Why not just bring everything of your own?

Yesterday I posted about bringing your own mug, but today I want to talk about another important thing you should bring of your own... a bag! How many times do you go shopping and fill up those pesky plastic bags? If you are anything like the way I was, you would get home, unpack all your bags, and then either toss them in the trash or start putting them away for "someday." It gets to the point where you are either throwing tons of plastic into the trash, or you just have a MILLION plastic bags building up in a cabinet or drawer.

Something you may not know, is that it takes 500 YEARS for most plastic bags to decompose... YES, 500!!! 5 CENTURIES!!! Sure, they can be recycled, but most people aren't willing to tote all their plastic bags to their local recycling centre to see to it that they are recycled. Even if you reuse the bags for trash, etc, you are still placing plastic into our already crammed landfills!!!

So what are some positive alternatives to plastic bags? I can think of two awesome ones!

First, buy bags that decompose! Several companies have started making bags out of corn (crazy!) and these bags decompose in 30-60 days! One example of such a company is BioBags that can be purchased in all different sizes from here:
http://www.biodegradablestore.com/index.html

Several companies, including Mountain Equipment Co-Op, have opted to not only donate 5 cents if you bring your own bag, but the bags they DO give are also decomposable!!! For more information on MEC's bag policies, check out their website at www.mec.ca

A Second option is just bringing your own bag! Then when they ask if you need a bag, you can say no! Or you can tell them right up front that you won't be needing a bag because you brought your own!

A vain benefit to bringing your own bag, is that you can buy some really gorgeous ones now! Here are a few companies I recommend... their bags are so beautiful you won't forget to stuff it in your pocket before you leave the house =)

http://www.bringyourownbag.ca
http://www.reusablebags.com/

Why not BYO? (Bring Your Own!)

Over the last few days I have been experimenting with a new concept: bringing my own mug. I must confess, I am ADDICTED to coffee and tea shops. I love their music, their relaxing environment full of intellectuals and people on the go, and most of all (of course) I LOVE drinks! I've never been into alcoholic drinks, so teas and coffees are how I indulge my seemingly-inate desire as a human to constantly be drinking something. As a result, I have probably used and thrown out 2-3 cardboard cups every day for the past 6 years or so. THAT IS A LOT OF TRASH!

So recently, I was inspired by those around me to bring my own mug. Several weeks ago after volunteering for the first Pancakes for Pride event, I was given a free "decorate your own mug" in my volunteer gift pack. So Sunday night I sat at my kitchen table and "made my own mug." Now not only do I get to save the environment one little bit at a time, but I get to show off all the amazing stickers I have been given over the past several months =) My mug is now not only a statement expressing that I don't want to waste paper cups, but it also serves as a mini-billboard for the rights of living things!

Of course, bringing your own mug isn't ALWAYS fun and games... you'll have to carry the mug around with you and clean it regularly. There is nothing like opening an old, uncleaned mug and finding that a small smelly rainforest has started to grow inside it. I'll admit, I also sort of hate carrying things around if I don't have to. But the benefits of bringing your own mug FAR outway the negatives. For those of you that are still in doubt, just give it a try! And here are some tips on making bringing your own mug easier:

*Opt for a mug that has a SUPER leak-proof, no-spill top.

*Get a mug that suits your personality! Express yourself through your mug!

*Shoot for a product that is stainless steel. Plastic mugs can drop and break; plus they don't keep your drink NEARLY as warm/cool.

*Always know how much liquid your mug holds. Then when you are ordering, you can let the barrista know what size beverage your mug fits.

And finally, here are a few "mugshots" for you!