by Gail Kavanagh

Created on: July 12, 2009   Last Updated: August 15, 2009

The plastic shopping bag is going the way of the dinosaurs. Places as far apart as San Francisco and South Australia have already banned these thin plastic bags, and shoppers are encouraged to bring their own recyclable bags. But what is so bad about the plastic shopping bag that it is seen as such a major threat to the environment, and wildlife in particular?

There are several reasons: the plastic used for making these bags is oil-based, and oil is a rapidly dwindling resource: the bag litter is eaten by wildlife, causing death; the bags take decades to decompose, posing an environmental and wildlife threat for generations; and they are costly in other ways, adding to the daily cost of buying food in spite of being `free' at the checkout.

We are seriously looking at a future without plastic shopping bags, and it is up to shoppers to come up with their own alternatives to make the phase out easier. Decades ago, everyone carried their own string, straw or fabric shopping bags, and the simplest way to stock up on them is still to make your own.

Even the most inept sewer can make a simple shopping bag. It is only a rectangle of fabric folded over, sewn up two sides and a handle added. If you cannot operate a sewing machine to save your life, and are all thumbs with a needle, you can buy simple fabric bags at the supermarket, or even more cheaply, at a thrift store.

But if you make the effort to make your own bags, you can customize the bags to suit every need, and even to suit your personality - that is much more fun than a plastic shopping bag anyway!

You can make plain calico bags for supermarket shopping, and personalize them with trims, applique or fringing. Make all your calico bags the same size as a plastic shopping bag and attach two simple handles to make it easier for the check out operators to handle them as they would a plastic shopping bag.

The bonus is that these bags will be sturdier and cope better with heavy items like bottles and cans than the plastic bags which, as every shopper knows, often burst open, letting your purchases roll around the car park. As the bags will be used over and over again, they will pose no litter problem, and, when they finally do wear out, you can use them for polishing rags.

Fresh items like fruit and vegetables need their own bags. You can line the calico bags with reusable plastic from shower curtains or heavier plastic packing bags, or just make strong plastic bags on their own. These bags will keep your

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