Foo - battle of the bags: paper or plastic?

So, I was at the grocery store today. I usually bring along my own eco-friendly bag (http://www.sustainableisgood.com/blog/2008/01/target-reusable.html). I also usually shop at a store that is bag it yourself, or run through the self-checkout line because I'm a pretty light shopper and am at the grocery a couple times a week.

Either way, I wasn't paying attention today, and was at a store where they bag for you. The clerk was about half done bagging (two plastic bags) when I apologized and pointed out I brought my own bag. While she was ringing the rest, I started moving the goods over into my bag myself, so as to not bother her (she appeared to be having the worst day of her life). She proceeds to dump out the contents of the filled bag, and throw the empty plastic bag away.

Did I do something wrong?

She missed the point. I bring bags so as to not use bags, and she's throwing out bags that are brand new for no reason? :mad:

/rant

More importantly, just wondered if anyone had caught this in the news.
Battle of the Bags: Paper vs. Plastic (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23358591/%20)

I was surprised. Any thoughts? discuss.

In the town of 2800 people I just moved out of, I would get like three items and they would try to bag it for me. When I told them I didn't want a bag, they looked at me like I was crazy. I'm so happy to be in a town that understands if I have a box of cat food, a frozen pizza, and dish soap, I'm fully capable of carrying that without use of a bag.

On a side note, the plastic bags I did get were horrible hunks of crap that would fall apart on the way home. God, I hated that place. I'm stoked because I just got a couple of very nice bags from Whole Foods for 99 cents.

Canvas totes here. We have 8 or so in the back of our car. When we go shopping, we bring them in. No reason to use paper or plastic.

A few weeks ago, I went to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription and contents for a first-aid kit. The woman behind the pharmacy counter was ringing me up, and I brought out my my canvas tote. She very dramatically rolled her eyes at me, sighed loudly and said "What, you think you're going to save the world or something by using your own bag?"

I just said "Well with people like you in the world, probably not, but at least I try. May I speak to your manager?" She was not amused (nor was I).

So, yes, I do think that some people miss the point, and some even get threatened by it. Strange thing to get threatened by, but it takes all kinds I guess.. :)

Costco doesn't do bags. Then again, 99.9% of Costco shoppers do their shopping by car, while a very select few (like me) do theirs by walking and biking.

The other supermarkets I go to have biodegradable bags.

Canvas totes here. We have 8 or so in the back of our car. When we go shopping, we bring them in. No reason to use paper or plastic.

A few weeks ago, I went to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription and contents for a first-aid kit. The woman behind the pharmacy counter was ringing me up, and I brought out my my canvas tote. She very dramatically rolled her eyes at me, sighed loudly and said "What, you think you're going to save the world or something by using your own bag?"

I just said "Well with people like you in the world, probably not, but at least I try. May I speak to your manager?" She was not amused (nor was I).

So, yes, I do think that some people miss the point, and some even get threatened by it. Strange thing to get threatened by, but it takes all kinds I guess.. :)
:thumb: you go blue devil!

Did I do something wrong?

She missed the point. I bring bags so as to not use bags, and she's throwing out bags that are brand new for no reason?
You did nothing wrong.

I can think of a few reasons why she would do this. If the plastic bag had become separated from the rest of the bunch, it would be much harder to fill. Alternatively, maybe the physical layout was such that it would be easier to pull out the bag filled with groceries and transfer them. The last reason might be because some people are very sensitive about other peoples' food/whatever touching anything their food does.


The woman behind the pharmacy counter was ringing me up, and I brought out my my canvas tote. She very dramatically rolled her eyes at me, sighed loudly and said "What, you think you're going to save the world or something by using your own bag?"
Wise guy comments like this should be relayed to management. Employees should not insult customers.

You did nothing wrong.

I can think of a few reasons why she would do this. If the plastic bag had become separated from the rest of the bunch, it would be much harder to fill. Alternatively, maybe the physical layout was such that it would be easier to pull out the bag filled with groceries and transfer them. The last reason might be because some people are very sensitive about other peoples' food/whatever touching anything their food does.
I love that you're so political. Yeah, maybe there was a good reason, my impression however was that she was either having a bad day, or a was simply a witch ;)

I like it when the clerk rings you up and then your stuff just sits there on the counter unless you ask for a bag. Unfortunately this is not the policy at most of the places I shop.

a witch? I might have used a different word that rhymes with witch!

a witch? I might have used a different word that rhymes with witch!
me too, but I like to stay in the good graces of our forum moderators.

In order of preference:

- reusable bags or backpack
- no bags at all (this REALLY freaks the baggers out)

beyond that, I go back and forth. If I'm getting a really big load of groceries, which is rare, I'll let them bag the produce and put everything else directly into the cart. I tend to alternate between paper and plastic, for no good reason. I reuse both bags whenever possible and recycle them (plastic at the store, paper at the curb) when they're no longer useful.

