The Best Reusable Bags for the Supermarket

Here’s a sobering fact: The average American family uses approximately 1,500 single-use plastic shopping bags annually. Only one percent of those bags are recycled—the rest wind up in the bellies of sea turtles and in landfills for hundreds and hundreds of years. California and Hawaii have banned single-use plastic bags, and New York will join the crusade on plastic in 2020.

The best reusable shopping grocery bags

The best reusable grocery shopping bags are more than just carriers of groceries. They’re a marker of environmentally-minded shoppers and conscientious citizens. Reusable bags can earn discounts on grocery bills, and the fashionable ones can double as stylish everyday totes.

The sustainability train and offering reusable shopping bags

More and more companies are jumping on the sustainability train and offering reusable shopping bags. We’re all walking advertisements for bookshops, restaurants, and clothing stores. And while these fun totes are capable of transporting groceries, there are a growing number of reusable bags specifically designed with food shopping needs in mind. 

Is the reusable shopping bag convenient ?

I toted a number of well-reviewed reusable bags to and from farmers' markets, grocery stores, and bodegas for a month. These reusable shopping bags also went everywhere that I transported food—a rooftop barbecue, a concert in the park, the beach, and even for a ferry ride. My favorites are listed below. Scroll down to see how I tested and what you should look for in a reusable grocery bag.

How I Tested reusable shopping bags:

I carried a wide variety of reusable shopping bags, both big and small, for weekly grocery hauls and quick trips to the corner store for a month. I tested their capacity by adding items of varying weights and shapes at the grocery store. I experimented with different ways of handling to find the best carrying method for each bag and to test how well-balanced they were, how evenly they allowed me to distribute the weight of my groceries, and how generally comfortable they were. I kept notes on the comfort of the straps and handles, the quality of the material, and the general functionality.

Is reusable shopping bags durable?

I wanted to find a bag with good weight distribution. I looked for something dependable that wouldn’t leave me with a cracked cartoon of eggs or spilled milk on the sidewalk. I wanted to find a bag manufactured with strong materials, secure straps and handles, and a sturdy bottom. I didn’t want a floppy, unstructured bag that would lead to bruised fruit or crushed veggies. I also wanted the materials to last without tearing or fraying.

Is reusable shopping bags comfortable to wear/hold?

I looked for a reusable grocery bag that would be comfortable to lug around. I wanted a bag that wouldn’t leave red marks on my shoulders or warrant a visit to the chiropractor.

Is reusable shopping bags easy to use?

I wanted something simple to open and close—nothing with too many buckles or cumbersome fasteners. Reusable grocery bags double as a shopping cart for trips to the farmers' market, so reusable shopping bags is important to have an accessible opening.

Is reusable shopping bags compact?

As a city-dweller I need something that can be stowed away and compactly stored in a small apartment. While not everyone has the kind of space limitations that I have, especially to those with cars and ample trunk storage for bags, compact storage bags make reusable shopping bags easier to never forget your grocery bags. Compact bags can be easily carried at all times and stowed away in your regular purse.

Is reusable shopping bags easy to clean?

Can reusable shopping bags go in the washing machine? Can it only be spot cleaned? It’s important to be able to wash a bag that carries food, especially raw meats, to prevent cross-contamination and the spread of bacteria.

TLPPACKAGING FOR SHOPPING BAGS