Have you tried a ChicoBag or two? We’d love to hear what you thought.

Plus, see if you’re addicted to single-use bags. Check out the Plastic Bag Self-Test by ChicoBag.

PS – Please let us know how you’re doing with the bag challenge on our latest update post.

Image via ChicoBag.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in June 2008

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

One of the options in this month’s poll on why you don’t take your own bags is “I’m too shy to ask clerks to use them.”

While that option has only received one vote so far, I’m convinced there are many people out there who just don’t want to ask clerks or baggers to do something out of the ordinary. You hopefully have the facts on why taking your bags is a good idea, but now is time for some inspiring reasons to overcome your shyness.

Top Reasons You Can Take Your Own Bags to the Store

1. You made it through high school gym class. Trust me, this is far less humiliating. (Did you have to learn to square dance in gym class? I did, and I hope that knowledge didn’t make it into my long-term memory, but I dare not reach for it to see.)

2. You’re not alone. I’ve yet to find the person behind me in line with their own bags, but many clerks have told me they appreciate what I’m doing, and they’re seeing a lot of other people with their own bags. Sure, some clerks don’t get it, but they will.

3. It gets much easier after the first time. Think of it as making a friend. The longer you talk with the person (take your own bags), the more natural it becomes.

4. Nothing bad will happen to you. The clerk isn’t going to slap you or yell to the whole store, “What’s this guy’s problem? Plastic’s not good enough for him.”

5. You’ll love the roominess and feel of real bags, not one-timers that often rip before you reach your door.

6. You can always try a self checkout lane first.

7. Realize the person behind the register really doesn’t care. Even if said person audibly complains (very rare in my experience), you’ve every right to take bags with you.

8. Store owners love that you’re taking your own bags. It saves them money, and they often give that back to you with a per-bag discount.

9. If you’re single and see someone you like in line or behind the register, you have the perfect excuse for conversation. Just talk about how you love not having to throw out a bunch of slimy plastic bags when you get home.

10. It’s really no different than asking for no onions on your burger. It’s what you want. Be brave, and go for it!

Can you think of more inspiration for those too shy to ask clerks to use personal bags?

Image via Envirosax.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in June 2008

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

In landfills, plastic bags take up to 1,000 years to break down.

As litter exposed to sunlight, plastic bags photodegrade, breaking down into small, toxic pieces. Those pieces pollute our land, lakes, rivers and oceans. Plastic bits look like food to marine life. Look at the jellyfish photo to the right. Can’t you see a turtle mistaking a plastic bag for a jellyfish?

When fish eat plastic pieces, that not only hurts them, but it can hurt you if it enters the food chain. Pretty gross.

The wind loves plastic bags. I see them daily in the lake outside my apartment. They’re the perfect, noxious, lightweight tumbleweed.

The solution: A sturdy, reusable shopping bag. One investment can eliminate thousands of plastic bags. Don’t wait until plastic bags are illegal everywhere. Help wipe them out now.

Image via flickr.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in June 2008

Post from: Tree Hugging Family