tote bags are fast fashion too.
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- Опубликовано: 14 окт 2024
- Plastic bags are a problem! But are tote bags the great environmental solution we think they are?
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MAKE YOUR OWN TOTE BAG: • How to Sew a Tote Bag ...
SOURCES:
Stats on Totebag waste: www.nytimes.co...
Futureproof video on totebags: • The Tote Bag Trend Mak...
The study it quotes: www2.mst.dk/ud...
Totebag waste: metro.co.uk/20...
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returns usually get binned www.bbcearth.c...
One truckload of perfectly wearable textiles is dumped in landfills or incinerated every second.www.eco-busine...
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Outside my local supermarket there is a "bag bin" for people to leave their excess tote bags. If you forget your reusable bags on the way into the supermarket, you can just grab a couple from the bin. This could be one way of communally sharing tote bags and reducing the need to buy a bag at the supermarket.
This sounds like a great idea
That’s brilliant!
Love this! 😊 Can I ask what area this is in?
@@ultraviolet3826 Australia
They have also this in a recycling centers near where I live, which is very convenient.
Our local high street (in Melbourne) has tote bag libraries - tote bags available in various shops, you borrow if you don't have a bag and bring back another time. They are just hung on a coat rack type thing by the shop entrances. There is a community initiative to make the whole high street plastic free (they also have a place to donate tupperware that has lost the lid and they try to reunite bottoms and tops and then give it away)
That tupperware swap is genius!
Love this!
We do this in Brisbane too (though in a large square bin, nothing as fancy as a coat rack :D )
Why is this not universally applied?
There are some similar things in Sydney but it depends what council area
My gym has yearly summer and winter 'games' which are so much fun and great for the gym community spirit, but up until the last one a couple of weeks ago you always 'had' to buy a new t-shirt for each event. Before the most recent summer games I spoke to the gym owner and asked him to think about designing a t-shirt that wasn't dated, so you could re-wear the t-shirt yearly. He totally agreed and did just that. It's a small thing (ideally there would be no fecking t-shirt necessary at all...) but I did feel happy that I spoke up and that there was a positive result!
I understood what you meant by “ideally there would be no t shirt at all”, but as I am sleepy, I initially read it as a nudist’s plea for us all to go topless.
This is an initiative I can get behind?
Cannot say how much rage the ‘here is the t shirt you have to wear for this event’ makes me. I’m never going to wear this again, why are you inflicting this on me so I need to keep it for years hoping I’ll want to wear it/craft with it before inevitably donating it to a charity shop that doesn’t want it 😭
Haha I know, where’s the consent 😅
I think I saw a video somewhere on how to repurpose clothes like this, maybe on Kathleen Illustrated's channel? or it might've been Instagram. although that still doesn't take away the mental burden capitalism puts on us 😅
Event specific t-shirts is my main way of acquiring t shirts 😅
@@fishfish7985 And if you wear t shirts that’s fabulous! I never do apart from when forced so they just go to waste
So true. I have a relatively small amount of clothes and the percentage that is “swag” shirts from various companies or events is truly unfortunate. Also it’s not like that one t shirt blank that everyone prints on is an awesome tshirt- and yet I own it so many times over.
"The most 'sustainable' bag is the bag you already own" - I remember learning about this at university in a sustainability class focused on experiential learning and student-led community projects. The project for one student group was helping the university campus store transition from plastic to reusable canvas bags and determining the most 'sustainable' or good-for-the-planet options. It turns out the best option is using a bag you already own - which at the time surprised me, because I assumed the best option was going to be the reusable bag option. I didn't consciously realize that there were options beyond the initial 2 choices lol
I put folded tote bags in my most used handbags. This way I am always prepared when I happen to go to the library or a flea market or grocery shopping...
I do the same)
Me too! And I've used them to separate underwear in my drawer so the socks don't roll around 😁
This is so smart! I have some of the little thin ones that fold up super tiny so I’ll definitely be doing this
Same! Creating the routine means making the decision once and not every single time I go to the store
Same for me, I barely ever need to think about whether I have a bag in my bag - it will be there for when I need it :) I do have too many tote bags though, part of me wants to keep them in case my most used ones wear out
I once got my birthday present wrapped in a tote bag from a friend, and it was the most useful wrapping paper ever. I've now also started putting presents or like, the wine I bring to dinner parties in tote bags I don't use anymore! Highly recommend ✨
That’s a good idea! I resent the concept of wrapping paper, you’re buying it to get torn and binned instantly.
I was gunna say this! A good chunk of our friendship group has given up on wrapping paper, or we just recycle any we're given an often it does the rounds between us for a couple of years. We've started using tote bags and it seems like a good alternative so far.
Ohmygosh I love this!
My husband wrapped one of my birthday presents in a beautiful tote bag from my favourite book shop! It was the best part of the present :))
I was given a bottle in a bag made out of a narrow jeans leg. I like it so much I always rejoice when I get it back a year later 😂
I signed up for my next run's "green bib" program, where instead of getting a medal and a t-shirt, they make a small charitable donation. Win-win.
