We originally posted about Anya’s infamous I’m Not a Plastic Bag
just as it hit the streets. At the time, it seemed like people everywhere were scrambling all over each other to get their paws on the bag. Anya’s site wasn’t providing essential info, and the UK was jonesin’ for them.
Cut to a couple of days ago. Anya’s bag was re-issued, and the line of people outside Sainsbury’s in West London was incredible. According to schmoo on the run, most folks on line were not even aware of the “eco consequences” of the bag’s manufacturing process. Apparently, most of the re-issues were being purchased to re-sell on ebay. What a debacle on so many levels.
Cut to today. According to schmoo on the run, London’s Evening Standard reveals this morning that Anya’s bags are made from conventionally grown cotton under not Fair Trade conditions in China. Headline reads: “I’m Not an Ethical Bag.” How dismal. And interesting that my initial instincts lead me to believe that this Anya bag just smelled bad, all the way from across the pond.
As with most issues, there are all levels of correctness and this is especially true with the environment. Replacing a plastic or paper bag with a cotton reusable bag is the ground floor of eco correctness.
As a society, we can do much better than that. Now that everyone knows how damaging conventional cotton farming is to both people and planet, it’s time for all of us to be more “consumer conscious” and do the right thing. Fashion shouldn’t trump eco values.
Put our shopping dollars where our values are. Support manufacturers who sell organic cotton goods if you must have cotton. Or, better yet, support sustainable fabric manufacturers — those who produce goods from crops such as jute, hemp, bamboo, ramie and seagrass. When it comes to the dyes on the fabric, make sure that they’re eco-friendly. Link here to screen our under-2-minute video on replacing plastic shopping bags.
Once you have your reusable bag, remember to Bring Your Own to the store and Use It — BYO and UI. We’re creatures of habit, all we have to do is start a new, healthy habit (I can attest to the difficulty of this challenge from personal experience). Now I keep reusable bags in my handbag, car, bicycle, and on my door handle so I don’t forget them on my way outside.
Thanks to www.schmoontherun.blogspot.com and www.hempforvictory.blogspot.com for bagging the story.
Photo Credits: thisislondon.co.uk
AltCon Prediction: Anya’s bag will be curated by The Museum of Modern Art, NYC.
July 6, 2007: Anya Hysteria Hits Hong Kong – more Anya hits the streets and stores.
July 18, 2007: Anya’s Bag – a nyc hit
January 2009 – Queen Honors Anya – what’s up with that?
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I’m not as eco-friendly as you. I don’t have cotton bags but I re-use ‘Bag for Life’ plastic bags that are easily available, plus a couple of canvas ones I’ve had for years Yet I feel a complete odd one out at supermarkets where everyone else is loading up with the carrier bags supplied there. It’s scary. Surely if I can remember to recycle bags, anyone can. Or can’t they be bothered?
Hi mum-of-two,
Good question. I tend to agree with you — they can’t be bothered. More than anything else, bringing your own bag into a store involves a conscious and physical effort that’s based on changing one’s behavior. I believe that people change their behavior when either:
a) they have to (ie stores no longer offer bags) or
b) they really want to, and make it a priority.
Not only do many well-intentioned folks forget to bring their own bag(s) into the store, but also, by nature, people are lazy. So the switch to reusable bags will not happen overnight.
There will be a day when you won’t feel like the odd one, so keep up the good work…I’m sure your “model behavior” is influencing those who haven’t made the commitment to bring their own bag yet — but they’re taking notice. I bet that many of them feel like the odd one. Who knows — you may be making them feel guilty — another way to motivate people.
So on many levels, both visible and invisible, you’re doing the right thing, and making positive things happen. Some day soon their inconsiderate behavior will be viewed as both a social and eco faux pax.
The bags are on sale today for International and US orders
15$
http://www.ronherman.com/ShopBrands.aspx?CategoryID=614
Political correctness is in, and more people like to talk about what they do for the environment (thanks to Al Gore). But when it comes to it, it’s fashion that sells.
I don’t give a damn about fashion statement. I try to do the right thing myself (before people start talking about recycling), and bring my canvas bag (that I’ve used for years) to the market when I buy stuffs. I must admit though, that I can still forget, and I’m too lazy to walk back to the car to fetch it. At least I try to hold everything in two hands rather than using a plastic bag, and dump them back to the car.
Trader Joe’s has this initiative whereby, if you buy grocery without using a plastic bag, they enter your name to some sweepstake or something. Hopefully that kind of initiative would encourage more people to not use plastic bags. For all I know, why would anyone need use double-bag (plastic) for gallon of milk alone anyways? Any adult should be able to easily just grab the handle and go. Talking about laziness…
Hey Tiddle,
I love to hear the “not using plastic bags” stories. It takes almost 1000 years for one typical plastic bag to disintegrate. Keep up the good work!
I’m desperately looking for this Anya Hindmarch “I’m Not A Plastic Bag” bag i’m in love with. I live in Barbados, Caribbean and it is not available here. Can you please tell me where I can buy it? Please don’t tell me eBay. My arm is lonely without this bag.
http://www.yuppiegurl.blogspot.com
hi ,i carry many items of the Anya Hindmarch “i’m not a plastic bag” in hot sale , they are very popular ,there is a chance will be sold out ,if anyone interested , please contact me soon, i’m sure offer you best price and hight quality the same as the original .
Hi Sophia, where can I reach you? I’m very much interested in buying the original Anya Hindmarch “I’m not a plastic bag”. Do you sell in bulk? thanks
[...] Move over Anya H! We have our own “not plastic bags”. [...]
Since I never got my “I’m not a plastic bag” I now trot around with my cute chic earth day reusable grocery bags. Be careful they can be addictive.:)
http://www.cafepress.com/day_earth/4563204
Why promote this cotton overkill? Cotton is one of the world’s biggest problems, and anything made from it is using up our water.
A number of scienctists and journalists are waking up to this – Louisa Pearson, Fred Pearce, Suzy Khan, etc. The hemp vs. cotton
debate rages on http://www.hempforvictory.blogspot.com
Read and be educated.