Promotional Bags Blog

Since January, our nation’s capitol has imposed a tax of 5 cents on every plastic bag used at the grocery store. Plastic bags have posed a huge pollution problem, and the materials they are made with aren’t exactly biodegradable or compostable. The result? Shoppers grumbled for the first week or so, but now many have adjusted to the new routine of bringing eco-friendly tote bags with them when they go food shopping. Not only are these bags made with recycled materials, but they are reusable, bigger, and sturdier to boot. What’s not to love?

Many shops have taken advantage of the new trend and are now selling wholesale tote bags branded with their company name and logo in the store.

Over the last week my friend and I finally organized the mess in my closet. When we got to the bags, I found myself completely overwhelmed by all the clutter. 2 hours and one impromptu fashion show later, I weeded out about 25 unnecessary accessories for the thrift store.

In that pile was a promotional cooler bag I had picked up from a street fair years ago. Since we had been working long and hard, my friend and I decided to grab the seemingly pointless bag and pack a picnic. We were instantly amazed. This bag had space for sandwiches, sodas, dessert and utensils- and it wasn’t even full! Then I tossed it over my shoulder and the excitement increased 10-fold. I could still fit my keys and wallet in the side pocket and the strap was super comfortable on my shoulder.

Needless to say, that bag earned its keep and I will continue traipsing around town promoting NuKitchen (the company who gave the bags out for free).

So I’ve discovered another benefit of the reusable non-woven tote: durability. I know these promotional bags are hot enough right now without anyone singing their praises, but I really wish I had decided to throw all of my stuff into one of those this morning instead of my borderline-expensive Desigual tote WHICH BROKE on my way to work. Imagine stepping out of the subway and trying to juggle a custom coffee mug and umbrella, and then having the strap on your over-stuffed bag break. Definitely not the best way to start the day. These bags are meant to carry heavy groceries– like gallons of milk– over and over again, so you can bet they’ll be able to endure whatever you throw in them.

The reusable tote bag craze is no longer limited to just grocery shoppers. At the mall yesterday I noticed a lot of shoppers at Forever 21 taking advantage of these branded reusable shopping bags. The cute graphics make shoppers want to carry the bag around and pay the few extra dollars for it, but it still has the store’s logo on it, which gives them free advertising. At Steve Madden they gave out their reusable shopping bags for free if you bought a pair of shoes. These bags are great because you can reuse them, but I’m waiting to see stores get innovative with their design– why not give out something like a promotional drawstring backpack to make your brand stand out more?

Here’s a pretty funny one: a picture of one of the first plastic bags ever used, circa 1970. Apparently, this super hi-tech gadgetry was so innovative at the time that it required detailed instructions to show consumers how to use it to carry their goods. Where’s the disclaimer about the trillions of pounds of plastic waste that buildup in landfills as a result of their new invention? Seems like someone didn’t think things through.

Plastic bags may have been the “sack of the future,” but these days, it’s all about reusable tote bags. These totes don’t require plastic to make them, and in many cases they’re made from organic or recycled materials. But the real eco-friendly benefit comes from the fact that you can use them over and over, eliminating the need for new bags. This helps to get away from the “use-and-dispose” mindset which is creating a lot of problems for our planet.