OMG, wish all events would offer that!
Love the *esluxy* , will be taking it to go to work. I love all the ability to organize everything w pockets some w zippers. My first bag had the liner rip. They replaced it faster than I could ship return. Thank you!
Some ideas:
1. Put a tote bag in every handbag/ backpack you own - so you will never be without one
2. Make a blanket/ throw/ quilt/ cushion covers with your old tote bags, or cut and applique the tote design onto a t-shirt
3. Decide on a use for a specific tote bag: e.g. I have a library book bag for taking my books to/ from the library
Making things out of them is genius! It's fabric!! Pillow covers are such a great idea!!!!
I use them as project bags for knitting sometimes
I sewed a couple of pockets into one of my sturdier bags so I can use it as a swimming bag. My goggles are easy to find and I can zip up the one with my wallet and watch
I have one tote bag for the essentials that I need in whichever bag I'm using for the day, one designated "extra" for when I'm out and might go grocery shopping, and several as project bags for my handiwork. Will consider choosing one for books...
Or don't stress about is and don't make an unnecessary pillow, and just keep them around in case another one goes out of commission, or somebody else wants/needs one. The quilt idea is fire though.
I think I'm quite fortunate since the question "do you need a bag" is really common where I live and bringing your own bag is expected. Phrasing is definitely important in influencing our responses to things.
I work in retail and I'm always really intentional with my phrasing to ask just that! I'm quite fortunate that 9 times out of 10 where I am, everyone also has their own bag
where I live, if you don't ask for the bag/put in on the line, you're just not getting one xD the best approach tbh
When I worked in retail I had a Canadian colleague who always asked "would you like to BUY a bag?" (there's a plastic bag charge in the UK) and I thought that was brilliant!
I’m always asked “do you want a bag” too and 90% of the time the answer is no as I usually have my backpack which has an additional bag inside too.
I agree with all the points except O - I've never been asked "plastic or reusable?", the question has always been "would you like a bag?" which gives you the option to answer "no thanks, I've brought my own". Maybe this is a regional thing, but I've lived in several places across England and Scotland and it's been the same everywhere I've shopped.
Aldi has trained me to not use any bag at all! Instead I keep boxes or laundry baskets in my trunk (unfortunately I have to drive for my groceries, America) and then I just move all my groceries from the cart directly to my car and carry them into the house in the boxes. Easy peasy. I’ve started doing it at other grocery stores too.
I do applaud everyone who is trying to consume less, and making manageable & sustainable changes to their lifestyle to achieve this. We usually don't need the T-shirt, we usually don't need the tote.
But on a dour numerical note: just want to caution about the 20,000 uses figure: this eye-catching finding compares the worst kinds of cotton bags with a reference (incinerated plastic bag). It's an extremely limited measure of environmental impact (ozone depletion), chosen from the study and quoted widely because it has the biggest disparity between the two types of bag. Across most of the other important metrics of environmental impact (e.g., climate change, energy use, human toxicity, eutrophication, etc) the required reuse number is something like 50-1400 for conventional cotton, and 150-3800 for organic cotton. So as you rightly point out, your favourite tote bags aren't a "free lunch" environmentally! But there's a good chance that using it a couple of hundred times will have 'paid' for its use, over a plastic option.
Beyond that point, these numbers are flawed also because the base for comparison is an incinerated bag, and only a tiny fraction of bags are incinerated. Some are recycled, but most end up in landfill, to eventually become microplastics that contaminate our soil and water systems for thousands of years. Or in the ocean, choking and sterilizing sea life. All of these "reuse number" comparisons weigh an option which avoids the above consequences (but is more energy- and water-intensive), with a plastic product that comprises of very little substance at all. Plastic bags are so cheap precisely because making them is resource-efficient, thus they score relatively impressively on metrics for resource use like energy, water, ozone depletion, etc. But expressing the comparison in those terms ignores all of the avoided environmental harms that come from making and using single-use plastics.
100% this!
excellent point, thank you!
For several years now (and god knows how long it’s been in rotation before that), I have been using a grocery bag constructed of a fabric from an old broken umbrella. It was made by my husband’s grandma too, which warms my heart ❤️
Great video, Leena!
This made me think about all my tote bags. I don't buy them, but there are giveaways, gifts, etc. The problem of how to get nonprofits to stop so much waste is on my mind a lot, like how they send out tote bags, calendars, cards, sticky address labels, all unsolicited--even environmental orgs! I send back their mailers and ask to be taken off their mailing list, and now I think I'll do a premade note adding that I wish they'd stop with all the "free gifts" because those have a cost to all of us.
I feel like people forget that a plastic bag is very much reusable too. I have been reusing them for years. They take literally no space so I tend to have two in every bag/backpack, which greatly minimizes the number of times I need to buy a bag (total of maybe 2 a year?).
