[KozmoNau7]

That study only looked at resource usage, and not the consequences of carelessly discarded shopping bags clogging up rivers and beaches.

The best shopping bag to use is still an upcycled bag made from otherwise discarded material, as you are not creating demand for the production of new bags. Sail cloth is a good sturdy fabric, and a bag made from it will literally last you a lifetime.

[gruez]

>and not the consequences of carelessly discarded shopping bags clogging up rivers and beaches.

1. plastic garbage winding up in rivers is largely a developing country problem. I don't see many plastic bags (if at all) in my local waterways.

2. why not just responsibly dispose of those bags? It's not hard. They're not going to get lost when you're using them. After that, you're probably home, or at least some place with a garbage bin.

>The best shopping bag to use is still an upcycled bag made from otherwise discarded material, as you are not creating demand for the production of new bags. Sail cloth is a good sturdy fabric, and a bag made from it will literally last you a lifetime.

Are you suggesting people to make DIY cotton bags from scrap fabric they find themselves? You might be able to avoid the high costs of cotton (break even of 7000+ uses), but if you're not into arts and crafts, I suspect the opportunity cost will eat up any savings (if any).

[KozmoNau7]

>"why not just responsibly dispose of those bags? It's not hard."

And yet a lot of people carelessly throw away their plastic bags. Their laziness trumps your "it's not hard". Something primarily being a problem in developing countries is not an excuse for not caring about it.

"I don't see any, so it must not be a problem" is not a valid argument. If you've ever tried to remove a plastic bag that was half-buried in sand, you would know. That bag could sit there for hundreds of years without degrading.

My point is that it's better to not have new bags/material made at all. Repurpose something that was already made and used for other purposes, and you lessen the footprint. It doesn't have to be cotton, the woven bags made from recycled plastic are quite durable and long-lasting. In my case, I do have cotton shopping bags, but they're all hand-me-downs from family, I would never buy a brand-new one.

If you want something made from upcycled sail cloth or similar repurposed materials, there are a number of companies who will happily sell you some, including customization.

Remember, it's "reduce, reuse, recycle, in that order.

[smileysteve]

Brag, I've been reusing the same backpack from high school for over a decade. It carries about 30l or 16lbs of fluids, I've had the zippers repaired once, and I probably use it at least one a week.

[lstodd]

This. I shop with a 10 year old Deuter, and although it looks worn, I expect it to last at least another 10 years.

It is also healthier for your spine than an equivalent bunch of bags, and keeps hands free. What's not to like?