How and Why I Stopped Buying and Using Plastic Bags
2025.12.31
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been surrounded by plastic bags. They were used everywhere and all the time. At one point, I even had a bag full of plastic bags. But eventually, this had to stop.
It all started in 2014, when, at a youth organization conference, someone took my soccer scarf and left me with a cloth bag. Since then, I gradually started transitioning to a more eco-friendly way of carrying groceries and other items. In the following years, my wife and I began receiving eco-friendly bags for free by participating in youth exchanges and attending documentary film festivals. We also occasionally bought them while traveling, as souvenirs that would bring joy and at the same time be practical for everyday use—a quality that many other souvenirs lack. In 2023, after purchasing mesh bags for fruits and vegetables, we almost completely stopped using plastic bags when shopping.
Why should you switch to fabric bags?
They are durable. Fabric bags don’t lose much strength or integrity even after ten years. If they tear, they can always be sewn or patched. They can also be washed by hand or in a washing machine.
They are eco-friendly. On average, a plastic bag lasts only about 30 minutes before ending up in a landfill, where it can take up to 400 years to decompose. A cotton fabric bag, by contrast, can decompose in as little as three years, depending on conditions.
They are economical. This comes from the first point, but it’s not limited to that. If you buy one or several fabric bags, they will last you for many years. Plastic bags, on the other hand, are treated as disposable items that need to be purchased repeatedly, whereas eco-friendly bags are a completely different matter.
They are comfortable. With plastic bags, the only way to carry them is by hand; over time, the handles start cutting into your hands, and the plastic stretches. Fabric bags, on the other hand, can be carried by hand or over the shoulder, which is much more comfortable, as the weight is distributed across the body, not just the arms. You can choose handles of a comfortable width, and if you don’t like the ones you have, you can always replace them with new ones.
They don’t make noise and don’t blow away. This may seem minor, but for some people it matters. Plastic bags rustle and are light enough to be blown away by the wind.
They express your uniqueness. Finally, while plastic bags are mass-produced and uniform—either from supermarkets or specialty stores—their designs are limited. Fabric bags can now be found almost anywhere, from your favorite exhibition to your local bookstore. Eco-friendly bags are a great way to connect with people who share your interests.