I'm actively trying to limit my use of all plastics, but something about cutting down trees for bags bothers me as well.

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Baggers seem to have been taught a "proper" method for bagging, involving separating different types of foods and double-bagging others. It really seems to throw them off when you hand them a cloth bag. I always feel a little bad about this, though they seem to react positively when I tell them I don't need bags for a lot of other stuff (like 4 half-gallons of milk) - or just start throwing stuff in the basket myself without a bag.

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In a retail store, it's often difficult to catch the cashier before they put something in a bag. I'm trying to pay better attention, but if they've already gotten it in the bag before I notice I usually just let it go.

Wise guy comments like this should be relayed to management. Employees should not insult customers.

Notice the second half of my "wiseguy" comment back to her. ;) I spoke with her manager, and complained. Not sure if it did any good, but I wasn't about to have someone roll their eyes at me when given such a simple request.

Baggers seem to have been taught a "proper" method for bagging, involving separating different types of foods and double-bagging others. It really seems to throw them off when you hand them a cloth bag. I always feel a little bad about this, though they seem to react positively when I tell them I don't need bags for a lot of other stuff (like 4 half-gallons of milk) - or just start throwing stuff in the basket myself without a bag.
There are some tricks to bagging things quickly so that nothing is damaged either during the bagging process nor after when things shift around. Cloth bags are hard to fill quickly because the sides usually won't stay up, and they have a far greater weight capacity than any other kind of bag which means if you don't pay attention when filling it, it's easy to damage produce.

Also, there are some practices that customers expect such as throwing an extra plastic bag over meats so if they leak they won't mess up other food.

I love that you're so political. Yeah, maybe there was a good reason, my impression however was that she was either having a bad day, or a was simply a witch ;)
I always give benefit of the doubt. Some people it's because I'm a nice guy, but the reality is that I believe in karma. People who act like jerks regularly meet people just like themselves -- and the punishment they dole out on each other is far better than anything anyone else could come up with.

I ask for paper always, if available. Paper can be easily recycled; I never see anybody recycle plastic bags, even plastic bags can be.

Paper is best. Plastic can be useful for canine activity, but I try not to make a habit of using plastic for poop- better to use those biodegradable gloves for that.

I ask for paper always, if available. Paper can be easily recycled; I never see anybody recycle plastic bags, even plastic bags can be.


Paper is best. Plastic can be useful for canine activity, but I try not to make a habit of using plastic for poop- better to use those biodegradable gloves for that.
I'd say I re-use both equally, so it really depends what I'm out of. Plastic bags get used as trash bags and lunch sacks, and paper bags for recycling. Did you guys check out the link in the OP? Its got some interesting info on the paper v. plastic debate.

I'd say I re-use both equally, so it really depends what I'm out of. Plastic bags get used as trash bags and lunch sacks, and paper bags for recycling. Did you guys check out the link in the OP? Its got some interesting info on the paper v. plastic debate.

First off, that is not you in your avatar.

Secondly, did check out the video. It was interesting. I'm gonna stick with my new dollar bags.

First off, that is not you in your avatar. You don't know me!! :) Actually, its a reflection of how I was feeling today, so its fitting.


Secondly, did check out the video. It was interesting. I'm gonna stick with my new dollar bags. ditto

Used to work for a company that was a major supplier of garbage bags, styrofoam plates and accessories as well as a major supplier for many fast food restaurants.

First the battle of freon 12 did in a lot of the styrofoam plants/lines, then the plastics portion involved in landfills, etc did the next big bite.

OK, so yeah I had a job for 17 yrs and "retired" cause the plastics division was being sold - -eh

Ask me then and I would have spewed out how plastics do this and that and blahhhhhhhhh

of course this was before plastic recycling become mainstream.

Personally when I shop I choose neither (cause I'm a prick, hehe -nah...) - I put the items into a backpack or a pannier anyway and go home. Bags - either paper or plastic are just recycle items and I'd rather not have them. And today when I shopped with Mom at Wal-Mart (yep - I was there again this weekend for hours - OY!) - we walked out with two bags of stuff - but originally the cashier stashed our stuff into 5 plastic grocery sacks.

And I probably embarrassed Mom when I swing the thingee around and looked - saw Mom take a deep breath too, hehe and just muttered that these minimal items could have been combined (I mean tee-shirts, green beens and a can of pinapple rings).

anyway I try not to use any packaging - and also reuse a few bags that I have for when I transport stuff to work - like food or a verrrrry white tank top.

me too, but I like to stay in the good graces of our forum moderators.