Learning to fold plastic bags into little triangles was a game changer for me because they are so much easier to toss in my handbag
Agree, but in Europe they are banning them so you can barely find them.
I agree...but...
A person does need some amount of tote bags. I need probably 2-3 for groceries. I frequently use one when I go to the library. I use one for gym clothes and shoes and stuff. And they are handy to have in a pinch: no knitting storage? tote bag. taking cat toys to the cat-sitter? tote bag. bringing a blanket, a hat, sunglasses, and a fruit salad to a picnic? tote bag. moving? tote bag.
I proudly own five tote bags. I ashamedly own many more. But man, those first five, necessary, useful bags are great.
I love your take about proudly owning five tote bags and ashamedly owning many more 😂
I have a few "nicer" ones that I use for similar purposes. The rest waits in line until one of those is breaking down or I need something to store my fabric scraps in or something.
Yeah, the big ones make great laundry baskets and out of season storage for winter duvets etc. I too own bags, and I do use most of them. Not for shopping, but for storing my ballet stuff, or for keeping the shoes and shawls separated in the bin etc. So, they are technically in use constantly.
One of the supermarkets in our town has a tote bag tree, where you can take one if needed and bring old ones you're not using.
I love most of my tote bags; they're so practical and fun. My favorite being a Kurt Vonnegut one that I made myself. Very interesting video though! Thank you, Leena, for doing the research and thinking the thoughts. I'd love to live as sustainable as possible but find it hard to get all the informations with the limited time I have on my hands. So these kinds of videos are very appreciated.
THIS IS MAGICAL
Holy cow I love this idea
AMAZING
A tote bag tree! So cute
That is such a wonderful idea! Maybe that’s something we can try as individuals.. to ask local supermarkets if they would implement such a system? That would be fantastic if this catches on!
We use a bunch we don’t use out to organise our laundry within the basket so we just grab a bag when it’s full and it doesn’t need sorting (one for 30, one for 40, one that needs the guppy bag, one for wool wash etc….)
Ok this is genius and just solved my hamper problem thank you!!
What a great idea, I'm going to steal that 😅😊
@@emilyolivemoore1737 they’re just marked with sharpies it’s really helped make laundry less of a chore
I recently moved house and put a lot of my belongings into tote bags which made the move a lot easier in my experience. I also use them for more than just shopping in my daily life. For example, I put my lunches in glass jars and use the bags to keep them cushioned in my backpack. :)
The O part was interesting because in my city I'm usually asked whether I have a bag or want one, which is definitely a different question.
Almost the same. In my country (Sweden) the question usually is: Do you have a bag or need one? or shorten do: Do you need a bag? So as long I can carry the items with easy without a bag I answer I dont need a bag even when I forget to bring my own.
Same here - where I am, they charge 5 cents for paper bags (they don't have plastic anymore) and so they ask you if you need a bag
Same here- I’m in Southern California and pretty much every grocery store I go to the cashier will ask “do you need a bag?”
I live in London, UK and whenever asked, the question is always "do you need a bag?" - and if you say yes, it'll be a thin plastic bag. The only places I can think of that sell tote bags for the purpose of carrying what you just bought are the supermarkets, and these are located a little distance from the actual payment point and are never "upsold" in the way Leena suggests in this video, so I think she was using a dose of poetic licence. It really is the norm now in UK supermarkets that you will have brought your own bags with you.
@@karinelfwing9095yeah or ”do you need to buy a bag?” ”Behöver du köpa en påse?”
Idkkkkk the 20k number is a bit oversimplified! I found the NYT article and found the Danish study it was based on.
"The absolute highest number of reuse times for the climate change impact category was obtained for composite and cotton carrier bags. In particular, conventional cotton carrier bags should be reused at least 50 times before being disposed of; organic cotton carrier bags should be reused 150 times based on their environmental production cost. This calculated number of primary reuse times for cotton bags complies with results of previous studies. "
"Organic cotton bags: Reuse for grocery shopping at least 149 times for climate change, and up to 20000 times considering all indicators; reuse as waste bin bag if possible, otherwise incinerate.
Conventional cotton bags: Reuse for grocery shopping at least 52 times for climate change, and up to 7100 times considering all indicators; reuse as waste bin bag if possible, otherwise incinerate"
The reason 'all indicators' is at 20k instead of 150 is because organic cotton, which is not treated by pesticides and fertilizers, yields a smaller crop. so it's not as black and white as we want it to be. Plus - how many of those cotton bags are actually organic? The other thing we aren't taking into account is the number of bags required per shopping trip and how much weigh each of these bags can hold - cotton wins both of those categories by far.
I encourage anyone interested in this sort of thing to actually look up the thing. We like easy heuristics, but there aren't any when it comes to climate change. Except just don't consume anything at all. lol
super interesting! thanks for sharing
Yes, literally read today about how whales are dying with their stomachs full of plastic bags. There are many reasons cotton ones are better. @joelleweetjewel9948
Thanks for this context. The "all indicators" finding also selects for the worst-performing indicator (ozone depletion), rather than a weighted representation of all of them. Ozone depletion is certainly not irrelevant, but it is probably a relatively minor consideration when thinking about the production and life-cycle of shopping bags.
