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Go Green with Minusbags

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This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

New Habits in the New YearHave you become more aware of the impact of your choices on our environment and our future? Are you always striving to be a bit more responsible with your choices to try to limit that impact? I have made a few changes, and one of the ones that I have been fairly consistent about doing is bringing my own bags to the grocery store.

I was so pleased to receive the peach bag from minusbags. This bag is a sturdy 100% cotton twill. The unstructured design helps it hold larger or bulkier items (unlike the squarish brown paper bag reproductions that I’ve purchased from my grocery store). Another plus from the minusbag is that they are sturdier and prettier, carrying fruit and vegetable designs instead of a store logo. One day I was almost accosted by a store clerk, becaussweetpeas.jpge in addition to the two bags from her store, I was using one bag from a different store. That won’t happen with minusbags.

I also enjoy using my bag for trips to the library. They carry my heavy books much better than a cheap plastic bag. And, as the minusbags site informs: plastic bags are bad news:

According to the EPA, more than 380 billion plastic bags are used in the U.S. annually — and an estimated 100 billion are thrown away each year. Most clog landfills, but many end up snagged on trees and fences as an ugly reminder of our disposable society. And most plastic grocery bags are not biodegradable. They actually break down into smaller and smaller toxic particles that pollute our oceans, rivers, lakes and soil. Every year, thousands of animals, particularly marine mammals, choke to death after mistaking discargrapes_steps.jpgded plastic bags for food.

Try less plastic and more pretty with minusbags. One reader will win three minusbags.  If you’d like to win, please leave a comment on this post, and check out the New Habits in the New Year guidelines at this main post.

Come back on January 9 to see if you have won. Please be sure that the email address that you provide is one that you check regularly, and also check your spam folder when the winners are announced if you see your name.

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834 Comments

  5. This is so much cuter than the Trader Joe’s bag (that I totally love just isn’t quite the fashion statement) and I wouldn’t feel like everybody is staring at me at Safeway if I carried it. LOL

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  18. Wow…I use a straw Market Basket but it’s not enough to hold all of my groceries…so, this would be great.

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  33. Great giveaway…very practical and look pretty sturdy judging from the contents. Count me in for the win.

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  45. Very lovely. The B.Y.O.B trend is going to help save the world from the green house effect. We need to do all we can to save our planet. We all need to get these bags.

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  53. Very nice. I’d love to have them for my trips to a particular store that I frequent that does not use bags at all. Great!

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  67. Such bag is simply remarkable! It is necessary to care of nature and use elements which can be processed!

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  73. Not only are Minusbags a great “green” product that reduces waste, but they solve other problems such as plastic bags breaking and scattering your groceries on the ground, or accidentally leaving a bag of groceries at the register because you confused it with the next person’s groceries.
    I would never get my groceries mixed up with the next customer’s if I had these unique Minusbags.

    And no breakage either. Plastic bags are just flimsy and don’t even do a good job of protecting your groceries.

    Reply

  75. Oh, this bag is very actual! It is necessary to buy much products! Plastic packages are frequently torn! The bag from cotton can sustain the big loadings only!
    Please enter me to win it!

    Reply

  76. These bags are so compact and earthly.I love them
    and can never have enough bags for grocery.Please
    enter me to win

    Reply

  77. I like the idea of cloth bags. They are better for the environment and reusable. There are many uses for them. I use them to hold my crochet projects when I go anywhere.

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  78. When I lived in Europe years ago, I’d have to pay for the plastic bags if I didn’t bring my own. It wasn’t much, but it was a good idea.

    Please enter me!

    Reply

  97. Our family has been talking about being a little “greener” what a wonderful thing to win for our New Years resolution!

    Reply

  121. I have several bags. I always try and keep them in the car so I will have them handy if I shop unexpectantly. I buy in quanity when I shop so I always need several.

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  126. I’m really trying to start my collection of totes, so I don’t use plastic or paper, I would love for these to be the start of my collection!

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  129. Those are wonderful. I use a hodge-podge of canvas bags I’ve collected over the years at the grocery store and get the oddest looks. : )

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  136. I don’t think anything makes one think about her impact on our environment as much as having a child who will live beyond your years. These bags are super cute and such a great idea!

