#365zerowastechallenge WEEK 4 | the reusable bag

Saying ‘NO, thank you, I don’t need a bag’ was not easy for me to say at first. I didn’t want to sound rude, but as time went by, I felt more and more comfortable and secure saying these words and all of a sudden it was very easy.
One of the most essential items to produce less waste are reusable bags. One or two reusable bags can replace many, many plastic and paper bags.
The voluntary commitment of some of Austria’s biggest supermarket chains and one clothing store to stop selling plastic bags was already a big and important step in the right direction. While in 2014 every Austrian used 63 plastic bags a year, the number could be reduced down to 49 by 2017. This is already a massive cut and also a great way of raising awareness about plastic pollution, but it is still not down to zero. In 2018, the Austrian government has therefor agreed to prohibit selling plastic bags all over Austria by the 1st of January 2020. YAY! :) 

My dog Coco and me taking a stroll in the park. Bags can also be helpful for keeping Cocos treats

If you do not want to wait until 2020 to start using reusable bags, I hereby present to you the biggest advantages of reusable bags in a nutshell:
 

• REUSE

First of all, reusable bags can be used again and again and a… . Invest in one or two of them and you will have them for a lifetime.

• WASHABLE

Another huge advantage is that reusable bags, like cotton bags are washable. So if they get dirty, just throw them in the washing machine, hang them up to dry and they will look like new.

• REUSABLE BAGS CAN DEAL WITH EVERY WEATHER CONDITION

Have you ever had one of these problems: You go grocery shopping, but everything in a paper bag, step outside the shop and all of a sudden it is raining? You walk home and all of a sudden you hear a noise and your hand feels light again? All your good are spread on the street and you think ‘Oh, f…’
Or another situation: You bought so many groceries, put them all in a plastic bag, walk home and all of a sudden … ?
There is a very easy solution for these problems: it is called reusable bag. They can deal with every weather condition J

• THEY CAN BE USED FOR MULTIPLE OCCASIONS

Another reason why reusable bags, are so great, is because they can be used for all kinds of occasions. To go grocery shopping, but also for work, uni or travelling.