The ozone finding for cotton bags is itself the result of quite a complex calculation involving many layers of assumptions (e.g., countries that the cotton is sourced from, the water- and energy-intensity of their cotton production, the average technology mix for their electricity, etc). Not saying it's mistaken but is probably subject to quite wide bounds of uncertainty.
@joelleweetjewel9948 100% correct about the harms of microplastics that are not captured in any of these reuse ratios
Yeah I had remembered this study as use 50 times not for 50 years, bit disappointed that Lena didn't make this more clear. Using a bag 50 times is more doable and would encourage people to bring reusable bags every time they shop. 50 years feels impossible and triggers "what's the point" eco despair
Changing the question from "plastic or reusable?" to "plastic or have you brought your own?" is an amazing switch! The onus is absolutely not on us to fix everything with the plastic problem, but the different question would create mindset switch in the general public and probably start to make the lightbulbs go on in the minds of a lot of people.
They’ve outlawed plastic bags in the state I live in. So you either have to remember to bring your own bags or you can buy a reusable one at the grocery store if you need one. Knowing you don’t have a choice definitely makes it easier to remember to bring your own! Some stores also will take 5-10 cents off your total per reusable bag you bring so that’s a nice incentive.
I have a lovely arty friend who gives gifts in totes that no longer serve her instead of disposable party bags. It’s honestly been so nice to receive, it’s cute, and I feel like it’s part of the gift I can then use :)
One of the first things this video made me think of as well is why not reuse the fabric of a tote bag that is not being used? It’s usually pretty sturdy fabric that could make for some great patches to stabilise a hole you’ve torn in your clothing, or as a lining for something small, to add some pockets to a dress…. And the straps are already sewn, no need to make your own straps for a top.
This video also made me think about how a tote bag is just a piece of fabric really! I'm going to use an unused one we have and use it as a lining for a shoulder bag im repairing! that way I know it will be used lots and lots of times
It's also useful as something to store or transport stuff in, you don't need to use it for shopping only, they can be laundry baskets, storage bins, dividers in boxes, etc etc.
i've made a quilt blanket out of old tote bags and shirts from random jobs, schools, university stuff and it's like a time capsule
It's nice that your stores give you a choice between plastic or buying a tote (if you haven't brought your own bag). A lot of the stores near me banned plastic bags and force you to buy a tote, if you haven't brought your own bag. A few have the option of paper bags (which I use as a mini recycling bin). But, like, I used the plastic bags I got from stores as trash bags. Or as bags to separate stuff in my luggage (i.e. shoes, dirty clothes vs clean clothes) or backpack (plastic bag for wet swimwear and towels). So now I have to buy plastic trash bags. Which feels worse. At least before, the plastic bag was multi-use.
I had the exact same thought process when my province banned plastic bags! At least they were multi use... paying for single use trash bags feels so so wrong
A big one is using them for pet waste. Why buy them when they come home with the groceries?
@@sarahkinsey5434 I even use them for disposing takeout boxes/food I didn't finish. Why take out a whole garbage bag for a small amount of garbage?
@@pisto30 I do that at work when I’m stocking stuff. Some items like pillows come in plastic, so I put other bags, bubble wrap, styrofoam etc. into those. Always make it as small as possible like Russian nesting dolls. I make a game of it when I see a paper coffee cup in the garbage to try and toss my orange peels or candy wrappers in it lol
Maybe the solution to extra tote bags is to leave them at those stores, for folks who forgot to bring one. Maybe talk to the managers about setting up a "tote tree" somewhere where folks can leave/take a bag as needed.
My partner is a musician and the “merch” question is so f*cked. Lately we started going to the $1 a pound pile at a few local thrift shops and screen-printing onto those, and it’s been a fun workaround. Because not selling merch actually does have a bit of a dampening effect on a smaller band, so it’s tricky! But yeah, if anyone is trying to print t-shirts for a small business or event I think it’s a good middle ground! Every town’s got a pile and your local screen printer is often a pretty rad human :)
Still not into the “t shirts for literally one day” vibe though. I find it so obnoxious. My closet is full of that one bella+ canvas tshirt without my consent 🫥
Yess, such a win-win to repurpose preloved shirts and have the printing done locally! Keep up the good work :)
I've never seen band merch printed on thrift store shirts before but that's SO COOL. Honestly, so much cooler than normal merch tees!
its a cool idea, but i also think this isn't an issue. people will cherish it and wear it. i think the heat should still go to corporates.
@@eszemaszeszeda band tee is likely a sustainable purchase for the consumer, yes, but you also have to consider the carbon emissions of simply manufacturing a new garment (around 7kg for a t shirt). plus buying secondhand garments sidesteps the issue of sweatshop labor
Hi Lena, I work in policy in Canada for the federal service and I desperately wish we could work faster and approve changes more quickly sometimes. We recently banned plastic bags and I have struggled with the tote bag policy but after forgetting them a few times (and getting a paper bag without handles, the old fashioned way), I always have a tote around for shopping now. Truly it is a learning curve and we need to hold each other accountable. Great video!
