Lesson learned

trisha — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 01:07:38 +0000

Well, I have been so proud of how I always use my reusable bags when grocery shopping. I am even using Me + You … ‘s bag that says “Stop Using Plastic Bags” to carry all my reusable bags around, hoping others will get the hint . I also always have a smaller bag I keep in my purse to use when I make an unexpected purchase. I thought I was doing great until I did my last minute frantic Christmas shopping.

I (embarrassing to admit) didn’t even think of bringing my reusable bags into the mall. I guess it was partially due to the fact that my one little bag is usually sufficient for the mall and the fact that I was a bit frazzled with my to do list (or I should say to buy list). Anyways, neither is a worthy excuse for the amount of plastic/paper bags I ended up using during my holiday gift buying.

My goal for the new year is to take my dedication to not using plastic bags to all aspects of my shopping life, rather than just in the grocery store.

(I plan to use all the plastic bags I accumulated during my Christmas shopping to pick up after my dog in the backyard rather that using new garbage bags. I know it is not ideal, but at least they will have had a double purpose instead of just being a complete waste.)

Here’s to 2011 — less plastic bags and more Me + You … bags !

Your Vote means the world to me + you…

jennyhughes — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 23:07:28 +0000

Click here to vote

Progress has been made!

trisha — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 02:38:49 +0000

Although I still see people using plastic bags at the grocery store, which makes me sad, I am always so happy to see the number of people who use reusable bags increasing. I was particularly thrilled this week when the lady in line behind me ran back to her car to get her reusable bags. That is dedication because others can get ornery if they have to wait in line any longer than necessary. Rather than worrying more about what others thought, she put the environment on the top of her priority list. I thought that was great! Good for her !

Promoting the use of reusable bags

trisha — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 18:31:05 +0000

I think it is so impressive that Jenny started a company promoting the use of reusable bags, before it was a foremost concern to the general public. In the last few years it has definitely been more of a general public concern, which is great and this is thanks to people like Jenny.

I hope to do my part this year with my Eco Kids club at school. I plan to focus on reducing the use of plastic. If anyone has ideas of how I can influence these young people to make a positive change for our earth I am open to suggestions.

Green 6th Bday Party

trisha — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 21:20:30 +0000

I just read about the ‘Green’ 6th birthday party and am so impressed. I think it is a great idea to use reusable dishes at such an event. It is so easy and common to use paper (or worse, styrofoam) dishes at such events. I am actually feeling a bit guilty since I just celebrated my 31st birthday last month by having a BBQ at my house with friends and family. I was at my own house and still used paper plates. (I did, however, use regular glasses and the paper plates were ones I already had.) It sure does give me something to think about and aspire to. I am always so proud to use my reusable bags and recycle as much as I can, but I shouldn’t stop there. I am really going to try to focus on reusing more than just bags from now on. Thanks to that wonderful little 6 year old for inspiring me to do more for our earth.

Also, as someone who thinks animal rights are so very important, I am incredibly touched by the fact that a 6 year old would pass up presents to donate to the SPCA. What a great kid!

A ‘Green’ 6th Birthday Party

karen in vancouver — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:22:24 +0000

My daughter Naelle just turned six today and we had our usual beach party with about 40 friends and kids which is always a great time! This year we decided to try to have a party that was as GREEN as we could make it.

We asked everyone to bring their own cups, eating utensils and dishes, cloth napkins. I brought my office style water cooler from home ( it looked absolutely hilarious at the beach) and everything was transported in canvas bags or coolers. We ate, drank, and were merry, but at minimal expense to the environment. Our total waste on departure was one half of a compostable kitchen catcher style garbage bag!

I think that it was a great lesson to everyone. A little effort can have a huge impact in minimizing our footprint, and the education about waste and living green for our children was priceless!

As an ambassador for Me and You, I held a raffle and the winner received a lovely
Me and You canvas bag with the words ‘Stop using Plastic’. It was a great opportunity to encourage people to ‘make the pledge’ and to suggestive sell ( LOL) for Jenny’s company.

And, another lovely aspect is that instead of gifts this year, my daughter asked our friends to make a donations to the Vancouver SPCA. We raised $250.00!! I was amazed by everyone’s generosity, and impressed by my daughter’s tender loving heart!

A birthday to remember. I look forward to next year!

