Going green is in the bag

by Jacki Donaldson (Subscribe to Jacki Donaldson's posts)
May 13th 2008 8:00AM

Categories: Sustainable Community, Diet & Weight Loss, Alternative & Green Health

Today, I made the change. I said "no, thanks" to my grocery store bagger when he offered me paper or plastic and instead allowed my new green totes to shimmy up to my cashier where she promptly handed them over to Mr. Bagger -- who then shared with me a few facts about my eco-bags.

Bagger Boy told me the tote trend makes life a bit hard for baggers because they hold so much darn food. Typically, like foods are stashed together and with plastic, this works well. The bags are small and it's not a big deal to use a pretty good stack of them if necessary (well, it is a big deal, environmentally speaking). But the roomier alternatives often lead to food cramming. Un-like foods sometimes end up together -- think bread with eggs with cereal boxes -- and this is well, problematic, said the guy strategically placing my kids' popsicles with my few crates of strawberries.

Bagger Boy also told me these planet-safe bags aren't doing customers any favors. With the high cost of everything nowadays, people like to believe they're getting a lot for their money. You get a lot with plastic. Not so much with totes -- I have six, for example, and will rarely use that many -- so buyers feel they're getting less for more.

So what's the problem with fewer, heavier bags? No problem here. For me, the possibility of squished bread and the illusion of less food just isn't a deal breaker. It's small potatoes really. And it's my sincere pleasure to do something -- however small it may be -- to help ensure this planet is as healthy as possible.

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Comments (4)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Marn 5-13-2008 @ 3:10PM

Here in Canada some of the re-usable tote makers have wised up to that problem, and are making bags that are just a tiny big bigger than the plastic bags stores give.

I use a mix of sizes now. The smarter baggers know how to distribute things between the bags to keep them safe.

jesser 5-15-2008 @ 8:37AM

*rolling eyes*
What he means is that it messes up the order of his little world. Anyone with half a brain can figure out that the bags are bigger, etc. and you're still getting what you were getting, it's just in a different sized bag. And while we have som large totes, we have a few small ones too that are good for, say, eggs. Environment aside, I'm happy to have laregely staunched the onslaught of plastic bags coming to our house!!

I just usually take it upon myself to bag the groceries - we usually shop at Target where they don't have baggers - but I still get dirty looks from some clerks when I stick my bags on the conveyor belt. Quite a few seem to view them as an annoyance. Oh well. I'm the customer.

mulejl 5-17-2008 @ 7:56AM

I use eco-bags and the reason I use them isn't because they hold more groceries, nor is it because I believe it is more cost effective for the grocer. I use them because they cut down on the amount of waste that is generated from my household. Every bag that goes into a landfill takes many years to biodegrade. So the next time your bagger complains that their is no difference, tell him/her that their most certainly is...and the planet will thank you for it!

Judy 5-17-2008 @ 1:57PM

Oooh, poor cashier has to work harder to use the reusable, eco-friendly bags.

You know, this is just a perfect example fo the Americn way anymore: not willing to sacrifice at all if it's the least bit harder than the "convenience" way.

I have a bunch of reusable bags now, and have gotten weird looks and some irritated cashiers, but that's their problem, isn't it? I've started to notice a lot of people at our grocery store carrying them, and the cashiers will learn to adapt.