Why You Can't Take The Package From The Store, What Are The Alternatives

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

"Thank you, you don't need a package": why you need to refuse packages in the store

Conscious consumption is not only a fashion trend, but also an important movement for the planet itself. Have you ever wondered why you actually take the bag from the store? Do you need it? In fact, in most cases the package is best discarded.

Why you should refuse packages in the store

The first (and most important) aspect of the issue is environmental. A plastic bag takes 100 to 500 years to decompose. In many countries, there is still no plastic recycling system, and all this polyethylene is dumped into rivers, from which it then enters the seas and oceans.

However, you've probably already seen a more environmentally friendly solution in large hypermarkets - recyclable bags made from paper and similar materials. However, you may also have noticed their price - usually it is above 50 rubles for a medium-sized package. And few people are ready to overpay for the environment (at least in Russia). And here we smoothly move on to the issue of saving.

Eco-friendly bags, although they decompose quickly, nevertheless cost significantly more than plastic bags, and therefore few people buy them.

In some stores, shopping bags are offered for free, but in most you will still be asked to pay for it - from 3 to 50 rubles, depending on the size, type, density. This is a small percentage of the total amount in the check. But let's count more globally. The average family goes to the hypermarket twice a week, after which they take home two or three bags of food. That's about 20 packages per month. Suppose that our hypothetical family takes large packages of average quality - for about 30 rubles a piece. A month already comes out about 600 rubles for packages alone. And a year? Are you ready to spend about 7,000 rubles a year on plastic bags alone, which only serve to take groceries home, given that there is a nicer alternative to them?

And the last moment is hoarding. Most of our compatriots have a habit dating back to the USSR - collecting plastic bags. You've probably heard that our grandparents in the Soviets even washed and dried these bags in order to continue using them later. But now there is no need for this - a plastic bag can be bought at any store, and it is already customary to use more convenient and dense roll bags with handles for garbage. And all the same, people continue to keep at home an eternal "bag with bags". It takes up space, is not pleasing to the eye, and is unusually of little use. Maybe it's time to give it up?

A package with packages is found exclusively in the post-Soviet space

What can replace disposable bags

Fortunately, replacements for disposable bags are not that hard to find. And the first thing that comes to mind is a shopping bag (or string bag). It is large, roomy, and usually does not have more than one additional pocket (where you can just put your keys and phone) - ideal for grocery shopping. Shoppers are very different - textile, canvas, leatherette, denim and so on. You can easily find the one that suits you in style and price in clothing and accessories stores.

And sometimes shoppers give a gift for some large purchases. For example, I once got a nice black textile bag for buying sneakers. It is small, but for a hike for bread and sweets to the nearest store - just right.

The main disadvantage of the shopper is that in terms of spaciousness it is clearly inferior to two packages. So if you are used to buying groceries for a week at a time (and you get a voluminous basket), then you should pay attention to other solutions. Well, or go to the store more often, if possible.

Shopping bags vary in design, size, and material of manufacture

There are also special textile bags. They cost about 50-100 rubles and are usually sold in stores like Fix Price, where you can buy some little things cheap. The main advantage of the bags is their compactness. They easily roll up into a small ball and tighten with a special elastic band. As a result, at home, such a bag takes up a maximum of 10 cm of space. In the store, you can expand it to its full - the capacity of these bags is comparable to a pair of medium bags.

If you travel to the hypermarket by car, check out the trunk organizers. They vary in size. Some take up only a third of the trunk, while others take up the entire space behind the seats. Pay attention to the models with handles - otherwise you will have difficulty lifting food into the apartment.

The organizer bag is useful not only for grocery trips, but also for nature trips

A roomy backpack is a great option for lovers of a sporty style of clothing. It is more convenient than bags or bags, roomy and usually clean enough to transport food. In addition, carrying weights in a backpack is much easier than in bags or bags.

A good backpack will fit your entire purchase

The simplest option that does not require you to invest money is the old package. There should be a benefit from the "package of packages" in the end! Before going to the store, put a plastic bag you already bought in your pocket or bag. There is nothing shameful about unwrapping an existing bag at the checkout.

It turns out there are many decent alternatives to polyethylene. Replacing plastic bags with reusable accessories is not only sustainable, but also beneficial.