BYO Bag

It's time for the slackers to sack up.

By Avital Andrews

March 6, 2014

Most Sierra readers have been toting their own totes for years. Now that more than 100 U.S. cities, including Los Angeles and Seattle, forbid stores from doling out single-use plastic bags (and levy fees on paper ones), it's time for the slackers to sack up as well.

Evoke jet-setter nostalgia with this zipper-top Cargo Shoulder Tote from BLUE Q, which donates 1 percent of the proceeds from every purchase to the Nature Conservancy. Each piece Blue Q sells, including this travel-themed looker, is made from 95 percent postconsumer recycled materials--mostly melted-down grain sacks and water bottles. $15, blueq.com

Lori Eanes
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The Essential Tote B by PELCOR is made of "cork leather" harvested from the Portuguese cork oak--a tree that's ideal because of its regenerative bark. This is a statement piece, but you can use it as a purse as well as a shopping bag. No two are exactly alike. [euro]158 (about $215), pelcor.pt

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See-through produce sacks let checkers scan items without pawing through your pears. Leave the store's plastic on the roll by stocking up on FLIP AND TUMBLE produce bags, made from a polyester mesh that lets you wash veggies right in the bag. They're sold by Branch, which only sells vetted eco-wares. $12 for a set of 5, branchhome.com

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From Jitesh Patel, a British designer who runs the Totebags blog, comes a book simply titled THE TOTE BAG (Laurence King, 2011). It's an ode to the satchel as art canvas that's actually packaged in its own whimsical cloth carryall. $25, laurenceking.com

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When tucked and zipped into itself, the bunny tote bag from PICNICA doubles as a child's toy. Just make sure to wash it after your grocery trip and before handing it to your little one. $29, www.japanesemoderndesign.com

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