At the risk of insulting those of us who really are witches? Not good juju. You know, I can make your wiener fall off. ;)

We use canvas bags for the most part. But we'll occasionaly get paper and plastic. Paper bags hold our paper recycling and we use the plastic bags for our household trash

Stacey' s point is well taken. Question.... We don't use plastic bags for carrying groceries. Yet, don't we use them almost daily for emptying our trash. So, where is the eco friendly savings. ?

The Wife and I have purchased the canvas bags over a ten week period buying one a week. At 99 cents each, the cost was nil, about the price of two or three Lean Cuisines. The hardest part of the recycled bag thing is remebering the bags on the way in to the grocery store. More likely than not I will have to make a trip to the parking lot to retrieve said bags and catch up to the Wife in the next aisle. Other than that I think the whole canvas bag deal is great. Before,we needed a plastic bag just to throw away the plastic bags.

So, I was at the grocery store today. I usually bring along my own eco-friendly bag (http://www.sustainableisgood.com/blog/2008/01/target-reusable.html). I also usually shop at a store that is bag it yourself, or run through the self-checkout line because I'm a pretty light shopper and am at the grocery a couple times a week.

Either way, I wasn't paying attention today, and was at a store where they bag for you. The clerk was about half done bagging (two plastic bags) when I apologized and pointed out I brought my own bag. While she was ringing the rest, I started moving the goods over into my bag myself, so as to not bother her (she appeared to be having the worst day of her life). She proceeds to dump out the contents of the filled bag, and throw the empty plastic bag away.
Did I do something wrong?

She missed the point. I bring bags so as to not use bags, and she's throwing out bags that are brand new for no reason? :mad:

/rant

More importantly, just wondered if anyone had caught this in the news.
Battle of the Bags: Paper vs. Plastic (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23358591/%20)

I was surprised. Any thoughts? discuss.



I generally try to bring my own. Barring that, I will ask for paper, I use them to hold recycling stuff until I take it out. I have caught the bagger several times, asking for paper, and often as not, they just pick up the plastic bag they have been filling and drop it into the paper bag:rolleyes:

Whenever I get hungry, I just go to the grocery store and pilfer small amounts of stuff out of packages. My method does not use any bags, not even the eco friendly ones my wife keeps in her car.

Feeling a bit peckish now actually. wish me luck.

And plastic bags are killing the sacred cows of India.



just putting that out there.....

and then the cows are being made into McDonalds burgers, wrapped in paper and placed in a paper bag.

Bags hate cows, regardless of paper or plastic.

Let me get this straight... The cashier PACKS YOUR BAGS? Is this a common phenomenon "over there"?

That's just hugely inefficient!

A typical grocery store checkout here has a conveyor belt that runs past the cashier and a barcode scanner. After scanning (and weighing, where applicable), the items are put on a second conveyor belt that runs down into one of two "collecting bays", separated by a movable barrier. As one customer's items are being registered and moved to one bay, the previous customer packs his/her items at the other bay. By the time the new customer's items are all paid for, the previous customer is done packing and leaves. And so on. Very efficient. And it lets you choose your own bags, and packing order.

That's just hugely inefficient!

I agree, but it's expected by the consumers. If a grocery were to stop doing this they's lose customers. Blame the consumers, not the stores....

Paper if I need a receptacle for my recyclables, plastic if I need a monsoon season saddle cover for the bike.

Otherwise, no bag or a reusable tote.

I agree, but it's expected by the consumers. If a grocery were to stop doing this they's lose customers. Blame the consumers, not the stores....

So, the consumers expect to spend more time at the checkout than necessary?

The smart store owner would put up a "Fast Checkout" along with a setup like I described, and let customers choose. I bet it wouldn't take long until the queues for that checkout were the longest, and it would still be faster!

So, the consumers expect to spend more time at the checkout than necessary?

The smart store owner would put up a "Fast Checkout" along with a setup like I described, and let customers choose. I bet it wouldn't take long until the queues for that checkout were the longest, and it would still be faster!

I will bag my own if there is no bagger. But I know people that will just stand there until someone bags their stuff.

I usually bring my big rock climbing bag that'll fit tons O stuff, and a couple reusable grocery bags. No OP, you did nothing wrong.

Nylon bags made from 85% post-consumer plastic

http://image.presidentschoice.ca/presidentschoice/PI186676038378454B.jpg?wid=239&cvt=jpeg (http://www.presidentschoice.ca/FoodAndRecipes/GreatFood/ProductDetails.aspx/id/18667/name/PCGREENCanadasGreenestShoppingBag/catid/64)

I'll take the papstic, er, the plaper, uh...

Nylon bags made from 85% post-consumer plastic

http://image.presidentschoice.ca/presidentschoice/PI186676038378454B.jpg?wid=239&cvt=jpeg (http://www.presidentschoice.ca/FoodAndRecipes/GreatFood/ProductDetails.aspx/id/18667/name/PCGREENCanadasGreenestShoppingBag/catid/64)

These have an unsettling propensity for coming apart at the seams.