    Reply

  139. Right now my “bag” for carrying things (from the store, or library books, etc…) is a dollar store tote bag with Spongebob Squarepants on it. I love these bags!

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  149. How absolutely SWANKY!!! SO chic and so responsible! Would love to use them and spread the word when asked where did I get my fabulous shopping bags!! 🙂

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  151. Great prize to offer. We need to be more aware of the effect of these cute little plastic bags. I take totes to the grocery and no one even glances one way or the other.

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  158. Oh I found them! I absolutely LOVE your bags!! It’s so environmentally safe…plus you can use them for any activity you want. =D

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  172. much cuter that the walgreens bag that I bought. I’d use these. I actually recycle in a city that doesn’t.

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  179. This is an area that my daughter has really convinced me is an easy and worthwhile way to begin a more environmentally conscious way of life. I love these bags! Happy New Year!

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  193. I really like these bag and could really use them. My 12 year old is really getting us into more recycling this year. Which means using less of the plastic handle bags for us. These would come in very handy at our house

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  204. Wow! I thought I was different from everyone else-I hate those plastic bags from Wal-Mart, Dollar Stores, and other places. If I can, I use cloth bags handmade by my grandmother. I was so surprised when I read this article! These minusbags must be great!

    Reply

  206. The older I get, the more environmentally conscious I become. Either that or the more pregnant I become, more environmentally conscious I am. THANK YOU for this great giveaway!

    Reply

  214. This year my family and I intend to make more of a difference in leading a greener life. This could be a step in that direction. I’d love to win. Either way, a greenier life and we all win.

    Reply

  229. These bags have great style. It’s nice to know you can go green and look good while doing it. I would love to win!

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  234. Hope I’m not too late. These are great bags for shopping, and the extra bonus is that some stores (round here anyways) will give you a rebate of a nickel for each bag you reuse. Hey, every bit helps!

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  242. I had the same thing happen to me, a store cashier was teasing me because I brought in bags from another store. These bags are really pretty and no store logo, gotta love that.

    Reply

  253. It is so important for people to become more aware of the small things that they can do to conserve. Thanks for doing a giveaway that encourages people to make the necessary changes!

    Stephanie

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  260. We’ve nearly gotten rid of everything disposable in our home, I’d love some more grocery bags, I always seem to fall short and come home with plastic, ick!

    Reply

  264. I love these bags they’re cute and a great idea. Who needs those plastic bags at the grocery story anymore?

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  278. Its about time we all try this easy fix. No more ripped plastic bags and things falling all over the ground.

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  281. I could really used these for the big grocery days,I only have a few store bags now,and these are much nicer.Thanks for the contest.

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  283. I am very much trying to lead a greener lifestyle for 2008 & cutting back on shopping bags would help tremendously. These bags are so cute as well!

    Reply

  297. Would be nice to drive down the road and not see plastic. Wish everyone would use these bags. Great prize. Thank you for the offer, would love to win.

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  298. Great prize. I’m trying to “go greener,” but I haven’t yet started bringing my own bags to the grocery store. This would be a good nudge. 😉

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  309. One of my New Years resolutions is to Go Green! I have several reusable bags, but they’re never the right sizes (usually too small) or I don’t have enough for my large weekly marketing trips! I go to several stores and buy what is on sale. It is easy if you plan ahead, and where I live I can make a small circle and not waste a lot of gas. Thanks for the great contest!

    Reply

  316. Oh, wonderful! I would love to win this. I have several reusable bags but they’re never enough for my large weekly marketing trips!

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  321. These are so cute! One winner with three bags is great–enough for a trip to the grocery store. We take our own bags to the store like a lot of people. I amassed a large mishmash of large store sacks and canvas bags left over from my teaching days. The grocery store workers couldn’t seem to figure out how to bag them–they would either be incredibly heavy or light. That’s ok, but the heavy ones were a little difficult to carry. We graduated to the store brand and things are a little better. We love them, but I’d would adore CUTE bags!

    Reply

  324. I’ve finally seen the light as to what we all can be doing to help the environment! These bags would be a great help to me in doing my part!

    Reply

  328. I’ve started using resuable bags, get some dirty looks in the stores (as if they are more work than the flimsy plastic ones!), but LOVE THEM! Thanks for a great giveaway!

