Challenge: Do you really need a bag?
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I don't need a bag!
According to our friends over at AbolishPlasticBags.org.uk plastic bag usage has fallen by 26% in just two years. No one can deny that this is a fantastic start, but it still means that a staggering 10 billion bags are still being made, used and then shipped off to landfill each and every year!
Today’s post is a challenge that I hope that you will not only take me up on, but will also share with friends, family and colleagues, so that we can continue to stop this wasteful practice together.
The challenge is to issue as many IDNAB’s each and every day and post your results here. Issuing an IDNAB to a checkout assistant is easy as it stands for I Don’t Need A Bag! You just have to say it 
I know what you are thinking – “But what if you do need a bag?”
Simple! Recycle or buy yourself one of those trendy reusable bags that they sell just about anywhere for under a quid and take it with you each and every time that you go shopping.
So, how many plastic bags will you save from the landfill today? Do you have and thoughts on plastic bags or stories about issuing an IDNAB? Leave your comments and stories below to inspire others.
Good luck!
Eco Bloke
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I’ve been doing this for some time now.
The interesting thing is that occasionally a shop assistant will insist on giving me a bag, and I have to insist that I don’t need one!
I wonder why they do this? Maybe to get their brand out and about?
Keep on insisting NO Paddy!
If you forget to take your bags, it is actually quite fun to challenge yourself to find other ways of getting stuff home. If you have an umbrella on you, open it out and put your shopping in it.
Rosie Pearson´s last blog ..The Big Green Bus at Asthall
Great tip with the umbrella Rosie. Thanks for sharing
But shouldn’t shops and businesses have the RIGHT to be able to brand themselves without having self rightious ‘eco warriors’ looking down on them for handing out bags free of charge?
Especialling in the current ecconomic climate should we not we encouraging business to make more money so that they can enploy more people rather that slagging them off for every little thing?
Just a thought.
On the other side of the fence it’s hard when you’ve had customer service training ingrained in you not to want to be helpful by offering out a bag. Where I used to work we changed from offering bags automatically to asking “do you need a bag” emphasising the word “need” this made some people stop and consider, then would say no I think I can manage. We’d then thank them. Subtle I know but it was a great way of handling it tactfully.
I think some shops justify insisting people have bags because of issues around shoplifting. Doesn’t make much sense though.
I would appreciate thoughts on this:
I prefer to use the reusable canvas shopping bags. But, then, what does one put the household garbage in if not those plastic bags we carry our groceries home in?
I realize the best option is to cut down on the garbage. We recycle metal, plastic, glass, cardboard packaging and paper. We have a compost pile for kitchen scraps. But, somehow we end up with a shopping bag of garbage every week, plus a shopping bag of used kitty litter. I’ve been racking my brains trying to figure out a substitute for those shopping bags- though it makes more sense to use those than to buy garbage bags since the shopping bags are free. And a substitute for kitty litter! Newspaper gets so soggy and dirt just gets mud and dirt on the floor.
Hi Joelle,
You have really got me thinking. What to do with kitty’s litter??
I will do some reseach and see what I can find out for you
you can get biodegradable dog poop bags – not as roomy as a supermarket bag – but does the job!
Biodegradable bags- that’s a good idea! I’ll have to look in the stores and online and see what I can find.
Thanks Sally!
Thanks Sally!
Well there you go Joelle – you asked and someone out there was able to help. I have only had this site up three days, but this is exactly what it is meant to be achieving
I googled eco cat litter and got several hits – might try consumer testing a few myself (the cat will of course – not me!). An interesting future Blog topic ecobloke?- what are the best eco pets and solutions to thorny topics such as cans versus pouches
Hi Sally!
Thanks for the suggestion. I sense our first guest bloggers post may be on the horizon some time soon
We reuse the plastic grocery bags as trash can liners, for used cat litter and so forth. It’s cheaper than buying trash bags and liners for this purpose.
Frank C´s last blog ..Power WordPress Themes Package
I get my groceries in cardboard boxes now, if I do ever get plastic bags I make sure I use them a couple of times eg: taking lunch to work then using it to pick up after my dog!
I always refuse a plastic bag, when it is offered to me. I always carry a shoulder bag -whether it is work or visiting friends. So whenever I go to a book store and buy a few books, they offer a plastic bag to carry it back. But then I pull out my shoulder bag and tell them that it won’t be necessary. Carry a shoulder bag, it’s not too bulky and you end up contributing your bit.
cheers.