In honor of Earth Day, we’re sharing little changes you can make to contribute to a greener world. Today we challenge you to stop using plastic bags–not just for today, but for life! Bring a tote bag with you to the grocery store or farmers market. Bring it with you to Trader Joe’s, Acme, Mom’s Organic Market, CVS, Rite Aids–everywhere! Bryn Mawr gives every first year a tote bag in their class color during Customs Week, and I’ve put it to good use since; I love how large and durable it is. If you’re looking to jazz it up, here are five more tote bags we’re loving:
1. “Earth day every day” reusable shopping bag – The Little Market
Photo courtesy of The Little Market
It’s the perfect tote to celebrate Earth Day! This handwoven burlap bag has a water resistant and laminated interior, the embroidery comes in both black and white, and there are two size options (the small is 15.5”x11.5”x7.5”, and the large is 16”x15”x9”). We’re also loving this one embroidered with “Philadelphia,” and if you’re looking for something more general, we’re loving this one embroidered with “local.” There are several more embroidered options, so definitely take a look through the rest of their reusable burlap bags. If you’re looking for a bag that can transition into the everyday, check out their tote bags; we’re loving this chic and simple black beach bag, but this black fringe and these hot pink pom poms are fun too!
The Little Market is “a nonprofit founded by women to empower women,” and their website features products ethically sourced and artisan made.
2. Customized market bag – Apolis
Photo courtesy of Apolis
You might have seen this bag around, usually printed with “CITY / STATE / USA.” I wondered where those bags came from and thought that businesses special-ordered them, but I finally tracked them down, and it turns out that anyone can get one customized! You can enter up to three lines of text, and you don’t have to keep it to “CITY / STATE / USA.” You can also get a generic market bag, which comes in natural, black, and charcoal. These bags are made of natural jute fiber, are long-lasting and are waterproof.
Apolis is a Certified B Corporation, which means that they “have met higher standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability.”
3. “The Mae” market tote – Loom & Field
Photo courtesy of Loom & Field
Going with the theme of natural fibers, we’re loving this woven natural straw basket–so boho chic! This bag is made from Moroccan palm leaves by artisans in Marrakech, Morocco, and is approximately 12.5”x20”. We love the shape and simplicity, but if you want a little accent, you can get one with colorful pom poms (these pom poms are more like an accent, whereas the pom pom bag linked from The Little Market previously was a little more loud). Loom & Field also has a uniquely shaped straw circle bag; it’s sold out, but you can sign up to get notified when the product is back in stock via email.
Loom & Field partners with artisans, and 10% of proceeds go to “empower women weavers in Morocco with literacy education and business training.” You can catch them on Etsy or on their website.
4. Duck bag – Baggu
Photo courtesy of Baggu
We love the versatility of this canvas tote, which can be slung over your shoulder with an adjustable strap or grabbed by shorter handles. It comes in seven colors including lilac, washed denim, mushroom, natural canvas, sailor stripe, natural grid and black. Running 15.75”x11”x4.7”, it can easily fit a 15” MacBook, making it fit for class, grocery shopping, casual excursions with friends and much more. It’s made with 100% cotton canvas and is 65% recycled. Baggu also has some cute nylon reusable grocery bag options that can be folded up and thrown in any of your own bags. There are 35 different prints, and we’re loving the grapefruit print, thank you print and arigato print. Baggu runs a nylon recycling program and “will take your used bags in return for a discount on a new order.”
Baggu has been recognized for “breaking the ‘Made in China’ stigma.” They construct their bags out of nylon, canvas, and leather, and you can read more about their construction methods on their website.
5. Found canvas tote – United By Blue
Photo courtesy of United by Blue
If you’re looking for a tote that’s a little more standard, we’re loving this one. With Earth Day in mind, it’s a good reminder to leave the world a physically better place, but it’s also a good reminder to leave the world a spiritually better place–all the good vibes! It’s made with 100% cotton canvas and runs 18”x13”x6”. We’re also loving the field guide canvas tote, simple but made special with an earthy print. Something about United By Blue’s store just makes me want to go out into the wilderness and be one with nature.
United By Blue produces “responsible durable goods” and “for every product sold… removes one pound of trash from our world’s oceans and waterways.” We’ll be sharing more about United By Blue on our website tomorrow, so keep a lookout for that!
So many cute and ethical tote bags–who knew being eco friendly could be so much fun?