green is universal

I'm not a plastic bag!

Posted at 11:57 AM on November 07, 2007 comments (3)

By K. Lawson, PimpWiz.com

Designer Anya Hindmarch started a wildly popular fashion craze when she designed a simple canvas bag with the words "I'm not a plastic bag". The bag quickly sold out in stores and began to sell for outrageous prices on eBay, but once it became a fad, the real message behind the item seemed to be lost on many. The bag is meant to be used as an environmentally friendly replacement for the shopping bags given out at retail and grocery stores. And I don't mean carrying it to stuff the things you've purchased in. The idea is to actually hand these canvas bags over to the bagger and have him or her use them in place of plastic.

Did you ever stop and think about how many plastic bags you're given on an average trip to the grocery store? A whole lot! But most people don't even consider the idea of bringing their own reusable canvas bags with them. It's actually not a new concept, in fact in some countries canvas is the only choice at the checkout. And you definitely don't have to buy anything expensive or designer to make this change. You can stock up on canvas totes for only $0.99 each at places like CheapTotes.com.

Here are a few other things to look for while at the grocery store, and the earth will love you for it:

-Buy the paper towels that are perforated down the middle. These allow you to choose the size, meaning you can use a half a sheet or a full sheet, but only if you need it.

-Do you drink water bottles? Try buying the biodegradable kind. You'll know they're biodegradable because the bottles feel more flimsy, but they don't break and they serve their purpose.

-Look for compact fluorescent bulbs to replace regular light bulbs. They're easy to find because they're usually shaped like a spiral, instead of being round at the top. These babies use less energy and will even save you money on your electric bill. They look pretty cool as well!

Pretty easy, right? . You'll benefit the environment and maybe even become a trend setter at the same time!

K. Lawson
http://www.pimpwiz.com/2007/10/green-is-universal.shtml