    Reply

  331. These bags are so cute and would be so nice to take to stores that require you to bag your own items and not have to worry with the plastic bag ripping and your items falling out onto the ground

    Reply

  339. Those are really nice looking bags, much nicer than my motley lot of bags gathered from here, there, and everywhere (mostly from thrift stores)>

    Reply

  342. I love that bag! One of my resolutions this year is to be more GREEN and organic in my lifestyle. This would help – pick me, pick me !!!

    Reply

  361. This would be great. One of my things I want to do this year is start using my own bags and teach my daughter to use her own bags. Since these bags are so stylish and pretty it won’t be a tough sell to get my daughter to use them as well and that will hopefully start a trend for her for the rest of her life. A personal change is one thing but I am hoping to influence a new generation as well.

    Reply

  375. These bags look great and I would love them. Our daughter has been using similar such bags from grocery stores and highly recommends them.

    Reply

  391. I’ve been wanting to invest in a reusable grocery bag. I could have built the empire state building with all of the plastic bags I’ve collected over the years.

    Reply

  406. I’ve been trying to use recyclable bags ever since someone sent an article about the huge floating mess of plastic in the ocean (Google “garbage island” if you’re interested.) I’d love to win these.

    Reply

  413. I’m just starting to use reusable shopping bags. That would be wonderful. (My local stores don’t seem to bat an eye when I bring other stores’ bags in though.)

    Reply

  419. I would love to try these. I try to get paper bags at the store, but sometimes they are out.
    cookiecutter72 AT hotmail DOT com

    Reply

  424. I went to a store the other day and the cashier was triple bagging my groceries! I asked her if anyone ever uses their own canvis bags. She looked at me as if I was crazy. She said “NO. you would be considered strange and frisked for stealing!” —
    Her comment would not intimidate me, I would use them and pretend to enjoy the frisking!So, Enter me please!

    Reply

  428. These are great! I am a big proponent of carrying cloth bags just about everywhere you go, and the fashionable ones are just so hard to find.

    Reply

  431. I try to recycle the plastic bags but these minusbags would be so much more convenient and good for the environment.

    Reply

  437. I was about to purchase some of these types of bags from Publix but these are soooo much cuter. I hope I win! Thanks for entering me!

    Reply

  447. very cool! this would be great with the double stroller, which doesn’t have a place to store things when we’re shopping. plus it’s so cute!

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  453. Global warming should be the main issue that all the Presidential hopefuls are talking about. I can’t believe that no-one in the government is taking a serious stance on this issue. We NEED to take action NOW-for our children. These bags are one way of doing our part. Spread the word-Global warming is the one issue that affects all of us, regardless of race, sex, nationality or religion.

    Reply

  457. One of my New Year’s Resolutions is to recycle more. This bag will help me a lot.

    I, too, have a store bag that I carry when I go to the grocery to carry my cold stuff in.

    I love a good, economical way to use bags!

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  476. I generally don’t make New Years resolutions, however, a few years ago I made one to recycle more. I am happy to say that I have increased my recycling more and more each year. This past year, I began recycling plastic bags and have bought a few cloth bags in an effort to stop using the plastic bags altogether. I only have 3 so far and adding these would enable me to do my grocery shopping without the use of any plastic bags.

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  483. Everyone in the country needs one of these so no more plastic bags littering this beautiful country

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  500. great bags and excellent idea. I’ve been using beachbags to carry groceries in. The waterproof ones are great for keeping the cold foods cold on the way home.

    Reply

  502. What a wonderful idea! I’ve been looking for canvas totes of my own to keep in the car, because I often go to the grocery on small trips. Even when I tell them to put the items in one bag, I often see them bagging as little as ONE ITEM per plastic bag!! Having a tote would fix this, hopefully!

    Reply

  504. My first contest entry for the New Year – yay!! Didn’t win nary a contest here last year. Hope this one is a bit different. Here’s to hoping 🙂

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  505. I have beeen using my own bags for years and it is great to see them becoming more accepted and recognized. Many times I almost couldn’t get baggers to understand what they were and what they were for.

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  506. I got some Envirosax for Christmas, but I still need more than five for a grocery haul and these are awesome looking.

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  515. These would be great to win. The grocery store I use most requires you to bring your own bags or they will charge you if you want to use theirs.

