A provocative statement was emblazed across a canvas bag caught my eye while riding the Metro in Washington, DC this summer. “Shop with a Reusable Bag, (expletive)”, my fellow passenger’s tote demanded.
The bag is designed by Lela Lee, creator of the comic series Angry Little Girls, and it is an example of the growing number of trendy, reusable shopping bags marketed to eco-conscious consumers.
But even with all of the fashionable options available online and at the checkout counters of major grocery stores, I’ve noticed that the majority of shoppers in the District still seem to be hooked on the paper and plastic habit. Because DC attracts volumes of environmentalists who move to the city to follow climate-related policy and initiatives, it concerns me to see so many fellow residents clinging to such an unsustainable practice.
Just how does that traditional shopping bag impact the environment? Below are a few scary stats cited on reusablebags.com.
- In 1999, 14 million trees were cut to produce the 10 billion paper grocery bags used by Americans that year alone.
- According to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. goes through 100 billion plastic shopping bags annually. An estimated 12 million barrels of oil is required to make that many plastic bags.
- Single-use bags made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) are the main culprit. Once brought into existence to tote your purchases, they'll accumulate and persist on our planet for up to 1,000 years.
- Recycling rates of either type of disposable bag are extremely low, with only 10 to 15 percent of paper bags and one to three percent of plastic bags being recycled, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Eager to explore how correct my observations have been about District residents’ bag habits, I spent an afternoon camped out in front of popular shopping spots in the city and recorded these notes while I observed the District on a typical Sunday.
2:30: The Safeway Grocery Store in the Adams Morgan neighborhood
Adams Morgan is known in DC as a vibrant, multicultural neighborhood that by day attracts adventures foodies to its international restaurants, and shoppers seeking wares created by local, independent designers. By night, Adams Morgan turns into a party spot. It is a neighborhood of mixed income and age.
I stayed at the Safeway grocery store from about 2:30 to 3pm and estimated that there where about 80 shoppers in the store at any given time. Of all the shoppers, 10 were using reusable bags. Eight were women, and two were men. No one used the Safeway brand reusable bag that was available for purchase for $1.25 at the checkout counter.
3:30: DuPont Circle
DuPont Circle, located in the center of the city’s Northwest quadrant, attracts shoppers to its high-end clothing stores, restaurants, and independent bookstores. The park also attracts visitors year round.
While people-watching from the window of a coffee shop, I tallied how many shoppers I saw sporting reusable bags and how many were toting paper or plastic. Between 3:30 and 4pm, I counted 18 women and three men with reusable bags. Thirty-one women and 24 men were shopping with disposable bags.
4:30: Eastern Market
Eastern Market is a Capitol Hill neighborhood, noted for its colorful row houses, and slews of eclectic shops and restaurants. It is also home of a large, open air, weekly farmers’ market and a famous meat hall filled with fine delicatessens.
I took my post at another coffee shop and spent a half hour people-watching. Although I had missed the bulk of the Sunday shoppers, I counted: 16 women and 13 men with non-reusable bags, and five women and three men with reusable ones.
6:00: Whole Foods on P Street NW
On Earth Day 2008, this chain of high-end grocery stores eliminated plastic bags and marketed the reusable bags available for purchase for less than $5 in each store. These bags are available in a number of trendy, colorful patterns including one designed by Sheryl Crow sold for .79 cents at Whole Foods stores everywhere.
The high selection of gender-neutral bags must be contributing to the high number of shoppers forgoing paper. Between 6pm and 6:30pm, I estimated that there were about 200 shoppers in Whole Foods at any given time: 30 women and 26 men were shopping with reusable bags.
The Bottom Line
Though young women tend to be taking the lead on eco-conscious shopping in DC, this bracket still appears to be in the minority of consumers.
Where to Buy Fun, Affordable, Reusable bags
Reusable bags can be purchased in the checkout lines of most major grocery stores around the country, usually for about a couple of bucks a pop. For a wider selection of eco-friendly totes, check out:
