June 3rd, 2008

By By Alison Maxwell

It’s not always easy being green, but you can look chic doing it. With companies like Ikea and Whole Foods Market going plastic bag-free, it pays to invest in a reusable shopping tote.

Uncommon Goods offers two unique options: The Recycled Newspaper market bag ($52) is made from recycled sections of The New York Times. Each bag is handmade and coated in water-resistant laminate. The Waste Not Want Not tote ($24) is made from 80 percent post-industrial recycled cotton and 20 percent post-consumer recycled plastic and features an original illustration by designer R. Nichols.

Fredflare.com’s Go Green totes are made of natural canvas and printed with water-based inks, and a portion of the sales goes to the World Wildlife Fund. Delight.com’s Think Green organic Kermit tote ($38.95) is made of organic cotton and comes with three detachable green-themed buttons. Buy a tote emblazoned with “My Bag Cares” and be in your face with your environmental consciousness. For each $20 bag purchased, the Arbor Day Foundation will plant a tree in your name in the U.S.

Fashionistas can trot out a Marc by Marc Jacobs canvas tote with logo lettering on the front ($148) or Juicy Couture’s Go Green tote featuring a heart-shaped recycling graphic ($75) (shown). Shoe company Nine West has partnered with Project Green to create reusable canvas bags ($20) featuring the slogans “Green Girls Are Sexy” and “Fashion Cares, Green Is Chic.”

Seeking a one-stop-shop for reusable bags? Try ReusableBags.com, a comprehensive seriously green site showcasing all sizes and shapes of shopping bags, reusable bottles and lunch bags — practical solutions for customers who want to get away from using all types of disposable containers. Want to get even more practical? Pick up a couple of reusable totes at your local grocery. They’re totally unfashionable, and cheap, a dollar or two each.

Copyright © 2008 | Distributed by Noofangle Media