Bring Your Bag Eco Product Review

Bring Your Own Bag is a branded, re-usable bag program designed to help the environment by reducing plastic bag use. The bags are available through retailers and also for companies to buy and brand, and either offer to their customers, or use for promotions.

Made in a variety of colors, and styles they are also made from many materials including non woven
polypropylene, woven polypropylene, post consumer polyester, organic cotton, hemp, jute, linen, and
bamboo. The bags are the type that lay flat but are sturdy when upright. They hold about the same as three traditional US grocery bags (which are smaller than European ones), and are solid and strong.

I got sent four bags, a traditional large bag with a removal card bottom for strength, a wine carrier, a foil lined cooler bag that was zipped at the top, and another bag with a small zipped inner pocket. All were strong, the wine carrier easily coping with 6 bottles of my wife’s finest vintage. Easy to store and pretty handy the only downside is they cannot be easily folded small enough to be kept in a purse, but many bags aren’t.

Take a look at Bring Your Own Bag, plus they have a blog too.

Buka Bags Reusable Shopping Bag Product Review

Buka Bags are our latest addition to our Resuable Bag Comparison Chart.

The bags are made from cotton, so are washable, measure 18″w x 15″h x 7″d and have 25″ handles which make them long enough to go over the shoulder (just about). Weighing at only 10 ounces when empty they are strong enough to hold 25 pounds of shopping.

They’re available in a variety of cool designs, I got the “I get around” bag and the range even include ones in black (shock, horror!) so you don’t have to have to have the usual cream color.

As I don’t go shopping that often I’m getting used to testing bags by, frankly, stuffing anything I can find it them. Including neighbors pets, so I can testify that this bag can hold a small dog. For about 5 seconds until he ran off to do better things. Besides animals, the bag is pretty big and sturdy but folds up relatively small and therefore works for me.

Buka Bags sells them for $16.50. Check out the other reusable bags in our Resuable Bag Comparison Chart or all eco reviews on our Eco Reviews page.

Green World Bags Product Review

Green World Bags make reusable bags that are shaped like US paper grocery bags.

However they’re made from sturdier material (durable, non-woven materials, with reinforced straps and a sturdy liner), that will withstand more than a year of weekly usage and they hold the equivalent of 2-3 plastic bags. This translates to an annual reduction of approximately 700 plastic bags for the average family

Run by sisters Trina Koller and Trudy Balestreri in my new home town of San Diego, Green World Bags set out to make great looking bags that are practical and long lasting. They have a variety of fantastic silk-screen printed designs that make them much more interesting that other bags, but not more expensive.

When they finally wear out, they can be recycled. A four pack only costs $19.95 (or $7.50 each) from Green World Bags.

LetsGoGreen Eco Product Reviews

LetsGoGreen is a business that believe their products can make a positive difference one home at a time. They’re environmentally friendly, and are selected specifically for use in every room in the house.

We were sent a few items to take a look at. Their 100% Recycled Toilet Paper is free of dyes, inks and fragrances and is recycled without chlorine or bleaching. Frankly, as far as I can tell, this was the same as the non-recycled type, so there is absolutely no reason not to switch from the non-recycled type which are cutting down ancient forests. If every home in America changed just one roll for a recycled roll, then it would save a million trees a year.

Another no-brainer is to switch to Ecosafe degradable trash bags. We have the 13-gallon Tall Kitchen Bags. Ecosafe bags are just like regular plastic bags, except that they will totally degrade and compost in 12 to 24 months. They contain an additive called DCP which remains dormant until triggered by sufficient UV light, heat or mechanical stress. The bags leave no toxic or harmful residue.

Finally, I’m getting quite good at looking at reusable bags. Their canvas totes are made in the U.S.A. and are grocery-sized and sturdy. Dimensions are 18″ L x 7″ W x 17.5″ H (with 13″ handles), and carries quite a lot. I actually also use it to carry other reusable bags around in

A four pack of 100% Recycled Toilet Paper is only $2.39 (on sale), Ecosafe kitchen or trash bags start at only $2.99 and the reusable canvas tote $9.99 from LetsGoGreen.biz. Plus they have a 25% off FRIEND discount on!

ChicoBags Reusable Bag Eco Product Review

Another reusable bag is on test, this time a ChicoBag reusable bag.

Coming with an integrated pouch and a handy carabiner for attaching to a keychain, ChicoBags are pretty easy to carry with you and not suddenly realise at the checkout that you’ve left it at home. The size is 18″x18″ (3″x4″ in the pouch), can carry about 20lbs and weighs a small 1.5oz.

They also have their own Bag Monster blog which has amusing videos of a plastic bag monster terrorizing people on the street and being “attacked” by small children.

ChicoBags cost $5 each or you can get 5 for $20.