Hi From the Gulf Coast

christi in alabama — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 23:42:51 +0000

I’m Christi from Alabama. Yep way down south. I live about 50 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico. If you are not familiar with the area here’s a map:

We live on a quaint farm (Polka Spot Farm) with our 5 kids, in a fairly rural area. I carry my Kleen Kanteen everywhere, and try to remember my reusable shopping bags. My boys collect cans and sell them (for recycling of course) to save money for their cars. At the ages of 10 and 13 they already have used trucks and are learning to save money to buy parts (from junk cars).

Before writing this I thought, you know I’m not really a “green mom.” Where we live we don’t have a recycling service, and driving to the city with things seems a bit much when you are talking about the drive being an hour.

Then it hit me, the small things that we do add up. The few cans that we recycle, the plastic bags that we don’t use (or reuse when we forget the cloth bags). My (private) high school was funded partially by a recycling center. My husband sells biodiesel conversion kits and even hydrogen fuel cells. This list goes on and on.

And as you can see above, we are being hit directly and indirectly by the oil spill. I have family and friends that live directly on the Gulf Coast and I’ll be sharing their stories with you.

If you have a story that you’d like to share about your family’s impact on the earth, please contact me. I hope to hear from you soon!

Are you willing to STOP USING PlASTIC BAGS? It’s Simple but has an Extraordinary Effect!

jennyhughes — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 17:25:52 +0000

By signing the Plastic Pledge you alone will help keep on average 300 plastic bags per year from polluting our environment. Multiply that by 1 million and it will make a difference!
♥ Don't forget to check your email after signing to confirm your signature.

Jamie Hughes,

Jenny Hughes, Vancouver, Canada

Jasey Stevens, Airdrie, AB

spencer brown, victoria
its such an easy thing to do, when i get a veggie sandwich from subway I always say no plastic bags please...

maureen peden, Victoria
As a mother, I understand the benefits of reducing plastic bags

Shayne St.Germaine, Vancouver, Canada
Plastic Sux!

Trisha Desmarais (Jones), Calgary/AB

Julia, Montreal

Christi Daugherty, Alabama
Changing the world, one bag at a time!

Laura Nelson, calgary
boooo plastic!

jacintha van beveren, The Hague, The Netherlands
Let's get rid of all the plastic

Jordy Hughes, airdrie, ab

xxxxxxxx, West Virginia

Martha Heil, Greenbelt, MD

Kathy Yancey, Jacksonville, FL
I rarely use them... shouldn't be hard to use none! :)

paty maciel, mexico
in the city where I live, plastic bags are banned as of tomorrow august 30th! I'm so glad!! contact your local representative and ask them to have this law in your city.

Stef, TX

Jolene High, Calgary, AB

Olivia Sanchez, California

Steven Hubbard, St.John\\'s Newfoundland Canada
I support 100% this cause

Melissa Anne, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Nicki McElreath, Clarkesville, Georgia
love love love that I can do my part by using reusable cloth bags! They are awesome.

xxxxxxxx, Philippines

MONA KINGSBURY, VANCOUVER, BC

xxxxxxxx, B.C. Canada

Georgia, Mackay, Australia
Haven't gotten a plastic bag since the end of 2006! It's easier than you think when you make it a habit :)

Tamar Ben-Moshe, Israel

Stine, Denmark
One thing is the oilwe use for making the bags, the other and just as important thing is the amount of used bags that ends up on the beaches and other places in nature, around the world .

Poppy Peacock, Vernon BC Canada

Claire Larkin, Austin TX

Aeryn Lynne, Toronto
Cloth bags are so much easier to handle! They seldom break; are easier to carry over your shoulder; and won't dig into your skin if you're carrying some fairly heavy. I ♥ using cloth bags! :)

Sandy O\'Brien, Mississauga,On.

Barbara Bedenk, Slovenia

Natalija, Slovenia

Damjan, Slovenia
I support you 100%. I'm from a country which has 2 mil inhabitants and we consume 300 mil plastic bags per year!!! I'm only shopping with my back sacck now :)

Irena Lesjak, Ljubljana, Slovenia, EU

xxxxxxxx, Ljubljana

xxxxxxxx, Slo

xxxxxxxx, Ljubljana Slovenia

Rok Zibrat, Slovenia

Nina Simenc, Slovenia

xxxxxxxx, Bethpage, TN

xxxxxxxx, Amelia Island FL USA

udo, slovene

cheryl zimmerman,

Marta Ropret, Slovenia

Kim Barnsley, Vancouver, BC, Canada

amy beaith, Edmonton, Alberta

guljo, slovenija

xxxxxxxx, Greece

Suz, London, UK
Take a pretty Cotton one! :)

