In a merger of environmental concern and fashion sensibility, big-name designers are introducing eco-chic grocery totes, while lawmakers in New York, Boston, Phoenix, Los Angeles and elsewhere debate San Francisco-style bans on non-biodegradable, petroleum-based plastic bags, The Chicago Tribune reports.
On Thursday, British designer Anya Hindmarch released 20,000 of her limited-edition “I’m not a plastic bag” cotton totes in the U.S., as 90,000 consumers competed in a lottery for the privilege of buying the $15 bag.
Also due out this summer is Stella McCartney’s $495 organic cotton canvas shopping bag and Consuelo Castiglioni of Marni’s $843 collapsible nylon grocery tote.
Meanwhile in San Francisco, shoppers appear to be using everything from Trader Joe’s $1.99 Hawaiian print totes to their bare hands, as they prepare for Nov. 20, when large supermarkets in San Francisco will only provide paper bags or compostable bags made of cornstarch.
A number of retailers around the world have pledged to reduce plastic bag use. IKEA recently began charging customers for plastic bags.
Also, in Japan, the practice of charging for plastic bags is spreading.
