So don’t forget your reusable bags when you do your holiday shopping! Just think of all the plastic bags being consumed each holiday season. I don’t even want to know how many bags are used once and just thrown away. Please do your part and bring your own bags to the stores. There is nothing worse then seeing plastic bags blowing in the wind or stuck in trees. Keep in mind that every plastic bag you use will be around long after your grandchildren’s grandchildren. Thank you to everyone who is already using reusable bags. Don’t forget that reusable bags make great gifts too.
October 19, 2009
July 3, 2009
Add Green to your Red, White and Blue Day!
The Fourth of July is upon us and we know that everyone is gearing up to celebrate with family and friends. But keeping in mind that our country and our earth are suffering from an over abundance of trash and a changing climate, we want to offer you a few easy (and inexpensive) ways that you can make your parties, picnics and family get-togethers just a little more earth friendly, without making them any less fun!
1. Of course, before you head to the store, make sure you have your Go Green Bag reusable bags in your car, and plenty of them!
2. Keep plastic and styrofoam off the list. We know you don’t want to wash all those dishes this weekend! But plastic and styrofoam will sit in the landfill long after this celebration is over. So, when purchasing your plates, cups, utensils and trash bags, try to find the compostable and/or biodegradable kind. Recycled paper is also an alternative for plates and napkins.
3. Meat or no meat? We all know that hamburgers and hotdogs are the staple for any successful barbeque. But you might be surprised at how many veggie burgers and veggie dogs disappear if you offer them. They are healthier, tastier than you think and much more earth friendly. So cut down on the meat and give some alternatives a fair chance! Now we know that there is no true substitute for a nice juicy burger, so buy organic, free range and cruelty free – it will probably taste even better than you’d expect.
4. Buy local! Fruits and vegetables can be purchased at your local Farmer’s Markets and roadside stands, especially this time of year. Corn on the cob, fresh blueberries and strawberries, potatoes, even fresh eggs will all be a delicious treat for your guests. Not to mention, you are supporting your local farmers, your fruits and vegetables don’t have to be shipped anywhere and they will be fresh, fresh, fresh!!
5. Do you compost? Don’t forget to compost all the left-overs and left-behinds.
6. Can the sodas! Iced tea, punch and lemonade are a great substitute and not only less expensive but create less waste. Get your pitchers out and fill with a variety of mixable drinks. Ok, so you can’t substitute for that frosty adult beverage, just be sure to recycle the cans and bottles when you are through.
7. Finally, sometimes holiday celebrations require decorations, including streamers, lights and balloons. When the party is over, please make sure everything is properly disposed of, especially the balloons. While it might be pretty and fun to see your red, white and blue balloons float into the air, but please remember that what goes up, must come down. Latex and mylar balloons can travel hundreds of miles and end up in trees, oceans and rivers. Animals, especially sea turtles, birds and marine mammals can mistake these partially deflated balloons for their normal prey items. The balloons can get lodged in the digestive tract, making these animals feel full, until they eventually starve to death. So recruit the kids that love to make noise to pop your balloons and then throw them away.
March 2, 2009
All Bags Are Not Created Equal!
Thankfully the idea of bringing your own reusable bag to the the store is finally catching on here in the United States. However, the down side of this trend, is that there are many poor quality reusable bags being sold everyday. All bags are not created equal. So what makes a good reusable bag?
Basically I have some tips to help out all you thrifty shoppers. There are many styles to choose from , and each have their pros and cons. I am partial to our bags obviously and I truly believe that we have the best possible solution to this global problem. Cotton bags are expensive if made in the USA and tend to hold odors. Jute and other organic materials are often made overseas, and unfortunately these bags are made in countries that really should be growing food instead of fiber based plants. Even in the green bag world of non woven poly and PET bags, there are cheap, poorly made bags. I typically spend a fair amount of time each week scouring the world wide web for companies that are selling poor quality products. The worst part, is that many of the importers of these bags don’t really care where they are getting the products from. As the end use, r it is your responsibility to make sure that your bags are being made under fair working conditions and not by children in sweat shops. So here are my tips for spotting a quality reusable bag.
1. Look for a company such as Go Green Bag that has a label in the bag proudly standing by their products.
2. Make sure the handles are sewn the entire way down the bag. Most cheap bags have handles sewn at the top to save money.
3. The fabric should be soft, not stiff or brittle.
4. The colors of the fabric should be bright and clean.
5. Ask the company if they know where their bags are made and if they are made using fair working conditions.
6. Avoid cotton, jute and other organic fibers.
Its important to be an educated consumer. We stand behind every bag we sell and we understand that you have many choices so we are glad when you choose Go Green Bag.
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www.GoGreenBag.com
February 24, 2009
I Am Ready For Spring!
