They were also a huge annoyance to Daniel Burd, who said that they’d come pouring out of the closet every time he did chores.

One day, I got tired of it and I wanted to know what other people are doing with these plastic bags.

So he did what any teen would do. He experimented with bacteria and decomposed a plastic bag in 3 months, winning top prize in the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Ottawa.

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A recent study by Whole Foods Market estimates that reusable bag usage has increased by 300% in the year since it eliminated plastic bags at all of its stores.  The company estimated that 150 million bags have been kept out of landfills over the twelve month period.

Whole Foods Market made the announcement last year that they would stop using plastic bags company-wide starting on Earth Day 2008.  Since this announcement, public sentiment has been moving in the direction of eventual elimination of plastic bags at all grocery and retail stores, and municipalities (including the city of San Francisco) have begun outlawing or taxing plastic bag usage within city limits.

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If you use a polyethylene bag in Delhi, India, you could get 5 years or face a 100,000 ruppe fine ($3000 U.S.). But that’s nothin’ compared to how long it takes those nasty bags to decompose.

Said J. K. Dadoo, Delhi’s top environment official,

We want people to understand that they will not get away with (using plastic bags). If they choose to defy the law repeatedly, then the court has the measures necessary to fit.

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Shown above from Gift of Green, (going clockwise) ~

1. Daisy Flower Card and “Gift of Green“- Cilantro Leaf Card: For each “Gift of Green® purchased, one native tree is planted in an ecosystem restoration project in the United States“. An average tree will absorb over 650 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) in its lifetime… In addition to absorbing CO2, the new trees also restore and revive forests damaged by natural disasters and return the forest ecosystems to all their lush glory.

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   ]]> http://feelgoodstyle.com/2008/11/10/buy-these-green-holiday-gifts-your-friends-and-family-will-love/feed/ http://craftingagreenworld.com/2008/05/09/diy-upcycle-old-denim-into-market-tote/ http://craftingagreenworld.com/2008/05/09/diy-upcycle-old-denim-into-market-tote/#comments Fri, 09 May 2008 12:48:44 +0000 Leslie Richard http://craftingagreenworld.com/2008/05/09/diy-upcycle-old-denim-into-market-tote/ You’ve now cut your old jeans to make a sexy upcycled mini skirt,  craft supply organizer or I-pod case- what do you do with all those…well, leg scraps laying around? In a few simple & experimental steps you can have a super eco craft  that has double the earth loving power-  an upcycled denim BYOB (bring your own bag) tote! Not only is it eco savvy to reuse your old jeans but this crafty shopper will help stop the plastic bag litter that is poisoning ground water & soil.  This sassy project deserves 2 green stars!

   You Will Need:

   • legs left over from your last denim craft project
   • scissors
   • sewing machine or turn of the century hand sewing skills
   • thread of a fun contrasting color

    STEP #1: Choosing - I chose legs from two different stone washed jeans to make subtle contrasting stripes, but you can use any number scrap colors. You can also go for the mono color look, and let the thread be your main contrast.

   STEP #2: Cutting - Now is the time to lay out those jean legs and cut them open. You will want to save the thick seams for the straps of the bag, so cut directly up the seams on both sides and remove them. Then cut 9 rectangles at 13inch X 5 inch  ( you can make them larger or smaller if you’d like to change the size of the bag, as long as every rectangle is the same exact size.)

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   ]]> http://craftingagreenworld.com/2008/05/09/diy-upcycle-old-denim-into-market-tote/feed/ http://victoriae.greenoptions.com/2007/08/30/green-style-how-to-make-your-own-stylish-and-functional-reusable-bag/ http://victoriae.greenoptions.com/2007/08/30/green-style-how-to-make-your-own-stylish-and-functional-reusable-bag/#comments Thu, 30 Aug 2007 17:35:37 +0000 Victoria Everman http://victoriae.greenoptions.com/2007/08/30/green-style-how-to-make-your-own-stylish-and-functional-reusable-bag/ Accessories, such as shoes or jewelry, are just as important as the basics of your wardrobe. With all of the reusable bags available on the market (many of which have been covered right here on Green Options), it’s likely that you will be able to find one to your liking. For those of us that prefer a personal, do-it-yourself, advertisement-free touch - this post is for you! In less than an hour, you can whip up a versatile tote made from any fabric you fancy. For pattern ideas, Altered Cloth recently posted a great collection of 7 options from around the web. Even if you are a beginning in the sewing department, these projects are great for first-timers or experienced stitchers.

