I bought 3 of the canvas bags and every time I go to the grocery store, I'm swearing as I get out of my car, because yes, you guessed it, I forgot the damn "better for the environment" canvas bags at home. AGAIN! Good luck in remembering to put them back in your car after a trip to the store.

And while I'm thinking about it, I'm going to put those damn bags by the front door...

I bought Envirosax before the the summer began and because they roll up into a small ball, I just keep them in my purse. I always have at least two in my purse and they are super sturdy. Highly recommended.

I LOVE those Trader Joe canvas bags. Yeah I forgot them several times when I first got them but I got used to remembering to grab them and now it isn't a problem. They are so much better then plastic and easier on the hands then paper.

Trader Joe's also has a reusable bag for just 99cents. I've been using em several times a week (different stores, I'm weird in that I like grocery shopping) for 2 years, and they still look new.

Trader Joe's bags are awesome. Cheap and keep forever. They have an insulated bags as well.

Randomly, I bought canvas bags just today, then got home and read this. Weird! I immediately noticed that they feel incredibly sturdy. Once I start remembering them, it'll be great.

I have been having the same thoughts as well,but haven't quite made it. we have the canvas totes, but they aren't exactly in the car. yet. ok, ok I'm going!! :)

I went to the Envirosaz website and found this:
Envirosax® reusable shopping bags are lightweight, portable, waterproof and each one holds the equivalent of two supermarket plastic bags thanks to reinforced seams.

Individual bag size:
19.5" x 16.5"

Individual rolled up bag size:
4" x 1.5" diameter
http://usa.envirosax.com/pages/products.php?icat=1

Yeah I thought about those sacks once too. Then I had a great martini and no more problems mon! ;)

I will make a deal with Cheryl Crow and everyone else...the day Al Gore sells his gas guzzling private jet and starts flying commercial, I will start using one square to potty and will remember to bring my canvas bags to the grocery store.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm all for doing everything I can to help the environment. Really. But sometimes my small efforts seem so futile in the face of the huge morons who don't practice what they preach. :( Sigh. Sorry for ranting.

BZ

Don't take swearing away from me!

I don't mind that it's bad for my soul, but if it's bad for the planet, too......

Heehee! Great post. Great blog!

I'm also a huge fan of Envirosax...to the point that I've purchased 3 sets of them so far...some for me, some for friends. They're just terribly easy to tuck away in a purse or a glove box so that they're on-hand for spontaneous grocery-getting trips. They also stand behind their product: one of my bags had a snap that broke on first use so I emailed them about it and received a response asking for my address in under 3 hours. I received a replacement within just a few days.

That said, Baggu bags recently caught my eye. They seem slightly larger and have a bottom gusset that allows the bag to lay flat. However, it doesn't look like they fold up quite as easily as Envirosax do...and actually have individual pouches that they're stored in which, for some reason, strikes me as a bit more inconvenient.

At any rate, both of these options do make it over the "take up too much room" hurdle that was my obstacle in snagging reusable bags for the longest time.

Yup yup, I'm recently obsessed with canvas bags but always leave them in the house. :( Very frustrating with an 11 month old baby who won't let you take trips back and forth without him screaming!

A year ago, I bought Trader Joe's insulated bags. They're bigger than the canvas ones and keep food cold for hours (handy for folks like me who live an hour away from TJ's). I highly recommend them.

I ahve to..um, third, the Envirosax. I bought a set of them and LOVE them. They hold so much more than a plastic grocery bag but since their handles will fit over my shoulder, they are easier to carry from the car to the apartment. I use them for everything. I try to keep them in my car and usually have at least one in my purse. They are great for going to the library and carrying all my book. The next thing I need to get are some net produce bags, but since I've been getting most veggies at a farm stand (using my Envirosax) or at a CSA, I haven't needed them yet.

Okay, a fourth recommendation for Envirosax! I've even used them at Banana Republic to avoid bringing home yet another huge paper bag I feel obligated to reuse until it falls apart. I can fit enough groceries in one bag that it's almost too heavy to lift, if that's any indication of the size. The lack of a gusseted bottom is a little annoying, but I just love being able to stick one in my coat pocket. I have three in my purse right now. They're also not going to fall apart in the rain, which is another plus if you often find yourself waiting for the bus with groceries in a downpour. Yeah, that's me.

I've had the Trader Joes canvas bags for a couple years now and they've paid for themselves. Those $.08 credits add up eventually! I really like the look of the Envirosax, but I think I'll have to wait until these bags wear out. At the rate they wear (read: not at all) it could be a while.

I hang mine on the door from the kitchen to the garage so whenever I go get in my car I see them and usually remember. Good luck!

I bought about a dozen of the canvas and find that a weeks worth of shopping for 2 easily fits into 3-4 bags. So I keep a stash in both cars, one in my purse, etc. That usually helps me remember them, because that is the worst part. I will say that the are incredible in their holding power!