In regards to the implied shaming at the checkout, I can remember back in the 80s when the enviro movement was really kicking into gear, you were asked, "paper or plastic?" It was said in a way that implied you were a bad person if you chose paper. Paper bags were killing trees, so were bad. We hadn't gotten to the evils of plastic bags yet. Canvas tote bags, if anyone had them, likely wouldn't have been even allowed in the grocery stores where I live. The cashiers wouldn't know how to pack them, and at that time, you wouldn't dare pack your own bags. Funny how things progress and yet we still have so far to go.
I really appreciate when events _ask me_ if I actually want the event specific shirt rather than just giving it to me. That way people who genuinely want one can get it and I can spare my wardrobe from overflowing with shirts.
I have used one of the tote bags I wasn't using to make patches for all the things I want patches on. There's still bits of it left over, but I like (and wear) the clothes with the patches more now, so I see it as an absolute win.
the fossil fuel industry ruining my shot haha things got really personal there 😂 here's a tip if, like me, you have too many tote bags lying around: use them in the house! it's a pretty way to store things (I have one full of tissue packs haha) or cover up something you don't like the look of, for example a spot where you've got a lot of cables running :)
Tote bags are really easy to turn into roll up pencil cases ✨ Fold the bottom up, sew in lines for the pencil holders and cut off the handles to sew on as the ties! Did this a few years ago with totes I didn’t love anymore and gave them as gifts to people. ❤
I have a set of nylon shopping bags. They squish up tiny and are practically weightless so they stay in my purse all the time, I never get caught without at least 2 or 3. They are machine washable and extremely strong, I've had a set of 10 for 4 or 5 years and going strong!
I've never bought a tote bag, they just appear in my life. my favourite is the one that my dad got in the 90s on a work trip to the other side of the globe. it has long straps so i can use it as a cross-body bag when cycling home from the shops!
I use net bags (well, I have currently only one that I use all the times) and they are great, tiny when folded, don't get wrinkled and you can put loads of stuff in them.
How do you prevent smaller items from falling out? Or is the bad made from somewhat fine net/mesh? Just curious!
@@Viktoria71513 I have also a cross body styled smaller bag where I keep this bag and my phone and book etc., so I usually put them there. I have also smaller mesh bags for vegetables, but I don't use them, when it's not squishable (like cucumbers or cauliflowers or bell peppers) I let them roam free and when it is, the mesh wouldn't help, either, so then I use whatever the store has to contain them - there are often fairs where they have reusable containers for e.g. strawberries or apricots, so you can buy them with a deposit (? is it a right word?) and when you return it, you can either refill it or get the deposit back. Many bakeries here offer small paper bags, I reuse all of them either as a lining for small bins or for whatever I need to get rid of our hamsters "cages" :D I still feel quite guilty, my parents are very much into recycling everything, their system is a bit complicated, but I'm just trying to cope with basics.
@@carnifaxx I see, thank you for the explanation!
Hehe my friends always mock me as I’ve been using the same ICONIC leopard print topshop tote bag from 2006. 18 years on and it’s still thriving! 🎉
Where I live there are no free bags anymore by law - you either bring your own bags or you have to pay a small fee for a "reusable" plastic bag, so we keep a handful of bags in our car to use whenever we go to the store. I have a bag sitting next to my computer right now waiting for me to remember to repair it, actually.
It’s the same in the U.K.
I live in NY state (US) where plastic bags have been largely outlawed.
It's been a real shift, but it A) makes paper bags seem perfectly normal, B) makes you remember to carry reusable bags, and C) makes plastic bags scarce and therefore more valuable. Everyone saves the few plastic bags we do get and you almost never see them on the streets or anywhere. Like, they're super scarce.
I always have a tote with me and i have to stop people from giving me plastic bags 😂 but when they do, I use them for trash, and that is how I have skipped on buying trash bags for many years now 😁
Taking my usual humble shaming from auntie Leena while enjoying my Monday dinner. Just how I like it ✨✨
Yeah, this was great - something you and Struthless both do really well actually is that, like, seemingly straightforward/micro entry point to a much bigger story that keeps unfolding (almost like it's good writing or something, hahah) but stays super accessible and relatable.
what a thoughtful video! hank green talked about tote bag impact a while back, and it's been haunting me ever since. i like the emphasis here on emotional processing as well as steps forward beyond what to do with the bags
We developed a system so we never forget to take bags to the grocery store!
We store some tote bags in a big carrier bag AND we collect our returnable bottles in there.