Melissa Munroe, White Rock, BC

Corinne, BC, CANADA
My husband refers to me as "The Bag Lady" as I'm never without a reusable bag!

xxxxxxxx, ljubljana / slovenija

Larissa Puerta, Brazil

Anna K., Moose Jaw, SK

Barbara Herridge, Mississauga, ON

Alexander Gardieff, Clermont, FL

xxxxxxxx, Toronto
Why limit the pledge to "using" plastic bags? I don't buy them, and haven't for decades, but I do use all the bags I can get from others, to transport items to the Salvation Army Thrift Store, Goodwill stores, and Value Village Stores, and I use plastic bags to transport wet organic waste to my green bin for municipal curbside collection.

Bridget Burns, Vancouver

Natalia Shavlak, Moscow, Russia

Cathy, Chesley,Ontario
Give it a try. It does become easier with time to give up the plastic.

ICARE Trust, Highlands
ICARE Trust, supports the idea of Stop using plastic bags. icaretrust.co.uk

xxxxxxxx, highland
haven't used plastic bags in 30 years, glad the rest of the world is starting to catch up, how's it take so long to sink in?!

Wayne Kitchener, Cambridge, CANada

H. Landry, Canmore, AB
Reduce, Reuse, Regrow then Recycle! ;)

Jessica Hill, Fenelon Falls, Ontario

Stacey Hamilton, Houston, Texas

Vanessa Pennisi, Houston, Texas

vicki lister, West Yorkshire, UK
JUST SAY NO to plastic bags. It takes effort, but if this scatterbrain can remember her reusable bags, anyone can! Save the wildlife.

Jenny, Vancouver
Love this, we all need to be more eco-conscious on the impact of our actions on the environment! :)

sonomabob, Sonoma, CA
Don't forget the smaller plastic bags for vegies etc.

Flora, yangon, myanmar
that's easy, if you got plastic bags , make them into decorations for your house. :p

John Oughtred, Arvada Colorado
Plastic bags need to prohibited. Every time the wind blows the trees "loom plastic"around here.
Can' ban the morons who throw them out of a car indow or leave in their open trash, so ban them or put a 50 cents tax on each one.

Laura Jackson, california

Susan Murphy, PRESTON, UK
Spread the Word ~ use a cloth bag ~ keep one folded up in your pocket or purse

Norman Torres, singapore
A little effort for my beloved earth.

Uva Be Dolezal, San Francisco
Seems so simple. Now we need to start working on all extra plastic packaging & bags ;) http://hubpages.com/hub/bag-the-bag

xxxxxxxx, Philippines

Peter Ruptash, esharp7th@gmail.com
Ban the Bag in Calgary Alberta - see on FB

Stephen Stollmack, Bolinas California
Any news of Shopping Market sponsored "no plastic bag" events? People need to be activated; they are traumatized because of the size of the problem. I can envision a National Shopping bag day with people making shopping bags from t-shirts and giving them away at shopping centers. How can this be coordinated?

Muslihudin Sharbinie, Indonesia
Plastics dangerous to environment

sharon, italy

kikish, Kenya
Contact me kikishdesign@yahoo.com to show you an idea ,basket made by weaving ,using palm leaves that is wonderfully done and durable,that you wish you had knew before.It is cheap,stylish,steady,name it all

Renee Gaudreault, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Please please stop using plastic bags. One person can make a ripple, a million can make a change! Reduce your plastic use! Find a better way!

Derek Smith, Toronto, ON
Help stomp out plastics!

Izabela Kawecka, London

Tusti, United Kingdom

mia,

Bikash Maharjan, Patan, Nepal
it is really worth it. just do it n please say no to plastic bag. We are also organizing different kinds of programs in Nepal. For more details please visit http://www.facebook.com/groups/175224979229683/

Lauren Rinke, Clarkston, MI

Sam Campbell, Manchester, UK

Cheryle Arnold, Fairfax, VA
Thanks for the effort. I stopped using plastic bags two years ago!

xxxxxxxx, peshawar pakistan

Ben Ladouceur, Nanaimo

Angeline Wilke, Milwaukee
How to I petition to stop the use of plastic bags in my community or better yet my city.

Margaret Paul, Victoria, Canada
Reduce our use of oil.