Super Eco

Photo credit: Neeta Lind, flickr

Hmm, could it be that you're the only schmuck in line who forgot to bring their reusable bags inside the store? In a word: likely. Whole Foods has announced that reusable bag use has gone up 300% in the year since it eliminated plastic bags at all of its stores. The company says shoppers using reusable bags have kept an estimated 150 million bags out of our landfills over the past year.

"That's all fine and good," you mutter, "except I can't remember to bring my bags in from the car." We hear you—and we can help. We used to be in the same predicament (ohh, the red-faced agony of being an eco-writer caught without any reusable bags!), until we figured out the tricks to making bringing in the bags a habitual part of the whole sustainable shopping routine.

• Write BAGS on your shopping list. You may not notice it before you get into the store, but you'll probably catch it before you make it all the way to the checkout.
• Keep your bags in your car. The trunk may work once you've got this new habit in the bag, but at first, keep them up front in plain sight.
• Stash them with the diaper bag. Wherever the diaper bag goes, put the shopping bags, too. Another good spot: the floor by the car seat.
• Replace bags where they belong immediately. As soon as you're back home, put bags back where they belong.
• Keep one (or more) in your purse. String bags or other ultra-compact styles make it easy to stay prepared.
• Resign yourself to running back to the car. It's bound to happen—just remember, the benefits to the Earth (and a few extra steps of exercise) are worth it!