When we go grocery shopping we have to remember either to bring the bottles or to take tote bags🎉
Definitely something I've pondered in the past! I've made a bunch of 'grocery bags' from thrifted tea towels, some for me and for my family. The old kitschy travel ones are great, and 100% linen or cotton. Fold em in half, sew up the sides, you can give 'em a square bottom if you like. You can use ribbon (if you tie a knot in the ends before sewing) or cotton tape for handles. And I'm a fan of 2 sets of handles like IKEA does -- one smaller for just your hand, and then the longer one for over your shoulder. They hang in a bag in my front hall with my purses, so I have no choice but to grab one when I leave the house. But my official Knitty swagbag is one of my fav's! Great video! 😅❤
As an Australian I'm so happy you watch Struthless, his content is so good!
Plastic bags are banned where I live, so it's generally BYOTote or bust. I definitely have too many, but there's quite a few options for recirculating them in my city. One store does a "take a bag, leave a bag" thing like how we used to have with pennies. We also have a city-based zero waste center where they get handed out to low income families or those experiencing homelessness.
I work in a small grocery store and yes - we do ask "Do you have your own bag or would you like a paper bag?" and we also have a "take one/ leave one" program for reusable bags. People love it and it's great being part of a cyclical economy.
Loved this video and the framework you gave to help us think about this problem. I'm a small creator and I made a video about replacing the straps on my well-loved tote bag and brought in some of the same stats that you pulled here but I'm still learning how to be as eloquent as you are! Watching this video makes me feel so validated in the content I'm trying to make on this platform. Thank you so much.
The last clip made think that sewing many tote bags together would make a very cool picnic blanket
Can we normalize popping out to the general store with our hand-woven basket in hand à la Anne of Green Gables, please? 😆
My dad always goes to the store with his own basket. Don't know where he got the habit, maybe his ww2-period parents.
Still common in East Germany. It's cute.
@@raapyna8544 I love that! There are so many habits from the past that have been lost due to a shift towards convenience, abundance, and disposability. But hopefully we’re on track to bringing back those practices
@@flyingazebo awesome! Not only is it a beautiful and sustainable aesthetic, but it also helps to protect the craft of hand-weaving from disappearing
Leena, you would be so proud of me lol I have to go to work conferences and I was almost going to go shopping for business casual items but my mom has clothes that with a few sewing tactics are now fit for me to wear instead of buying other clothes❤😅
We have reusable grocery shopping bags that we have been using for several years now and I am planning on using until they disintegrate. I haven’t garnered a big collection of tote bags but I have recently donated a few that I did have because I just don’t use them. I think getting companies and event organizers to stop doing the merch (totes, tshirts, notebooks) is a much better focus than just me as an individual trying to consume less.
The best solution I can come to is shops/supermarkets accepting tote donations for those in a pinch, then they really would circulate! But they probably wouldn’t wanna accept a competitors bag 😅. We had a local supermarket that offered the stock cardboard boxes as an option to carry stuff to your car/home, sturdier than bio/plastic bags and recyclable.
The supermarket is still selling you a bag is such a good point. My problem is that 4/5 times I don't plan on going shopping, it just happens on my way back from somewhere when I remember we don't have milk, and I hadn't brought a bag. I wish supermarkets had a bucket by the door where I could periodically dump the six bags-for-life that I have accumulated at home, and pick one up when I forgot to bring one. But then they couldn't sell a reusable plastic one.
In Italy they will usually ask if you want a bag. And if you do, you will get a biodegradable one. Plastic bags are banned here by law.
My decision on buying a re-usable bag is preceded by the question: can I carry what i just bought with my body? 😅 In a lot of stores in Belgium and France the only options at the register are re-usable bag or no bag, i feel like people have gotten very good at remembering to bring their own bags.
I still own too many tote bags, like the ones i received every time i donated blood 🫠 I'm also not a fan of the recommendation i read a lot to make a tote bag for your first sewing project - i get that it teaches the basics for beginners, but that is really the last thing i need one more of 😅
Samantha Bee did a segment on her show in 2022 about tote bags and the environment. And that stuck with my because I no longer buy new tote bags. I have plenty. I've set up a system that means I always have a bag with me.
This video actually made me ask why I rarely use the couple of totes I have and I realised it's bc I prefer backpacks! I'm gonna see if I can somehow modify the one bag by adding straps and add some kind of way to close the top. The other is a sentimental piece because I got it during my study abroad and I use it when I'm going to the beach or staying the night at friends'
What's funny is that the vast majority of tote bags I've owned over the years have come from book-related events, and most of them were not good, lol. Although goodness knows I've tried to use then, even if it was just to carry the trash out for garbage collection.
In my area of the US (near Boston, MA), plastic bags are often banned, so everything is back to paper bags and now you usually have to pay for them. But ever since that happened, my local grocery chain stopped proving paper bags with handles, and over my dead body will I pay ten cents for a terrible bag. Which is a strong motivator for remembering to bring my bags with me.
Had to pause for a moment during your Obligation bit, because actually in Belgium, we are asked “Do you need a bag or are you fine?” and a lot of people bring their own. People are only buying a bag if they’ve forgotten to bring one. And the only ones available are the sturdy plastic ones that cost (a little) money.
