Ban Plastic Bags - Crochet A Reusable One

If you care where your food comes from, you probably care about what you carry your food home in from the market. Cities and towns across America are considering a movement to ban or fine the use of disposable plastic bags. Some cities have already instated such a ban.

I’ve been on a bit of an anti-plastic rant lately. Please revisit with me why this symbol of a throwaway culture is still prevalent, and why we haven’t banned disposable plastic bags yet.

2 Reasons We Have Not Banned Disposable Plastic Bags:

1. The petroleum and plastics industries oppose the ban of plastic bags and lobby hard to keep plastic in supermarkets.
2. People don’t want to change their habits.

2 Reasons We Need To Ban Disposable Plastic Bags:

1. About 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are used worldwide every year. Oil byproducts, such as petroleum are used to make plastic bags. Oil is expensive and getting more so. Should we be wasting oil on something as frivolous as plastic bags?
2. Plastic is the largest source of ocean litter. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association has estimated that ocean debris worldwide kills at least 1 million sea birds. According to Planet Ark, about 100,000 whales, seals, turtles and other marine animals are killed by plastic bags each year worldwide.

2 Solutions To The Disposable Bag Problem:

1. We have a viable solution – reusable bags. As we begin to get closer to addressing this problem, do you think we should fine people for not using reusable bags? Or, should we charge a fee for using a plastic bag?
2. Make your own cloth bag.

DIY Crocheted Shopping Bag

2 Reasons Why I Love This Earth-Friendly Shopping Tote:

1. It scrunches up into a tiny ball.
2. It is made from durable natural linen.

Here’s the pattern from Purl Bee for this bag.

Credit: Purl Bee

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Lynde T.

6:53PM PST on Jan 25, 2012

I intend on making a bunch of bags like this soon. These also double as a great beach bag!

send a green star

Nina A.

10:24AM PST on Jan 12, 2012

Thank you

Kamryn M.

12:03PM PST on Jan 11, 2012

good idea. note that some yarns are acrylic and also made from oil (altho re-using is still a step in the right direction).

May H.

4:04PM PDT on Aug 20, 2011

Betty B.

1:15PM PDT on Aug 12, 2011

I like the idea of cloth reusable bags-- but I don't know of any sanitation worker that is going to pick up garbage in a cloth bag--even if they were made big enough --and the ones they sell at the store as reusable--are made from recycled plastic--so whats the difference --we still have to buy them and eventually dispose of them --they don't last forever-- I know from experience LOL --anyway--just a thought

martine t.

5:36PM PDT on Aug 9, 2011

I THINK USING A FABRIC BAG IS REA ALY SMART,BUT I DON T KNOW IF IT REDUCES PLASTIC BAGS CONSIDERING PEOPLE WILL BUY PLASTIC BAGS FOR THEIR TRASH CANS AS OPPOSED TO USING GROCERY PLASTIC BAGS.ALL IT DOES IS ACTUALLY CUT JOBS FROM THE PRINTERS WHO PRINT STORE LOGOS ON THE BAGS.PERHAPS VERY BIODEGRADEABLE BAGS WOULD BE THE SOLUTION.

Michele W.

1:30PM PDT on Aug 9, 2011

Tim C.

10:55AM PDT on Aug 8, 2011

thanks.

Alyssa R.

8:32AM PDT on Jul 15, 2011

My friend gave me a crochet bag for Christmas....I have'nt used it yet, but here I am and it looks like fate. No more plastic bags for me!

carlee t.

7:01PM PDT on Jun 23, 2011

cool