The leaves have already started changing to vibrant oranges and reds, and yet there is no better time to go green. In fact, it’s not just the leaves that are changing; people are starting to wise up when it comes to the environment. It seems that now— more than ever—there are eco-friendly options for just about every consumer product imaginable, including plastic grocery bags.

San Francisco became the first US city to officially ban the use of plastic bags, and with good reason: they’re an environmental nightmare. Each bag can take up to 1,000 years to decompose, and every year 500 billion to one trillion bags are produced worldwide. It takes 430,000 gallons of oil to make 100 million bags—not the best use of a dwindling resource. Many bags end up in landfills; others pollute oceans and suffocate animals that mistake them for food. So what can you do to reduce the impact? Start carrying reusable ones! Better yet, make one of your own.

There are tons of free tutorials all over the internet, if you need help getting started. You can pop over to Craftster to see the entries from their recent grocery bag craft challenge and check out their tutorials. If you’re community-minded, check out Morsbags.com, where you can meet other crafters from your area who share an environmental interest. Participants get together, share refreshments, stitch up a bunch of bags from recycled materials, and hand them out for free in front of grocery stores. I made my bag with the Morsbags tutorial, using scraps of Moda fabric.

              

If you don’t have time to spare for sewing projects, don’t fret. There are plenty of green companies, such as Reusable Bags, that carry a wide selection of products. The point is, by not accepting “free” plastic bags, you’re greatly reducing your environmental footprint with minimal effort. Even better, many grocery stores (Wild Oats & Trader Joe’s, to name a couple) offer discounts when you BYOB. It’s win-win! And it’s an easy way to help the environment—without camping out in a sequoia.

For more information visit:

www.stopglobalwarming.org

www.noimpactman.typepad.com

www.epa.gov