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  523. I absolutely love these! I’ve become an avid recycler and have quit buying bottled water. Having reuseable grocery bags would also be a great savings to our environment.

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  543. I have several canvas shopping bags I use for each shopping trip….but they are nearly as attractive as these classy minusbags!

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  545. I currently have enough plastic shopping bags in my house to make a carpet that would cover my city. Or at least it seems that way! I would like to start using less plastic, and these bags would be great!

    Reply

  555. I have just begun to use re-useable bags when shopping. I would love to win these ones–they look so sturdy!

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  561. I need some new bags – mine have all been loaned out, and I have nothing in which to put my groceries!

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  566. Hi Amanda and thanks for the opp to win a thing or two. Who doesn’t love to win? I’ve added a button to your site from my blog and will keep in touch often.

    Reply

  583. WOW – I wouldn’t be able to make up my mind which one, so to have a chance to win three is way cool!

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  585. This sounds great — I do get a little overwhelmed by all the plastic bags that don’t seem to survive the groceries in them.

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  587. I would love to win these bags…they would really come in handy at the farmer’s market.

    Reply

  598. I have really been thinking about buying one of these bags from my grocery store, but these would be much better!

    Reply

  612. Clever idea and the bags are really cute! I’d love to win. My link to your contest page is up.

    Reply

  614. Hi … just discovered your website! Happy New Year! Great idea! Helping save the planet … sounds like a Sexy thing to do … *smile*

    Reply

  622. My sister has been urging me to try these bags for a while. My New Year’s Resolution is to look for more ways to conserve and I suppose this will be my first!

    Thanks for a great article on the eco dangers of plastic grocery bags.

    Reply

  627. I would love this! We already use some reusable bags, but this one seems like I would get more use out of it – I’m thinking the mall!
    What a great giveaway.

    Reply

  630. This is totally up my alley. Something I’m trying to do in 2008 is use all re-usable bags when doing my errands and shopping…and to tell that friendly clerk that no, I don’t need my item in on of your little plastic bags! Wonderful giveaway!

    Reply

  631. These are great! I’d love them. Semi-random side note: did you hear that “Biggest Loser” is going green too? They cut out plastic water bottles completely, instead using Brita filters and Nalgene water bottles. Great idea and a good example!

    Reply

  644. Count me in! Being so frugal lately, I can’t get ahead enough to have the extra money to buy bags like this so I can STOP USING grocery bags!

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  649. I haven’t really gone “green” or anything, but the grocery store with the best prices does not supply bags, so I am working on getting some good quality bags for my shopping. With 7 kids, you can imagine the amount of bags I need each trip!

    Reply

  654. We use do this when we were younger until the plastic bag phase came in. It would definitely be a great idea to go back to the older days when mom and I would go to the market with our own bags 😀

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  655. Having more than one bag would really help since I tend to leave the one I have in my car – and could use an extra for when I’m walking to the library, etc.

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  659. Would love to win this. Our whole family is trying to go green as much as possible. This would be really great. Thanks for the giveaway.

    Reply

  679. These are too cute, and I love that there are finally reusable bags that don’t advertise grocery stores or look ugly. You can be socially responsible and so very chic. Nice! Thanks for the giveaway.

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  681. you can never have enough totes to carry your stuff, cause everybody got different stuff and you need to keep the stuff separated, in some sort of filing system so you know which stuff is which

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  690. We are avid recyclers in my house-even my 4 year old knows which blue bag is for cans/plastic and which one is for paper! She yells at people when they come over and try to throw a water bottle or soda can in the trash, lol.

    Reply

  692. What a fabulous idea! We have the squarish ones too from our grocery store. But I must admit I forget to bring them far too often. I am trying though. Someday perhaps my “mommy brain” will return to my pre-kids intelligence and ability to remember!

    Reply

  696. My wife and I have been working on going green in our house. It would be great to win the minusbags for our grocery shopping.

    Reply

  711. Ewe…pick me! I am so trying to collect some bags so that I can begin my start of the new year with less plastic bags.

    Reply

  713. My trek to be green needs to start somewhere, and this looks like a beau-ti-ful place! Pick me! Thanks!
    Stephanie
    williamspublic at comcast dot net

    Reply

  717. Love these bags. I need the sturdy ones…we seem to overpack. 🙂 Thanks for the opportunity and have a great day!

    Reply

  731. I love reusable bags! I have a few, but none seem to be sturdy enough for real grocery shopping. I would love to have some that are big enough and sturdy enough to handle the bigger, heavier items.