I have the Price chopper ones, at .99 per and still going strong after a year. I hate it sooooo much when a bag come apart full of groceries.....evil I say.

So, the consumers expect to spend more time at the checkout than necessary?

The smart store owner would put up a "Fast Checkout" along with a setup like I described, and let customers choose. I bet it wouldn't take long until the queues for that checkout were the longest, and it would still be faster!

The new thing here is self check out lanes. The consumer scans, bags, pays all without human assistance. If I have a few items, I opt for this route over the speedy check lane.

I am curious about these canvas totes. Do they periodically need washing (e.g. from meat juice)? If so, do you run them through the washing machine? What about the detergent added to the water, the increment of energy required to process that water at the sewage plant, the energy required to run the machine? How much energy is consumed and waste produced in manufacturing the canvas tote? All in all, I wonder if there is still a net benefit of using your own bags vs. a few grams of plastic. I like the idea, don't get me wrong, I just like to do a thorough analysis when investigating alternatives.

Forget the baggers, what freaks ME out is when I go to the store for ONE(1) item -- something like a pack of gum or a bottle of milk (with a handle), and they want to bag it. I'm like, no thanks, it already has a carrying handle.

canvas does need washing periodically

I always use plastic bags... but then again, I also always forward the plastic bags to a friend who re-uses them or use them for trash bags.

I try to bring my own bag and bag it myself, but sometimes they will bag for me.

My least favorite place for bagging is Safeway. I have on more than one occasion ended up with more bags than items. :rolleyes:

The new thing here is self check out lanes. The consumer scans, bags, pays all without human assistance. If I have a few items, I opt for this route over the speedy check lane.

They've had these a few years here but not in all stores. Your also limited in how much you can purchase due to the small area these check-outs are alloted. However, the normal check out lines are as backed up as ever.

They've had these a few years here but not in all stores. Your also limited in how much you can purchase due to the small area these check-outs are alloted. However, the normal check out lines are as backed up as ever.
I'm a fan of the self-checkout. I'd say thats where I go 90% of the time... but then, I make 2 trips to the grocery store a week. I enjoy fresh produce...

The annoying thing with the self checkout is that it complains about the weight if you try to put things in your own bag. You have to finish checkout with everything loose, and then bag it.

Whenever I get hungry, I just go to the grocery store and pilfer small amounts of stuff out of packages. My method does not use any bags, not even the eco friendly ones my wife keeps in her car.

Feeling a bit peckish now actually. wish me luck.



Have you found the bag of half eaten candied orange slices I left in the paper products aisle? I usually do the peel and eat shrimp that way, but I had a sweet tooth that day.

Let me get this straight... The cashier PACKS YOUR BAGS? Is this a common phenomenon "over there"?

That's just hugely inefficient!

A typical grocery store checkout here has a conveyor belt that runs past the cashier and a barcode scanner. After scanning (and weighing, where applicable), the items are put on a second conveyor belt that runs down into one of two "collecting bays", separated by a movable barrier. As one customer's items are being registered and moved to one bay, the previous customer packs his/her items at the other bay. By the time the new customer's items are all paid for, the previous customer is done packing and leaves. And so on. Very efficient. And it lets you choose your own bags, and packing order.


Only at the cheap ***** "scratch and dent" stores like Aldes will you find no bags or bagboys. They do not even have bags. I shop at Publix here in FL. Always first class service and they even INSIST on loading your groceries in your Saabs.

The Aldi grocery stores up here make you buy your plastic bags, at least they did years ago when I was last there. I think they were like 10 cents a piece. Neat concept.

At the risk of insulting those of us who really are witches? Not good juju. You know, I can make your wiener fall off. ;)

Now that I want to see...someone making Artifices wiener fall off! :lol:

Seriously though...My wife and I just bought 2 canvas and 2 nylon bags for each of our cars. I bought a weeks worth of groceries tonight and fit them all in these 4 bags! What was odd though was that the bagger was intentionally unhelpful. He opened both canvas bags and then just started cramming everything randomly in the 1st one. I was kind of freaked out, but didn't want to be a jerk, so I kept my mouth shut...then, he took two bottles of Tonic and proceeded to make a big deal out of not being able to make them stand up in the canvas. I asked, "Do you want me to help with that?" (because I would rather bag my own anyway) and he said, "Yes" and walked away :twitchy:. I took the two bottles, used them to build walls to make the canvas stable, and then repacked both bags.

It amazes me that checkers today are not taught to put heavy or squared items on the bottom with perishables or damage-ables on top. Also, they put detergents in with vegetables, put cold wet things in with cardboard, etc.