It's in the Bag: Say Good-bye to Plastic

When I bought a collapsible shopping cart in New York so that I could walk my haul home the 20 blocks from Fairway and Citarella rather than put eggs, fragile fish, crusty bread and rare olive oil at risk in a taxi, my friends teased me about reaching the age when I needed a “granny cart”. Cut to Paris, where I bought a singularly unattractive but very efficient shopping cart and my friends said nothing. After all, there’s nothing to say when all you’ve done is follow the national traditional.

Everyone I know in Paris goes to market with either a cart or a large basket.  In fact, there was a time when it was just about necessary, because shops and street-market vendors didn’t have much to offer in the way of packaging. Fruit would go into little paper bags, but there were no shopping bags in which to consolidate your purchases; bread had a strip of paper around its middle so you could grab it; cheese was wrapped in a single piece of paper; ditto meat, fish, pate, anything, really. And it all went into your basket.

But those days are gone.  The good news is that if you’ve forgotten your cart, there are always plastic shopping bags. The bad news is there are always plastic shopping bags – they’re as ubiquitous in Paris as they are in the States and they’re just as environmentally noxious.

The plastic-bag problem has been around for a while now, but it seems to have reached a tipping point because designers, the first to spot or create a trend, are now offering chic shopping bags, some, like the bag from Hermes, so expensive ($960!) it wouldn't seem right to use them for anything less luxe than caviar or white truffles. 

While I wouldn’t turn down an Hermes shopping sack, the bags I’m stockpiling – and giving as gifts – cost 90 (euro) cents and come from Monoprix, my favorite French general store.

You can buy the black nylon bag (see above), which folds up and fits into a pocket-size carry case (as does the silk Hermes bag), at the cashiers and, if you use them, your own cart, basket or sack, you get a bonus:  the right to check out at a special counter where, for the moment at least, everything seems to chug along a little faster.

It’s a a good-looking bag and a great idea – maybe it will become a trend. And wouldn’t that be a good thing!

Comments

[Mimi]

My husband and I always travel with two string bags, and we brought them to Paris recently, even though our flat was equipped with two carts. I carry the expandable bags in my purse at all times - you never know when you will need one. We saw them for sale in some shops, but only spotted one other person carrying one.

[Olivier]

Hi Dorie,

Back in France, my girlfriend and I are using the same bag for more than a year (almost two now). Resistant they are. You can also find some in purple if it better fits your clothes, my girlfriend says. ;-)

The main advantage is the folding capability that allows each of us keeping in our bag for unexpected grocery shopping after work. Plus it's good for the environment and the turtles.

Thanks for educating people on each side of the atlantic ocean ;-)

[Martine Watts]

Great minds think alike! I hate the mountains of plastic bags that accumulate with feeding 2 teenage boys. My local supermarket has green bags made out of recycled something or other! They are strong and hold much more than the average plastic bag, are much easier to pack and unpack and somehow I feel that I am doing a tiny bit to help the environment.

[RuthWells]

This brings back fond memories of my family's year in Grenoble, when I was 12. I vividly remember going to the market with a red string mesh bag for the day's wares. I wonder if that old thing is still kicking around my mother's house? I wouldn't be surprised if it is....

[Laura]

oh, I just noticed the rhubarb, one of my favortite spring things.. Especially because it turns everything the best shade of pink. What do you plan on doing with the rhubarb Dorie? I love to hear new ideas.

[Laura]

Ooh, I love that grannie carts are not just for grannies in Paris! Habitat has some great ones for 20 Euros.

[Ivonne]

Bravo, Dorie!

Interestingly about a month ago I considered buying a collapsible cart to bring to work for my Wednesday trips to the farmer's market during lunch.

Not only are reusable shopping bags practical, you can pack your items in there yourself, which I always like to do!

[Vicky]

Hmm... Interesting. You know, you can get a similar one at Claire's for a buck!

[Kelly-Jane]

Your bag looks very sleek and belnd-in-able. I have a basket, my third one and I seem to wear them out!

[Shira]

I think I'd be willing to pay much more than that to cut down the wait to check-out at my local Monoprix Plus the bag could fit in my briefcase for unplanned shopping excursions. Thanks for the tip!

[Jenny]

At my local grocery store they got used to seeing me with my fabric bags and my kids wagon, where I could cart everything around and skip the extra bags. Next step for me will probably be the granny trolley as well!
Oh and I'm with you - I wouldn't turn down the Hermes bag if given to me, but wouldn't go out to get one for myself.

[Deb Schiff]

Hiya Dorie!

Great post. Thanks.

You can also find really inexpensive (under $2.00), insulated bags at Trader Joe's that keep foods cold for up to 4 hours. I bought two and use them all the time. They're big enough to carry more than a typical bag of groceries, and they velcro shut at the top to keep the cold in the bag. Also good for picnic lunches. :D

By the way, I used your Waffles book to make the double vanilla and gingerbread waffles for a breakfast party a few months ago. Both were a HUGE success. Thanks!