How To Use Reusable Shopping Bags Properly

With all of the reports about environmental protection and the landfills being overloaded with plastic the idea of using reusable shopping bags is becoming increasingly more popular. These bags have been known to make an impact in the reduction of plastic waste since they were first introduced to the market. However, while they have made some positive strides in improving our environmental conditions they have had some new issues that we all need to be aware of. Studies have shown that as practical as they are, they can very easily become a breeding ground for bacteria if not handled properly. Here are a few tips on how to use reusable shopping bags properly.

Regular Washing

It is easy for these bags to pick up contaminants either from the food that we carry or the environment in which they are transported. For this reason, many food-borne bacteria can accumulate on them and eventually be transferred to the foods we eat or directly to the people who use them. Research has shown that at least half of these reusable bags have been found to have coliform and 12% of them are carrying E. coli. The best way to handle this problem is regular washing, which can significantly reduce the amount of bacteria that can be collected on your reusable shopping bags.

Do Not Cross Pack

This means that you want to be careful not to mix foods or other products in your bags. Raw foods like meat, poultry, and fish should be kept separate from vegetables and other food products. This will protect the foods from leaking into fresh foods and cross contaminating them. Resist the temptation to use these bags for other things besides food items. Carrying around your gym clothes, books, and other items in your reusable shopping bags is a sure fire way to bring contaminants into your food supply.

Store Them Properly When Not in Use

It is easy to think that leaving them in your car is a convenient way to remember them when you're out and about but this could be a dangerous practice. Aside from the fact that the trunk or glove box of your car could have lots of contamination in them there is also the danger that comes from the higher temperatures inside a locked car. These high temperatures can encourage the bacteria that do accumulate to grow much faster on your reusable shopping bags. Make sure that they are stored in a clean, cool, and dry place to prevent any kind of cross contamination.

Always make sure that you buy bags that are made from nylon or some other material that resists lead and other toxic heavy metals as these can also get into your food supply and cause health risks. When you're ready to buy your new bags make sure that you look for those that have been certified to be contaminant-free or at least try to find lead-free reusable shopping bags. This will be very effective in protecting the health of your family while at the same time doing your part to keep the environment free from the contamination of a plastic overload.

Reasons To Use Promotional Bags, Reusable Grocery Bags And Similar Products

With more and more focus being placed on saving the environment it's no surprise that so many products like promotional bags, reusable grocery bags and other similar items are being used. There are multiple functions that this kind of merchandise manages to support, so whether you're using them for personal or business use you can personalize them to suit your needs. For a few of the different reasons you might like to try these out.

Saving The Environment

The most noteworthy reason that promotional bags, reusable grocery bags and the like are so popular comes down to their effect on the environment. As time goes on, and resources begin to fade, people are becoming increasingly aware of how important it is to save what's left of the planet, by finding ways to waste less. These sorts of sacks all tend to be made out of recyclable fabrics or materials such as nylon, or cotton, and give you the ability to handle different sizes and shapes, as well as varying weights. Books, laptops, food and many other items can be transported from shops, the library, or between work and home without ever using a disposable plastic tote.

Economic Balance

Promotional bags, reusable grocery bags, and similar items of this nature offer certain financial benefits as well. Whether you're a consumer or a retailer you stand to come out with a little more cash in the bank because if you're shopping with them you don't need to buy more than one or two, and you can take them every time you've got to go and pick things up. On the other hand, a provider of goods no longer feels obligated to offer free plastic sacks, and can reap a profit through these durable cloth sacks instead.

Supporting Local Business

This change in method of product transportation gives local businesses small and large the opportunity to make an extra profit, and gives consumers the ability to support the home team by buying these items from places around your city or town, rather than taking advantage of the free items being offered for carrying goods. Promotional bags, reusable grocery bags, can be branded or personalized to reflect the logo of your company, which also goes toward extra advertising purposes. You can get your services or products known and have the name of your business paraded through town as people do their shopping at other stores or locations rather than just your own.

Staying Prepared

Finally, these promotional bags, reusable grocery bags, and similar products allow you to be prepared at all times. These items travel well for promotional events where you need merchandise to give out to advertise your business. And for consumers these sacks store easily in a woman's purse or the trunk of a car so that shopping for dinner ingredients or picking up a few items from the local library is quick and much more convenient. Even if you're heading out without any thought of shopping in mind, you'll never know when you may need to carry a few unexpected items out of the office, or if your spouse may suddenly ask you to pick something up on the way back to the house.