I like to think that for once I was at the very front of something, very much an early adopter. I’m talking reusable shopping bags, for years I dumb-founded shopping assistants by producing some canvas bag or other and rejecting their bag. Now of course it’s common place to see shoppers carrying a variety of reusable bags. There are huge environmental benefits* to using reusable bags, it’s a no-brainer thing that you can easily do that has a massively good impact.

It can take awhile to become accustomed to always having a bag on you so here’s my top tips:

• Have some fold away bags (I love onyas for this) which you can easily keep in the smallest handbag or coat pocket
• Have too many bags, that way there’s always a free one in your boot, bag or pocket when you need it
• Keep one bag that’s just for putting clothes in (you don’t want your new items covered in bits of broccoli), my billy bag fits right into even the smartest shop
• Have a selection of bags in both feminine and masculine colours, no more excuses!

Once you’re into it you’ll realise that there are other benefits besides the green ones.  You’ll no longer have the ‘bag of bags’ in your house that grows and grows, spilling out errant plastic bags if you as much as glance at it. No more hands rubbed raw from plastic handles. Plus save a huge amount of time packing away your groceries in the supermarket.

I am now rarely without a bag and if I am caught short then I simply stuff the items into my handbag or carry said items in my arms while holding the receipt aloft!

*To become all knowing about the environmental issues around plastic bags go to Bag-ne-sia, Earth Resource Foundation or Plastic bag free.

Organic hemp cotton bag with coconut shell buttons

Fold out brushed cotton tote with leather bottom

4 polyester bags in a handy bag with trolley token

Polyester bag with integral strawberry pouch

Made from parachute material and stuffs into a pouch

Pretty bag packs away into a matching case

Lightweight polyester, portable and waterproof

Stuffs down small into its own pouch

Ethically produced jute bag from the Red Cross