As people who turned eco-conscious a few years ago, we’ve lived and breathed the beat of single-use plastics. Today, plastic bag bans are ubiquitous, with many grocery stores either not having bags or handing you flimsy paper ones that won’t hold from the store counter to your car. Enter reusable eco-friendly bags, a practical way to lug groceries without having to add to the growing plastic landfill on earth. Today, these bags are much more durable than you think and come in various shapes and sizes to suit all your needs. What’s more, they even come in a whole lot of materials to lug everything from clothes and shoes to groceries and more. Here’s a comprehensive guide to the best environmentally friendly reusable bags.
BAGGU Standard Reusable Shopping Bag
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We begin with the BAGGU Standard Reusable Shopping Bag. This might be on the pricier end compared to other bags on this list (USD 14 each), but these bags boast better engineering than some of the other polyester/nylon bags we’ve used. What’s more, they are very durable, thanks to the multiple reinforced rows of stitching that hold the fabric together. Moreover, this grocery bag is extremely spacious and available in loads of fun colors and patterns, as you can see below. If that wasn’t enough, the bag remained in fantastic shape even after we made many, and we mean many grocery store trips week after week.
Pros
- This bag is very spacious.
- It’s very durable.
- It comes in many fun colors and patterns.
Cons
- Since it’s not structured, filling it could be a challenge.
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Bagpodz Reusable Shopping Bag
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Do you like toting around smaller reusable bags? We highly recommend the Bagpodz Reusable Shopping Bag, which is just the perfect size for us as we like hauling around smaller bags. At the same time, they were still spacious and were able to hold a good amount of stuff, right from groceries to clothes and whatnot. Since they weren’t as large as the other bags when full, it was easier for us to carry more of these bags even when they were full. Plus, they even boasted a rectangular bottom, which gave these floppy bags a good amount of structure when we were filling them. The best bit? They’re super affordable, too, clocking in at USD 22 for 5 bags.
Pros
- The bags come in sets of 5 or 10.
- They’re smaller than other bags and still spacious.
- They have a rectangular bottom.
Cons
- Some users felt that the handles were small.
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BeeGreen Reusable Grocery Bag
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Best collapsible bag. We usually don’t love collapsible, floppy bags. However, for the BeeGreen Reusable Grocery Bag, we’d gladly make an exception. There are a lot of things we loved about the BeeGreen bags, starting with the fact that they came in a set of 10 – value for money, anyone? What’s more, these floppy bags had a somewhat structured rectangular bottom, which was very rare in such floppy bags. Hence, it made it easier for us to open them up and fill them up with stuff. Moreover, we loved the tough ripstop nylon construction, which allowed us to load the bags in terms of weight.
Pros
- The bag was floppy and collapsible.
- The somewhat structured bottom made it relatively easy to fill the bag.
- They came as a set of 10.
Cons
- We felt that sometimes the nylon might dig into your hands.
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PackIt Freezable Grocery Tote
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Best eco-friendly grocery bag. We always worry about the long drive back home from the grocery store, trying to keep perishables cool long enough to get them home in the freezer. That’s why we bought the PackIt Freezable Grocery Tote, which has been a lifesaver for us. That’s because the bag has an in-built ice pack; all we needed to do was fold the bag and tuck it into the freezer a few hours before we headed out to the store. What’s more, the bag itself was very spacious and very easy to fill. What helped was that it had a zipper that divided the opening wide enough for us to fill it quickly.
“We’ve not had to rush home after a grocery shopping outing, all thanks to the Packit bag!”
Dizzzi
Pros
- The bag came with a zipper to close it after filling it.
- It came with an in-built ice pack.
- The bag was spacious.
Cons
- Sometimes, we’d have to hold the opening apart to fill the bag.
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Veno Insulated Reusable Grocery Bag
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Best insulated. We’ve always liked our grocery bags to close properly, even if they aren’t completely full. That’s why we love the Veno Insulated Reusable Grocery Bag, a spacious bag that’s both easy to stow and lightweight too. At the same time, it was spacious and sturdy when it was filled to the brim as well. We especially liked the wide opening and the flip-top zippered lid which, along with the spacious rectangular shape, made it easy to keep the bag upright and load it with groceries and other stuff. Plus, the items didn’t shift inside the bag either. If that wasn’t enough, the handles were soft and wide, and they stayed in place even after heavy use. Did we mention that this bag came in packs of two? Yep.
Pros
- The bag has a zippered opening and closure.
- It was very lightweight.
- The handles made it easy to carry.
Cons
- Some said that the insulation wasn’t very thick.
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COLONY CO. Reusable Waxed Canvas Grocery Bag
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Most durable. We have to begin with a bag that proclaims itself as the “world’s strongest grocery bag.” No, really, it’s right in its title! We’re talking about the COLONY CO. Reusable Waxed Canvas Grocery Bag. Bear with us; we thought this was gimmicky at first too; a reusable bag shaped like a paper bag? However, we were delighted to be proved wrong. Firstly, this bag is extremely durable and spacious and isn’t too big at the same time. What’s more, the stiff canvas kept it upright and open when we had to load it with groceries at the time of checkout. Moreover, the handles didn’t dig into our hands, the bag was super-easy to carry, and everything that we kept inside stayed put — what more could you ask for?
Pros
- It shows no signs of wear and tear.
- The bag stayed upright when we loaded it with groceries.
- The handles didn’t dig.
Cons
- None.
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Our Verdict!
Choosing environmentally friendly reusable bags can be confusing, especially if you’ve just started using them. In such a case, this list will be immensely helpful to you:
- Best insulated: Veno Insulated Reusable Grocery Bag
- Best collapsible bag: BeeGreen Reusable Grocery Bag
- Best eco-friendly grocery bag: PackIt Freezable Grocery Tote
- Most durable: COLONY CO. Reusable Waxed Canvas Grocery Bag
How To Choose The Best Eco-Friendly Reusable Bags?
Materials
One of the first things you need to choose is the type of materials in a reusable bag, which are anyway versatile in terms of base materials. Depending on their use and design, these bags could be made from jute, cotton, freezable gel, silicone, polyester, or vinyl. Another key feature to look out for is whether the product is waterproof, dishwasher/freezer-safe, certified organic, and PVC- and BPA-free.
Items To Be Carried
One of the other things you need to consider when choosing these bags is what you’ll be using them to carry. For instance, crunchy or crumbly snacks are best carried in fabric bags, while liquids are best stored in silicone ones.
Size
Finally, you need to know the size of the bag you want to use. That’s because you need to know how much capacity a bag can hold.
Are you looking to revamp other bag collections too? Check out the best Etsy Christmas gift bags.
How should I store reusable snack bags?
You could either pile them in a basket or place them in the pantry. Or, you could hang them all on hooks depending on what you use them for.
How do I clean reusable snack bags?
Turn them inside out and ensure that all the debris and crumbs are emptied before handwashing them or putting them in the dishwasher, depending on their material.
Why Should I Use Reusable Snack Bags?
They’re sustainable, they now come in cute options, and they don’t create plastic waste.