Did you know that over a BILLION single use plastic bags are given out for free each and every day?

As with most things in life that we say are “free”, these bags have a huge cost to the consumer and to the environment. Today I purchased my first “reusable” shopping bags.

I don’t know why I hadn’t done this before now. I used my new shopping bags today, too! I love them! Not only do they hold more, they hold the items in a “square type fashion” and so they rode in my vehicle better and were easier to carry and place on the counters in the kitchen!! Here are some real facts about all those “free” bags.

Production Costs

• Requires petroleum and sometimes natural gas
• Chemical ingredients to manufacture produce pollution during process

Consumption Costs

• It is estimated retailers spend $4 Billion to purchase
• You know this is passed on to the consumer

Disposal / Litter Costs

• Marine mammals die every year from eating these discarded bags
• Animals on land also suffer from ingesting these bags even domestic dogs and cats
• The collection and disposal of these plastic bags create additional impacts to our environment
• Sure we could recycle, but requires energy consumption and wouldn’t make the planet safer

I love my green shopping bags. I bought them at the Commissary for only 70 cents each. I will need to pick up a couple more for holiday shopping but for now two will do me. If you haven’t switched to reusable bags please do so this month – April is Earth Month!