Reusable bags are durable, well-constructed, and made to last long. Frequently, they’re made of more than a single material to provide the bag with added durability and strength. And, in some cases, they also have an attractive look. They also help save money in the long-term. Reusable bags have a positive environmental impact too.
Consumers choose reusables because they want to do good for the environment, but reusable bags are only good if you reuse them. Not to mention, there are different types of reusable bags for different purposes. Here you’ll learn the different types of reusable bags you can use over and over to make a positive impact on the environment.
Some different types of reusable bags include:
1. Non-Woven Fabric
Non-woven fabric is crafted without knitting or weaving, but instead through a heat or chemical process, making it more affordable. This is the main benefit of custom non-woven bags and totes.
Since they’re so friendly to the budget, you can distribute them with every purchase or provide them as swag bags filled with branded promotional items. Also, they compress into a smaller size and are ideal for grocery shopping use. Therefore, you’ll gain valuable visibility of your brand at a low cost to you.
Some benefits of non-woven fabric reusable bags are:
- Competitive pricing
- 100% recyclable
- Lightweight
- Greater durability, meaning they’re more reusable
- Biodegradable
- No water or PVC coating used in the manufacturing process
- Strong
2. Cotton Bags
Cotton is a popular material for reusable shopping bags since it’s durable and soft. It’s one of the several reusable bag types that you can wash, which means a mishap or spill during a grocery shopping trip won’t ruin your branding. Various nonprofits and companies choose custom wholesale cotton bags for their branding since their great look will most likely outlast other options, such as custom non-woven bags.
Some benefits of cotton reusable bags are:
- More efficient
- More convenient
- Are clean and crafted from fabric, therefore you can toss them in the wash
- Are eco-friendly
3. Jute Bags
Jute is a type of natural plant fiber that could make strong threads. These types of bags are crafted with these threads, therefore they’re extremely strong. Jute plants grow in areas of high rainfall and don’t require pesticides (or very little). It has natural renewable resources and is a compostable plant fiber, thereby, after a long useful time, it could get used with no negative effect on the environment.
Some benefits of custom jute reusable bags are:
- Fairly cheap to buy
- Natural renewable resource
- Durable
- Biodegradable and compostable
- Can be blended with other types of fabrics such as non-woven polypropylene
4. Recycled PET Bags
Custom recycled plastic shopping bags feel and look like a fabric, but they’re actually made of plastic. This type of plastic is recycled from post-consumer plastic recycled containers and bottles. Recycled PET bags are eco-friendly and durable, creating a market for post-consumer recycled material. When you use recycled PET materials, you’re decreasing waste. Additionally, it conserves a type of non-renewable resource. You could have it in custom designs and it’s also used for:
- Advertisement
- Promotion
- Gifting
- Shopping
Some benefits of recycled PET bags are:
- Durable and strong
- Using recycled PET materials conserves a non-renewable resource and reduces waste
- Can be blended with other types of fabrics such as polyester or hemp to make a nice reusable bag material
- Requires two-thirds less energy to manufacture PET products
5. Canvas Bags
Canvas bags make the perfect custom promotional tote for your company logo. They’re one of the best reusable bags to deliver your message. They can work for various businesses and brands from frozen yogurt shops to educational services and more.
Some benefits of canvas reusable bags are:
- They’re washable
- They’re durable
- Outstanding strength-to-weight ratio
- They’re affordable
- They’re natural
- They’re environmental
6. Nylon Reusable Bags
Nylon is a form of synthetic polymer initially made for replacing silk in fabrics. The material also can compact into a small ball for ease of use and storage.
Benefits of custom nylon reusable bags are:
- Lightweight material
- Nylon is durable and strong
- Water resistant
- Easily dyed, creating ideal material color options
- Compacts easily
7. Lunch Bags
Instead of tossing single-use paper or plastic lunch sacks away each day, you can help save the environment and money by using reusable lunch bags. Reusable lunch bags are a green option of carrying your lunch to work or school. They’re stylish and have insulation so they keep your food and beverages cold or hot for hours until it’s time for lunch. Reusable lunch bags are completely recyclable and you can easily hand wash them to keep them clean.
If saving the environment is important to you, then you can do your part by using reusable lunch bags each day for your lunch. By moving away from plastic or paper lunch bags, you’re helping to save water, trees and more. Eco-friendly reusable lunch bags help decrease pollution that gets into the oceans, helping sea creatures avoid injury and illness. While plastic bags are a big problem for the environment, paper bags aren’t that great either. The U.S. cuts around 14 million trees down each year in order to meet the paper bag demand.
The benefits of reusable lunch bags are:
- Eco-friendly
- Saves water, trees, gas and oil
- Reduces air pollution
- Saves sea creatures
Which Reusable Bag Will You Use?
Even the standard reusable grocery bags (high-density polyethylene) offered by grocery stores have potential for high reuse. But, what you should really be asking is which custom reusable bags on the market will provide the lowest environmental impact.
No matter what material the bags are crafted from, on a life cycle basis, the heavier, stronger bags will provide the greatest environmental impact. This is because the heavy bags use more resources and because of this, have a more substantial environmental impact. In any event, you can use any of the reusable bags above to help save the environment.
They’re a practical, eco-friendly and cheap alternative to many of the disposable bags. Consumers can use them over and over for years, given they’re so durable and each time they’re using them, that’s the potential of getting the word out on your brand.
References
- Plastic bag legislation. (n.d.). Accessed at https://www.ncsl.org/research/environment-and-natural-resources/plastic-bag-legislation.aspx
- About the Bag. (n.d). Accessed at https://dpw.lacounty.gov/epd/aboutthebag/