Beth Kanter’s son, Harry, is learning what a lot of adults don’t even seem to notice- that the things we use every day are made out of something and end up somewhere, but what, where and why? What are the smarter choices that we can make that are less wasteful? This shopping bag video is one out of (hopefully) many of Harry exploring and questioning the way things are produced.
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And, he is also good at reminding me when I leave for the supermarket without getting the reusable bags …
We made this video on Christmas morning
http://beth.typepad.com/beths_blog/2007/12/green-geek-holi.html
That smile at the end made me laugh out loud.
The Austin Whole Foods (the world headquarter, where they try new stuff out too) just eliminated plastic bags completely. Their paper bags are now 100% post-consumer recycled paper. They doubled the bag refund to 10 cents (if you bring your own bags they pay you 10 cents for each bag). AND they started selling these cool-looking CHEAP reuseable bags made from recycled plastic. Only a buck each, the recycled-plastic bags hold more than a regular paper bag. If you bring the reusuable bags back 10 times, they pay for themselves.
I used to always get the paper bags, and reuse them over and over until they ripped. Then I’d use them to recycle paper in my house. Now, I’ve bought two Whole Foods reusable bags to use instead. I love that they are so very cheap. I would not have bought them at $8.
Ikea in Austin also changed their bag strategy. They got rid of all free bags. You can buy a regular plastic one for 5 cents each. Or a reusable blue one (like the yellow ones they give you to use in the store) for 59 cents. The only problem is, no one shops often enough at Ikea to be bringing that blue reusable bag back over and over. Really, it’s just another product you are buying. If you re-use it for something else, great. But mostly I think people are buying them, taking them home and sticking them on a shelf. I went for the bag with much less plastic in it, and only used one.
I like it when stores encourage you not to use bags. Most stores practically require a bag — even when you clearly don’t need one. And you feel like you’re going to get accused of shop-lifting if you leave the store without one.
AWESOME! How old is that kid?
Harry is 8.
Here’s his latest - on light blubs
http://beth.typepad.com/beths_blog/2008/02/harry-is-a-gree.html