Know Your Reusable Bags: Advantages & Disadvantages

Today, due to the ever-increasing environmental problems brought by our negligence and excessive use of plastic bags, more and more companies and organizations are putting effort into promoting reusable bags. Aside from being aesthetically pleasing and eco-friendly, reusable bags are far more sturdy and cost-effective than your average disposable plastic bags. If you’re one of those who’ve gotten interested in reusable bags due to these movements, I’m sure that like most of us, you’ll want to know what type of reusable bag best fits your needs.

In the market, there’s a vast array of reusable bags that we can choose from. Though they are all sturdier than a single-use plastic bag, not all reusable bags are created equal. Depending on the fabric and the material used, a reusable bag can pose various advantages and disadvantages to the user. So how do you know which one to pick? Read on and find out.

Cotton or Canvas Bag
Canvas bags are the first reusable bags that have gained popularity to the public. These are often made out of cotton, organic cotton, hemp, or even jute. What’s great about this type of reusable bag is that they are made from renewable resources and natural plant fibers, biodegradable, and are highly durable. Hemp and jute fibers can also be blended with other materials like polypropylene, in order to make them more durable. The disadvantages though come from the fact they are often not moisture resistant and are expensive. Cotton canvas bags are also prone to shrinkage especially if they are made up of 100% cotton. When looking for a canvas bag, choose lighter ones and limit cleaning them through a machine.

Polypropylene Bag
Polypropylene Bags are made from flexible resin polymer, which is a type of plastic. Though this fact may alarm some of you, polypropylene bags have a significantly lower negative environmental impact compared to disposable plastic bags so long as you use them frequently. Furthermore, polypropylene bags are recyclable and can be made from recycled materials. They are also chemical resistant, easy to clean, cheap, and very durable. But, since they are made out of plastic, they are not biodegradable and not renewable. Polypropylene bags are also not readily available in the United States. When looking for polypropylene bags, non-woven ones are usually a better option since they are cheaper and relatively durable.

Polyester Totes
Polyester bags are made from a material called polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is the same type of material used for making PET bottles. Polyester bags are very versatile, very light, very durable, and very compact, so you can easily fold them and put them in your pocket or purse. You won’t even have to worry about crinkling since they’re resistant to that. They can also be easily cleaned since they’re moisture and mildew resistant. Polyester tote bags are also recyclable, so once it gets too worn to use, put it in a recycling center so that it can be reused. Since polyester totes are a type of plastic, their decomposition rate is slow.

No matter what type of reusable bag you choose, you’re making a much more eco friendly choice than choosing traditional plastic bags. Not only that, you’ll have a shopping bag that you can use anywhere, over and over again. If you want to find the best customizable bags made from recycled material, check out https://www.customearthpromos.com/custom-recycled-shopping-bags.html.