It’s the end of February and it was zero degrees at my house this morning. The Sun is still low in the sky but the days are getting ever so slightly longer. I can hardly wait until spring arrives. The first sign of spring for me, is when the Robbins start building nests and scurrying about. I’m one of those people who truly loves winter. I like the cold, I love snow and I tend to stay active even with the temperature dips well below freezing. But towards the end of winter I begin to long for the sweet spring air filled with the smell of fresh cut grass, flowers and all sorts other wonderful fragrances.
I’ve grown acustomed to the cycle of the seasons and really enjoy the passing of each, but there’s part of me that worries about how the global climate change will effect these seasons that I love. What is the average temperature of northern West Virginia going to be during the winter months in the next 100 years? What about all those other places that we depend on; such as the Arctec Circle, the Brazilian Rain forest, and the reefs surrounding islands in the Tropics? I have to applaud the apparent initiative that our world leaders are putting forth concerning the global climate change, I just question if we are fighting a losing battle. I understand that with current technology we are poised and ready for some spectacular discover on how to maintain our current living conditions and actually reduce waste. Unfortunately, convincing the general population to reduce waste now seems to be a struggle to say the least.
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February 4, 2009
Go Green Bags and The Boston Music Scene!
Go Green Bags made an appearance on stage to help singer songwriter Krysta Youngs make a green statement, while performing her original music in Boston Mass over the weekend. Krysta, gave some of her fans a sweet swag bag (a Go Green Bag of course) full of goodies. We were very excited to be a part of her show.
Krysta Youngs is a colorful, creative and complicated character, qualities all perfectly captured on her stunning debut, Stories. Youngs, fresh out of Boston via her native Detroit, is Beantown’s answer to straight-shooting artists like Madonna, Pink and Katy Perry, only without all that superstar baggage. Krysta was recently a finalist on New England’s very own Community Auditions Star of the Day and she’s quickly making a name for herself through song placement on television shows like ESPN’s Inside the Big East. Her songs—rockin’, heartfelt, and literate—often pack devastating impact and her mic throwing performances leave you breathless. Frankly, you have to see her to believe it.
You can check out Krysta’s website at www.krystayoungs.com
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January 21, 2009
History in the making!
I ended up trying to watch the Presidential Inauguration on CNN’s online live feed. However, I must have had the same idea as millions of others around the world, because at a quarter till noon , my smooth running live camera feed froze and I couldn’t watch it. The worst part was; that I was no where near a television, so I ended up listening to a radio broadcast of President Obama’s 20 minute speech. I was excited to hear President Obama specifically focus on some of the global environmental issues, and I hope that he is able to find the funds and backing to follow his chosen path.
As a side note, I wonder if Mr. Obama uses reusable bags?
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January 14, 2009
Be Creative with Your Bags!
When you think of reusable bags, don’t just think of using them for your grocery shopping. Be creative! Use your bags when you’re going shopping, to the gym, overnight to Grandma’s house, at the farmer’s market, at the beach, etc. And don’t forget to use your wine tote’s for all the wine festivals in the fall and spring. They hold 6 bottles, so take a few with you and you have a great way to transport all the wine you buy at the festival. And when someone comes up to you and asks: ”Where did you get that fine looking tote?”, make sure you mention Go Green Bag.com!
January 13, 2009
Single Use Plastic?
About once per day we get the question: ”Why is the single use plastic bag so bad?” There are many reasons why plastic bags are bad, and I could write a dissertation on the subject. But to spare you from a long winded blog, I will only write a paragraph or two.
Basically certain types of plastics (including the common single use shopping bag)have a less than “eco friendly” production process, resulting in toxic byproducts . Secondly the lifespan of a single use plastic bag is about 1 trip from the store to your home, then if your lucky you can use them as a waste bin liner. ..
So for such a small amount of “useful time”, that single use plastic bag will be around for about 4oo years before it breaks down in the environment. Lets not forget that as the single use bag breaks down, it releases more toxic chemicals into the soil and air. Just think, you could bury a plastic bag in your back yard and your children’s, children’s grand children could dig it up…….
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How Many Plastic Bags Per Day?
It’s amazing how many disposable plastic bags are being consumed each day. I was in Wal-Mart over the weekend picking up some odds and ends and for the brief 10 minutes that I was in the store, I saw at least twenty people wheeling their carts out to the parking lot, piled high with disposable bags full of groceries. So a thought occurred to me: if you figure on average there are 1000 customers at Wal-Mart per day, each taking home between 10 and 20 disposable bags. Then multiply that times the number of Wal-Marts in the United States….well that’s a lot of bags! And by no means is my estimate based on actual figures, but it’s something to ponder. The sad part is that my wife and I were the only ones in the entire store with reusable bags.
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