by Jennifer L. Thompson

Created on: August 31, 2009   Last Updated: November 10, 2009

Going green is a collective effort, and yet, it is also very individual. Although the extent of what each person is able to do to go green will vary, some things are quite easy for just about anyone to integrate into daily life. Changing the shopping bags we use is one such thing.

"Going green" shopping bags are now readily available in grocery stores, as well as through a plethora of other venues. Sometimes made of canvas, or another durable and long-lasting material, the bags are brought shopping with you, then used and re-used to carry your purchases home, instead of using the usual plastic bags supplied by the majority of stores.

An eco-conscious shopper using green shopping bags is doing her part to stop even one more plastic bag from leeching hazardous chemicals into our earth throughout the near thousand years it can take to degrade. Another shopper using them is doing his part to relieve stress that extensive use of fossil fuels has put our planet's biosphere under. Yet another will be saving space and time in not having to store and recycle plastic bags any more... yet each one is still doing it all.

Although using the green bags does also save a phenomenal amount of plastic from going into our landfills, even if "green" isn't your thing, there are still more reasons to bring your own green bag when you go shopping.

Generally quite inexpensive to buy, green shopping bags are lightweight, versatile, easy to carry, and easy to use. Some are even becoming quite fashionable, with colors and unique designs to match any outfit.

Stronger than its plastic counterparts, rarely, if ever, will a green bag give way and spill out its contents.

Green shopping bags can also serve double-duty as beach bags, travel bags, book bags, and more. After a day at the beach, just throw it in the wash and wallah! It's your shopping bag again.

Built for both sturdiness and roominess, one green bag can hold the same amount of contents as several plastic bags without toppling over.

On a larger scale, more and more cities are considering banning the use of the usual plastic bags altogether in part, due to the tremendous amounts of litter created with winds scattering them around a city. Going green now makes for an easier transition, and helps to beautify your hometown.

Whether you're intending to go green, or only going green out of necessity, go green the easy way. You can start with a shopping bag.

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