    Reply

  735. These bags are so great. I love them, and the designs on them. Please enter me — I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

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  739. I definitely need this and to stop using plastic.
    😉 Love the look because I also Vegan now. Fruits and Veggies for New Year. Thanks and Happy 2008!!

    Reply

  746. This fits perfectly with some habits I began last year…I’ll have to check out their site because I’ve already considered buying some reusable bags…pretty ones would make it even better :).

    Reply

  748. I keep seeing these bags all over the internet. I’m starting to think I need to get one! They look ideal for me, since I’m a college student and I always have books to carry.

    Reply

  752. These look so great. So much better than the dinky little ones that the grocery stores are selling. You could probably get your shopping into one or two of these bags.

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  755. These look great! My son was born on Earth Day and is big into recycling and such. He would be happy that we have these and I would love to not have so many plastic bags around.

    Reply

  756. I’m tryng to go “greener” to set a good example for my children and to make the world a better place for us all. These bags would be a big help. I have some I use, but mine are really worn out, and these would look and feel much better!

    Reply

  758. I’m currently in the process of living simpler and going greener. It’s been little changes that have added up to bigger ones. Please enter me in – I’d love them!

    Reply

  762. I would love these…we are a earthy family and these would be great. We get lots of funny looks when we ask for paper instead of plastic and these would be a million times better!

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  766. We go thru lots of plastic bags. But, now, seeing these lovely and large reusables, I would like to try to “go green”. Thanks!

    Reply

  774. These look awesome! I’ve been using the store brand bags as well, but would love something a bit more flexible.

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  776. I’m using 3 of the squarish ones with the store logo on them. One more would make it very unusual for me to use any more plastic ones than we use for our household food trash.

    Also… Have a stockpile of the store plastic ones? I have a friend who makes them into re-usable ones. I even saw them turned into a rug at a local recycling center.

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  783. Bringing my own shopping bags when I shop is my New Year’s resolution. Finally, a resolution I can actually keep while helping the environent at the same time.

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  787. I have been using reusable shopping bags for years, even before it was trendy to do so, but after more than 10 years, they are looking shabby, to say the least. I would love to win some nice-looking ones that aren’t a collection of mis-matched bags from trade shows.

    Reply

  788. These bags look great! All my reusable bags are from grocery stores, with their logos, and I’d love to have some attractive ones.

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  793. Very cool, and much better looking than the ones I already have. Now, if they would just remind me to get them out of the trunk when I get to the store, they’d be perfect. Thanks for offering them!

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  798. what a great give away….perfect for that grocery shopping….I am getting so tired of plastic!!
    Count me in!!!

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  803. Oh those are pretty! I’ve been developing the bring-my-own-bag habit as well, but always underestimate how many bags I will need. The more, the merrier–for I shall fill them all!

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  807. Awesome! I’m all for saving the environment and while I do reuse some of my plastic bags, the number I get – and sometimes the double bagging – drives me crazy! Thankfully we do have recycling here, but still!

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  808. I have tons of reusable bags. Being from the library community we were forever receiving them for one thing or another. I also have one from our local library, several from my favorite grocery store and even some from our warehouse store. Great idea. I place them by the door to remind me to leave them in the car after emptying.

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  816. That is such a great idea! I always have TONS of grocery bags piling up that I have to bring back to the store for recycling. These bags are super cute and eco-friendly, and I’d LOVE to have some! I’ve never seen anyone at the grocery store with a bag like this. Maybe I’ll start a *green* trend in good ol’ Jersey. 🙂

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  818. O count me in!!! I’ve resolved to help my family live a greener lifestyle. This would be a great example for my kids!!! These bags are ADORABLE!
    Thanks so much!
    ~Lana B.~

    Reply

  821. These bags will be great. Unfortunately all three that I have are already in use. Would love some more. Just started my blog and your button is my first.
    Thanks.

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  825. Oh we love reusable bags. one day I’ll get around to making my own but as of today that day is no where in sight!

    Reply

  826. Oh, this is TOTALLY me! Would love to win. Oh, and my birthday is the 8th… hint hint!

    Steph

    Reply