Myth: Synthetic Materials Are Not Eco-Friendly

Customers have asked how we can justify offering a synthetic bag when we are so against disposable plastic bags. It's a valid point and one that needs to be looked at closely. After all, it may seem that we are replacing one plastic bag with another. But, like many issues, we can't oversimplify natural vs. synthetic fabrics for bags. Other factors come into play, such as design, lifecycle, environmental impact, and manufacturing/labor.

Environmental Impact

Another thing to consider is natural resources used and environmental impact (e.g. far fewer natural resources are required to produce a high-quality reusable bag than the thousands of plastic bags it will eliminate). We estimate that the natural resources required to make 50 plastic bags is equivalent to making a single reusable one -- the net effect is that well-made reusables are far better for the environment than single-use, disposable plastic bags. Keep in mind that production of traditional, non-organic cotton commonly used in many cloth bags consumes vast quantities of oil needed for pesticides and fertilizer. Cotton cloth bags are not necessarily always better.

Manufacturing & Labor

Lastly, take into account manufacturing and labor -- all of our bags are made with fair labor / fair wages paid. The same cannot be said for disposable plastic bags and bargain basement cotton cloth bags. We will always opt for the most eco-friendly fabrics for our bags; however, certain criteria can justify the need for synthetics. Also, note that we are moving towards offering only synthetics made from recycled plastic. By offering a wide range of options to consumers, it is our strong belief that more people will decide to use reusable shopping bags. The end result is a huge net positive impact on the environment.

Design

We experimented with natural fabrics for (as an example) the reuseit® Workhorse 1500 bag design, but none resulted in an end product that would fold up into a tiny interior pouch (easily stashed in purse, backpack, pocket, etc.) so that you could have one with you at all times. What's better -- a cheap, giveaway cotton cloth bag that ends up sitting in a closet or a well-made, stylish nylon bag that is used daily? We think the latter.

Lifecycle

Lifecycle is another important issue to consider. Since they are designed well and made well (some even include lifetime guarantees), all of the synthetic reusable bags we offer can help eliminate thousands of plastic bags over the course of their lifetime. Disposable "use and toss" bags make it simple for people to use them once and then throw them in the trash. While made from synthetics, the reuseit® Workhorse bag and reuseit® Earth Tote will help replace thousands of single-use plastic bags over the course of a lifetime.

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