Buying what we can from neighborhood farmer's markets is an important part of a green lifestyle. Supporting local growers reduces the amount of energy used to transport, store and display food and other goods. But the way we transport our locally grown goodies can make a difference too. Plastic and one-use bags are a waste of natural resources. If you’re not carrying reusable bags to the market you’re missing out on a simple way to make a big environmental impact.tote

Burlap tote bags and jute bags are attractive and durable, but efficiency isn’t even the best reason to use them. Here are a few disturbing statistics about the environmental impact of one-use and plastic bags:

  • According to Conserving Now, almost 90 percent of the debris in the world’s oceans is plastic.
  • Plastic bags are one of the most common items found in coastal cleanups and every year they’re responsible for more than 100,000 marine-animal deaths.
  • If just one person replaced one-use bags with reusable grocery bags it could eliminate more than 22,000 bags from ending up in our landfills and sensitive eco systems.
  • Plastic shopping bags like to hang around, it can take 15 to 1,000 years for them to decompose.

Opting for an eco friendly bag has a domino effect. When friends see you carrying a stylish burlap tote at the farmer's market it will remind them to bring their own reusable bags next time. A well-made bag has many uses and soon you’ll be using your reusable bag at the beach, the mall or to bring snacks to the soccer team. With each use you can take pride that there’s one less plastic bag polluting our environment.