Q & A with Our Founder

With the launch of reuseit.com®, we asked our founder Vincent Cobb to reflect upon the state of affairs of the reusables movement – where we are now and where we’re headed. He was instrumental in putting the issue on the map, and we wanted to get more insight on some of the challenges the movement faces (like reusables becoming a marketing ploy and an onslaught of options available to consumers). Plus, he provided some basic advice we can all use to embrace a reusables lifestyle.

Learn more about our founder here.

Q: What inspired you to start this business?

A: Back in 2003 a void existed - I launched Reusablebags.com® to act as a hub and resource to help wake people up to the problems associated with the massive overconsumption of plastic bags and to provide sound solutions with intelligent products and thought leadership. Starting with the issue of single use bags vs. reusable bags made sense, because I saw the power of it to serve as a catalyst to launch an entire reusables movement – it’s a kind of “gateway reusable.” The plastic bag easily captures anyone’s imagination – it’s a very powerful symbol.

Reusablebags.com® was there blazing a trail during the reusable shopping bag explosion, and reuseit.com® is our new platform designed to promote and accelerate the adoption of what we refer to as a “reusables lifestyle”

Q: The bag movement has evolved - what phase do you see it in currently and where do you foresee it going in the future?

A: Phase 1 was waking people up to the facts - we have a big problem and simple solutions do exist. It was all about getting conscious. This phase percolated for several years and exploded on Earth Day in 2008, when both reusable shopping bags and reusable bottles hit the mainstream in a big, big way. They made all kinds of top-10 lists for things that anybody can do to make the world a better place.

We’re now in Phase 2 - the issue is top-of-mind and people are searching for ways to address the problem. There are lot of ideas flying around - some good and some bad – and there’s a lot of noise. We’re constantly filtering through lots of solutions to separate the sound ones (like bag fees and the adoption of high-quality reusable bags) from the gimmicks (like cheap reusables and retailer greenwashing). Our agenda has always been to promote sound ideas so that they ultimately prevail.

My vision of Phase 3 - People will migrate towards higher-quality, long lasting reusable shopping bags and cheap ones will fade away. We’ll continue to see entrepreneurs transform the marketplace with products that are made with innovative materials, durability, aesthetics, and priced fairly. Plastic bag fees will become the norm and, to a great extent, the plastic bag problem will be solved. This is where Ireland is now.  It only took them 5 years – I think we’ll get there, but my sense is it will take us much longer.

Q: Are all reusable products created equal? What qualities should consumers look for in a reusable product?

A: No. There are a ton cheap-quality & greenwashing products flooding the market. The good news is that excellent products are also appearing at an astounding rate, helping break all kinds of “use & toss” habits society has adopted. We’re seeing the handkerchief coming back as a solution to tissues and hand towels, reusable cutlery for plastic knives & forks  - the list goes on and on.

Our advice to consumers who are now faced with a growing array of options is to follow the golden rule of conscious consumption. Like with anything, don’t buy the first product you see. Be a little skeptical. Do some research to make sure the product is something you will actually use, will last a long time and actually does what is claims. Since many reusables are tied to food and beverage, it’s really important to find a brand you know and trust to help ensure the product is safe and won’t expose you to a host of potentially harmful chemicals.

Offering products from trusted sources is core to what we do.  The practice of being a skeptical consumer is worth the effort, with big environmental and health impacts.

Q: We see a lot of companies and organizations offering free or cheap reusable products as promotional vehicle.  What do you think of this trend?

A: I think it’s troublesome and is, in essence, creating a plague of cheap reusables. Grocery stores, for example, want to give away reusables with their logos on the side because it’s a free form of advertising. It paints them as green. When someone’s going around with a reusable shopping bag from XYZ retailer they become a walking billboard for the retailer that says, “I care about the environment.” So it’s very tempting for the retailer, but at what cost?

Quality costs. You can’t cut corners. To get quality reusables, you have to pay a little bit of money. For instance, when you see a 99-cent reusable shopping bag, you have to ask, what corners were cut? What quality are the materials? Were fair wages paid? Will it last long enough to make a big impact? The whole point of the reusables movement is to consume less, and by mass producing lots of cheap things that won’t last, people are missing the whole point. In my view, cheap reusables are actually just expensive disposables.

Q: What should consumers do when offered a free reusable bag or other cheap reusable product?

A: Peoples’ propensity is that if something’s free or perceived as free, they will take it. And my solution is easy…don’t take them.  I’m still astounded when I go to trade shows or conventions where it’s about sustainability and witnessing the amount of premiums and giveaways that are offered. The whole point is that we’re consuming too much, so as a rule, don’t consume it if you’re not going to use it. Another bit of advice is to steer clear of cheap reusables for all the reasons I just mentioned.

Q: What’s your advice for someone looking to adopt a reusables lifestyle?

A: First of all, when faced with any use-and-toss item, if you don’t need it, don’t take it. Reuse the ones you do get whenever you can, like using plastic bags as garbage liners. Get a handful of high-quality reusable products and start using them to replace the disposables you use most. For example, our Everything Cloth works great as a replacement for all sorts of disposables, like paper napkins and towels. Brew your morning coffee with a reusable filter instead of paper ones, carry a reusable water bottle, use rechargeable batteries - the options are endless.

Pick things that make sense for you as an individual because as a lifestyle change, you want to ease into it. Just don’t give up if you forget your reusable shopping bags or coffee mug, because eventually it will become habitual…like exercise or anything else.

Q: How does feedback from reuseit’s community and consumers affect what you carry in the store?

A: There is no disconnect between us as individuals and our community; we’re solving the same problems for ourselves as we’re solving for our customers. We have a very passionate, loyal following and we get great feedback and input from them. We’re constantly out there finding product solutions that will fill needs and offer a solution for our community.

The community helps inform us, and it’s validating for to hear from our customers that we’ve awaken them to positive lifestyle changes they didn’t even know they could make.
 

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