First of all, a big thank you to everyone who responded to our earlier questions about reusable bags! From your answers we learnt the following:
- 65% of you use reusable bags (Well done!)
- 53% of all respondents sometimes forget their bags (you are so not alone here…);
Out of those that use reusable bags:
- 26% like bags that are easy to carry;
- 31% prefer bags that are easy to pack and many mentioned a preference for bags with a flat bottom;
- 19% are looking for bags that are sturdy and fit a LOT; and
- 4% mentioned they want bags that are easy to clean.
Of those of you that don’t use reusable bags, one of you mentioned laziness and one of you very honestly admitted that you only bring your own bags if you’ll be charged otherwise (we do admire your focus on the bottom line!).
Don’t be so hard on yourselves! Changing ingrained habits is never easy, but we think it's easier when done with colour and style.
A lot of what we read was similar to our own thoughts. We both have had a collection of reusable bags that we sometimes remembered to bring to shops. Some had square bottoms that made them easy to pack, but were bulky to carry. Some were falling apart after a few uses, especially after we threw them in the wash. Really, we just wanted an easy alternative that looked good, worked well and that we could feel good about.
We think our Market Bags fit the bill- easy to carry in packs of 3- or 6-, easy to clean, and sturdy enough to carry up to 10 kg/22 lbs each. They have a pleated bottom which means they widen at the bottom but easily roll back up into their drawstring bags.
So thank you- your responses clarified our own thoughts as we move closer to our launch, which is right around the corner (can you feel the excitement over here?)
See you soon!
PS- We’re only days away, so subscribe with your email address below to win a free set of Jack+Jules market bags!
Hi Lyn,
EXCELLENT question- Thank you for raising it!
You are right in that both plastic and nylon are petroleum-based synthetics, however, there is quite a difference in the length of time necessary for breakdown. Based on information from Ocean Conservancy’s Pocket Guide to Marine Debris (sourced from the US National Park Service and Mote Marine Lab, based in Sarasota, FL), nylon fabric can take 30-40 years to break down. By contrast, disposable plastic bags can take anywhere from 500-1000 years. Of course, that’s quite a range as there are different types of plastic.
Furthermore, “break down” is a vague term that depends on the circumstances. Are the objects buried in a landfill or exposed to light and air? If there is air exposure, is it humid or dry? Is the object floating in water and if so, is it salt or freshwater? Not only will the location matter, but some objects, like certain plastics, can leave a toxic residue behind after “breaking down.”
According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, the average American family takes home approximately 1,500 plastic bags each year. Assuming that an Australian family would model similar behaviour, that equates to 15,000 plastic bags over a ten-year period! Compare that to the use of one set of reusable market bags over the same ten-year period.
We recognize that nylon is synthetic and while it is superior to plastic, we are always looking to improve our products. In that vein we are currently exploring plant-based fabrics and hope to introduce the use of these fabrics in the future.
We strongly believe that sustainability comes in many forms and all steps towards protecting our earth are worthwhile. We love seeing more and more people understanding that their small actions can make an improvement.
Thank you again for raising such an important question!
Kind regards,
Jack+Jules