About 10 years ago i went home to a small village in ireland. it was before the plastic bag tax came to england but ireland had it for years. As i forgot my bag i though id just buy a reusable one. NOPE. They had evolved. The supermarket no longer sold any bags, none. It was a tesco and it was a bring your own bag. I had to carry everything home loose 😂 i never forgot a bag again
I have so many tote bags, mainly from university open days that were handed out for free. I have not thrown any of them away and usually use 2 or 3 at least 5 times a week, if not every day. Now that I know how long I need to use them for, I will make an effort to not get any more.
I have a few tote bags and have crocheted one and use them instead of handbags, as well as carrying one or two (bag-ception) just in case i go shopping.
While listening to you talk about other ways of thinking about totebags I got the idea that there should be a cultural move to have a take a tote leave a tote box at the market so that people could drop off bags they don't need anymore and other people could use them instead like the old "take a penny, leave a penny" trays that stores used to have at the register before everything went primarily cashless.
I actually don’t have many totes, maybe 3 or 4. I have an idea though to cut them all up and to make a “perfect tote bag”, with batting inbetween two layers, a laptop pocket, a internal strap for my water bottle, internal pockets and a clasp???. I don’t think I have enough totes to do it but I’m willing to go to some charity shops and rescue a couple.
I try to regularly donate my bags (reusable or plastic) to my local food bank, as they're always in need of them. If they run out of bags, they can't give out the food they still have. I was walking by it the one day, and someone asked if I had an extra bag. I did, and they took it so they could feed their family that week. I don't buy any more. I have a few nice ones I use all the time. The others come with things people give me to keep or borrow. No one asks for them back, because they have so many. Most of the reusable bags here in Canada aren't made out of cotton. They're recycled bottles. Which... I don't know if that's better for the environment or not... a local low/zero waste store sold reusable bags made out of hideous thrifted curtains, because they were more likely to end up in the landfill.
Was not expecting a Struthless reference in this video. Heck yeah!
And Furture Proof. This one is less surprising. But it’s nice know I watch the same content as Leena.
When my partner and I bought our handmade lopi sweaters in Iceland, the old lady running the shop had handmade tote bags made from scrap fabrics, and I thought this was an excellent sustainable way of providing a bag.
I too keep folded bags in my most used rucksack and handbag, so handy!
My partner is sadly one of those who always forget to bring bags and has bought dozens of totes, plastic bags or those for frozen goods. I folded them and put them in a box in his car and keep putting them there. It's a bit of a Sysiphos task but at least it means using them and not keeping buying more and more and more...
Your local Zero Waste store or a chairty shop is often happy to take them. My local ZW store has a take back scheme for tote bags where they will lend you one and you are expected to bring it back the next time you are there. I have also dontated plastic bags and tote bags to chairty shops before, not for selling, but to re use as bags at the till. I would prefer a bring back scheme, especially for any with a logo on.
For a long time, as the price of Chanel increased, I no longer thought I could afford it. I think I'll be happy that I have the kislux as my travel bag that I don't have to take care of. By the way, I'm sure no one will have a hard time telling the difference. Thanks for the comparison.
I inherited a random-ass tote bag from my mom that she'd bought when we lived in Germany and so it's for this random German company I don't even know but I started using it as my sewing bag to take my projects with me places to work on and it was amazing for years until finally the holes in the bottom started becoming a bit too big to ignore. I still use it, it's just good for projects where I'm less likely to have loose pins and thread floating in the bottom of the bag that could fall out. But anyway then I was on vacation in Greece and came across this fantastic canvas beach bag (giGANTIC) with a beautiful night sky print on it and so I bought that and made two new tote bags in the same dimensions as my old one, from the new fabric, and those are my new sewing bags and very useful but also a fun little memento of my trip.
I have received a lot of free tote bags for sure, and there is a part of me that is like "I want a cute tote bag though!" but for this exact reason I will not be buying myself a new one, even if it's cute. This video has made me think about the ways I could take my already existing tote bags and make them into something I would enjoy better, either by redecorating or by upcycling
I agree, I live in LA and iv only ever heard "would you like a bag?" and iv sometimes even heard "would you like a bag or have you brought your own?"
When you talked about laying all your tote bags out in one place it reminded me so much of the TV show Sort Your Life Out - that show totally changed my perspective on what it means to waste stuff and when it is and isn't worth holding on to things (as long as you know that stuff is going to someone/somewhere that will actually use it). Their whole thing is about being able to see everything you have, because if you can't find stuff, you buy duplicates that you don't need! And it also reminded me that one person featured on the show had 300+ plastic bags in their house - not even tote bags!!