   Out of all 7 projects, my personal favorite it the design from U-handblog, a TypePad-featured blog all about (you guessed it) making handbags. This bag (featured in the accompanying image) has a curved seam and reinforced straps, so no matter how much to put into this sucker, it will still feel comfortable on your shoulders. Don’t let the curved seam scare you off: Lisa does a fantastic job of providing step-by-step instruction and pictures on how to get the job done easily. She also provides directions on how to make a cute little storage pocket, so you can carry your new bag with you all the time (you know, in case that urge to buy some tasty organic peaches comes along). Curious just how much this little bag can carry? A whole heck of a lot: Lisa graciously posted a few images on her blog of the haul she fit into this homemade gem.

   Being the greenies we are, using recycled or sustainable fabrics is the first choice when sewing your own creations. You can find a wide range of recycled fabrics just by shopping through any vintage or second-hand store; the drawback here is that you might not be able to find a shirt or pants with enough fabric for this particular projects. For something a bit more modern and colorful, check out my collection of eco-fabric links on my website.

   Completed this project? Come back and post some pictures of your creation - we’d love to see them!

   Image source: U-handblog 

   ]]> http://victoriae.greenoptions.com/2007/08/30/green-style-how-to-make-your-own-stylish-and-functional-reusable-bag/feed/ http://aliciaerickson.greenoptions.com/2007/06/27/im-not-a-plastic-bag-craze-coming-to-us/ http://aliciaerickson.greenoptions.com/2007/06/27/im-not-a-plastic-bag-craze-coming-to-us/#comments Wed, 27 Jun 2007 12:16:02 +0000 Alicia Erickson http://aliciaerickson.greenoptions.com/2007/06/27/im-not-a-plastic-bag-craze-coming-to-us/ Paper or plastic? By now we've all been educated to respond with a resounding "no thanks!" The benefits of BYOB (bringing your own bag) are overwhelming, but what bag to bring?

   The most popular and exclusive is the Anya Hindmarch "I'm not a plastic bag" which has become almost hysterically popular. Retailing for around $15, these rare items frequently go for $100-$200 on Ebay, sell out in a matter of hours in retail stores, and have people queuing up in line well before dawn. And with it's release in the US this month, one has to ask, "Why so popular?" Have so many people decided to end the plastic bag addiction? Unfortunately not. This bag is all brand and trend, which ultimately harms the concept because as the fad moves out of vogue so does the desire to end plastic bag consumption. While the message is important and bringing awareness to the issue is always positive, at what cost does this bag achieve these ends?

   The bag is neither organic nor Fair Trade, and is produced in China. A spokeswoman for Sainsbury in England, the store which first carried the bags, claimed the factory "has been visited to ensure high standards of ethical trading," yet the company refuses to release the factory name so that these claims can be substantiated. Additionally, the cotton industry is one that frequently falls far short of ethical conduct and is commonly accused of utilizing child labor. A spokeswoman for Anya Hindmarch has responded that they never claimed this bag is perfect but rather are trying "to use our influence as a maker of luxury goods to make it fashionable not to use plastic bags." It is true that the company never sought to disguise the fact that the bag was made in China, nor that it was not Fair Trade nor organic. But why not? With the opportunity to effect change in so many people, both consumers and producers, why did the company not choose to source organic, Fair Trade cotton and labor?

   As an alternative, check out ECOBAGS Fair Trade and recycled cotton bags or Make Trade Fair totes, which is more than a just a tongue in cheek slogan.

   For tips on how remember to bring your new bag when shopping, check out Kicking the Plastic Bag Habit.

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