (**permalink**) 12-17-2007, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heather6773

I thought that this morning but with the amount of groceries I buy and the size bags the stores sell I would need about 15-20 of them

I agree. We grocery shop about every other week, sometimes less often than that. I would need a ton of them too.

Turtleheadfred · #9 (**permalink**) 12-18-2007, 01:55 PM

I always get plastic, because paper can bring "critters" into the house. Plus the place I go, allows you to bring the bags back to be recycled. That makes me feel a little better - plus I can NEVER remember to bring my own!

heather6773 · #10 (**permalink**) 12-18-2007, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turtleheadfred

I always get plastic, because paper can bring "critters" into the house. Plus the place I go, allows you to bring the bags back to be recycled. That makes me feel a little better - plus I can NEVER remember to bring my own!

I never gave that a thought. I do see people donate bags to the thrift store though when I drop stuff off so they are getting recycled there

Deana · #11 (**permalink**) 12-18-2007, 08:19 PM

when I was single and living in Chicago, I used a canvas bag. I didn't really know I was being environmentally friendly, I just knew that I could only buy what would fit in the bag b/c I had to carry it 2 blocks to my flat, and often times in the snow!

Now I do plastic. I do recycle all of my plastic bags, either using them for garbage bags in my house or dropping them off in the grocery recyling bin.

I think switching to paper after the first of the year is a good thought for me!!

ETA my best friend was on the Ellen DeGeneres show last spring - she was chosen out of the audience to do a little contest -- anyway, her question was, what is best for the environment, paper or plastic? She said neither and won a trip to Cancun!!

heather6773 · #12 (**permalink**) 12-19-2007, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deana

when I was single and living in Chicago, I used a canvas bag. I didn't really know I was being environmentally friendly, I just knew that I could only buy what would fit in the bag b/c I had to carry it 2 blocks to my flat, and often times in the snow!

Now I do plastic. I do recycle all of my plastic bags, either using them for garbage bags in my house or dropping them off in the grocery recyling bin.

I think switching to paper after the first of the year is a good thought for me!!

ETA my best friend was on the Ellen DeGeneres show last spring - she was chosen out of the audience to do a little contest -- anyway, her question was, what is best for the environment, paper or plastic? She said neither and won a trip to Cancun!!

Oh really why neither?

IUgrad02 · #13 (**permalink**) 01-07-2008, 10:59 PM

Heather, probably b/c canvas bags are the best, I'm guessing.

I always ask the bagger to give me paper bags b/c I use them to put all of my paper recycling in, and then I recycle the entire thing. I hate seeing 320498203948 paper bags leaving walmart and all of the other stores every day. You guys all seem conscientious, but most of our world is not, sadly.

I'm kind of obsessed w/ recycling.

heather6773 · #14 (**permalink**) 01-10-2008, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IUgrad02

Heather, probably b/c canvas bags are the best, I'm guessing.

I always ask the bagger to give me paper bags b/c I use them to put all of my paper recycling in, and then I recycle the entire thing. I hate seeing 320498203948 paper bags leaving walmart and all of the other stores every day. You guys all seem conscientious, but most of our world is not, sadly.

I'm kind of obsessed w/ recycling.

Thanks Megan your probably right. Makes sense.