I use my tote bags as knitting project bags. Most of them are not shaped conveniently for groceries and I already have plenty for that. My biggest problem with free bags/pins/tshirts/etc is that they make them so ugly. I do not want a pin with a corporate logo lazily smacked in the middle in an obnoxious color. I have a few event shirts that I wear often because they are nice colors and have a fun graphic, even if it says the event name. If you are in charge of a company's branded swag, I beg you to consider just making it look nice. Making the logo big and obvious doesn't get you more visibility if it's at the bottom of the bin.
when i lived in canada, everything was super car-centric and for some reason the grocery stores packed everything in like 10 little plastic bags automatically. love north america. i didn't know england had the same problem. in some european countries, there's only paper or reusable bags in grocery stores. unheard of to use plastic
I have been a "bag lady" since I was a little girl. I love tote bags but I always try and source them second hand. Amazing points though and I will definitely be using the "will it make the boat go faster" question if I ever come across a bag I am lusting after in the moment.
I might just send your video to the marketing department of my local blood bank, which is (IMO) prone to the sort of charity swag-dom you're speaking of here. OTOH, I NEVER have a problem finding a use for tote bags I'm given; I can always give them to my wife, to help corral her million-and-one craft projects, instead of leaving them strewn about the house.
I have a Schollars pub tote bag from the 2011 freshers fair. Its still going strong and used almost daily for shopping and general carrying!
The one use event t-shirts are the reason why I don't buy any pijamas
My kid's sewing class in junior high used old t-shirts to make tote bags. If they fold small you can put them in purses and pockets.
I got a lot of free totebags of a variety of types, that I use all over the place. Not just the small ones that you can fold into tiny packages that I keep in my handbag, but also those big woven plastic ones that I use for laundry instead of a laundry basket or for keeping things like winter duvets in or for going on holiday and packing things. I have a few that I use for my current sewing and embroidery projects, one for work to keep my ID and water bottle in (that isn't my normal, liable to get damaged or dirty, handbag), and one for storing (and transporting) my ballet stuff. It maybe helps to not look at them as just bags for shopping, but also as storage, for sorting items, or transporting, etc.
I always think this about the thick plastic bags they have in supermarkets now. In the 2000s I was reusing the normal thin plastic bags every week they lasted ages!
The company I work for decided to give out hundreds of tote bags and plastic lanyards for a new launch and I am so glad I said no - I have a few special tote bags in my repertoire and this would not be one!
Loved the video! I'm actually very curious about whether school uniforms might be better for the environment. In the US, most public schools don't have a uniform so parents buy an entire wardrobe for their children every summer. And because kids grow out of their clothes quickly and people get really embarrassed if they repeat outfits often (biases against poverty), children's wardrobes here are cycling incredibly often. Loved the video though, will be watching my tote bad consumption
Those simple cotton totes a great for storing silky things without risking pulling threads. I recently used up my last three gardening, to keep those drainage hepling stones in the bottom my planters separate from the earth so I could separate them neatly should I want to re-do them in the future.
Jersey made it law that all shops had to charge 70p per bag, and that made so many more people carry their bags into town when they go shopping, instead of just getting bags everywhere.
I love Struthless! Love this accidental collaboration :D
I saw a cool Reel where a sewist had made a canvas jacket and a little backpack out of patchwork totebags! I'd love some ideas for how to turn them into something that would get used more :)
The absolute irony of a temu advert popping up in the middle of this video..
1. Not the crossover we needed, but the crossover we deserve. Love Struthless and Futureproof!
2. Australia is improving when it comes to this as we banned plastic bags at supermarkets and staff usually ask if you need a bag now. But people still forget to bring a bag. Also my local farmers markets has a system where you can borrow bags for shopping and then return them next time.
3. I hate totes. I notice if I ever use a tote as a bag it messes up my neck/shoulders. So they are essentially useless to me.
My mom bought one kislux and she loves it. It had been there for over 10 years when she went out with it.
This is so interesting Leena (sorry for being late to the party). The thing that struck me is that there are certain clothing companies that continuously gift you a tote bag when you make an order with them. They're pretty bags, so you want to keep them! But I realised that I only need 3 tote bags: a smaller/book tote, a medium tote, and a large tote (very useful for big shopping trips or carrying parcels). So my aim to reduce to only those 3. What to do with the others in the pretty fabrics? Repurpose them into something potentially. Time to get a sewing machine!
The idea of a tote bag swap party with my friends sounds so lovely
Like some people I have a few tote bags but I use them. I for when I go to the swimming pool, one when I go to the gym. I have one I use whenever, for example when I go to the grocery store. I have one for short overnight trips. I do have some I dont use but they have nice memories attached to them.
I like what someone suggested, wrapping presents in them.
My GOD I work at a Students Union and I cannot tell you how much the free tat universities hand out at open days drives me insane ESPECIALLY F**KING TOTE BAGS!! Why god why does every university in the country think they'll convince more students to invest £30K of debt and at least three years of their life by giving everyone a tote bag- as if they won't likely be going to a whole tour of uni open days, who all give out tote bags as well!! I first went on my own uni open days tour back in 2016 and to this day my mum still uses a Royal Holloway tote to hold her cardboard recycling- I've never even studied there!!