Review: Goody Green Bags

For about the past year or so I’ve been really trying to make even small changes in our household in order to start moving toward a more ‘green’ lifestyle. We’re by no means there yet – but even the baby steps that I’ve put into place do help make a difference, and give us a place to build on for making bigger changes yet in the future.

One thing that I’ve been trying to do is to switch entirely (or as much as possible) to re-usable bags when shopping. But it’s been a much more difficult process than I ever anticipated – mostly because I’m a victim of bad habits. I simply have a difficult time remembering to grab the bags when I get out of my van in the parking lot, and don’t generally remember until I’m approaching the checkout lane – at which time I’m usually in a hurry just to get out of there, so tend not to make the effort to go out and retrieve the bags.

Sad, huh…

Thankfully, I’ve found a resource that helps with this and I can happily say that every recent shopping trip of mine has involved bringing my purchases home in something other than disposable plastic bags. Something quite fun and attractive, in fact – from Goody Green Bag.

What they are:

Goody Green Bag is a company that was started by two moms who are passionate about finding ways to help save our planet. They are ‘eco-trendy’ re-usable shopping bags that were designed to be as practical, convenient – and stylish as possible.

The bags are made out of non-woven polypropylene, which is a fire and water-resistant material that’s lightweight, durable, and washable. They measure 18.5” in height by 15” wide and 2.75” deep – easily large enough to fit 2 gallons of milk along with other groceries. They have two sturdy handles that are long enough to sling over your shoulder, and a convenient outside pocket on the front for small purchases as well. Each bag also folds down into a compact envelope that’s easy to store in a purse, diaper bag or glove compartment. There are six different designs available.

From their website:

Our mission is to make it simple for consumers to help preserve and sustain a healthy Earth.

Replacing plastic or paper bags with Goody Green Bags is an easy way to reduce your individual carbon footprint on the planet. We make it a priority to continually use the most environmentally positive products to raise awareness of this issue; and we think you’ll agree that our product is a great way for the fashion-forward consumer to make a simple commitment to a greener Earth!

Here’s my take on them:

I received a sample bag to try out, in the ‘Martini’ design. I was immediately struck by how durable the bag seemed – and the fact that it folds down into such a convenient size makes it much more likely that I will be able to remember to take it with me when shopping.

In fact, this is the first bag that I’ve found which fits into my purse, so I don’t even have to worry about remembering it – it’s always with me. And not only does it fold down, but there’s a velcro fastening that keeps the bag in its ‘envelope’ shape.

What I’ve discovered in the past couple of weeks is that having the bag actually in my possession at all times makes a huge difference in my ability to actually remember to use it. I’ve been able to use this bag for most, if not all, of my purchases on every shopping trip recently.  Here’s an example showing the bag as I carried it home from a trip to Target last week:

Would you believe that all of this was filling the bag at the time?:

You can see the folded up bag in the picture above as well – hard to believe that all of that fit, but it did. And without anything spilling out either. I am in love with this bag! 

The bottom line:

Goody Green Bags are a fun and stylish way to conveniently keep a re-usable shopping bag with you whenever you need it. The bags hold a ton of items – even bulky ones – and the long straps make it easy to simply sling the bag over your shoulder to carry home when you’re all shopped out.

Where can you find them?:

You can order the bags directly from their site at http://www.goodygreenbag.com. They cost $8.95 each or $39.95 for a 5-pack of the same design. A sampler pack that includes one of each of the six different designs costs $45.95. They are also sold in retailers in several states – you can find one near you.

Here’s a great deal for you!:

As an incentive for everyone to commit to “green” resolutions this year, Goody Green Bag is running an Earth Day discount of 15% off all bags! Through the end of April, just visit this link to take advantage of the discount: www.goodygreenbag.com/order/earthday!