In our new series ‘How green is it really?’, we dig into eco-trends and find out if they’re as sustainable as we thought.
In our new series ‘How green is it really?’, we dig into eco-trends and find out if they’re as sustainable as we thought. This week: tote bags.
Tote bags are better than the plastic carriers at the checkout, right?
In many ways, yes. The carbon emissions of producing plastic are far higher than cotton, but the water demand of cotton is higher than plastic, so there is a trade-off.
That sounds bad. What exactly do you mean?
Well, here’s a sobering stat: according to a 2018 study by the Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark, an organic cotton tote needs to be used 20,000 times to offset its environmental impact.
Oh. Are they a total waste of time, then?
Professor Kate Fletcher from the Centre for Sustainable Fashion at the London College of Fashion says the best thing about reusable bags is that they force a change in our habits. ‘I don’t go anywhere without a bag now,’ she says.
‘It’s like taking your wallet or keys everywhere.’ Totes can also make it easier to reuse other things, like carrying containers to refill at a market rather than buying food in packaging.
Right, so what type of tote bag should I be using?
‘If you have to choose a new bag, I’d advocate for ones that are really strong, especially in the handles,’ says Fletcher. ‘You should also avoid ones made from synthetic materials and blends of different fibres, so they can biodegrade more easily. Bags made from netting are a very efficient use of materials. But whatever you use, you absolutely need to be caring for it and washing it.’
The verdict: Don’t buy new totes, just reuse all the ones you almost definitely have lying around the house. And take them everywhere you go.