Make a Difference
30 Creative Uses for Reusable Bags
If it’s hard to imagine life without plastic grocery bags, consider this: plastic grocery bags were introduced at grocery stores in 1977, according to Waste Management Northwest. Generations of people over hundreds of years got along just fine using their own bags to carry their purchases home — and you can, too! When it comes to plastic bags vs. reusable bags, the choice is obvious. There are so many wonderfully creative uses, and we wanted to share some of our favorites.
1. Carry a picnic lunch
Take some sandwiches, fresh fruits and veggies, chips, and anything else that sounds good, and head for the nearest park. Make sure you throw in a few sodas. They’ll help keep everything else cold until you’re ready to eat.
Simple wine storage solution
Use Box Bags to store the wine your keeping in the basement. Makes it easy to carry upstairs for your next social gathering.
Hanging file folders
Reusable Box Bags can be used to organize important papers and files, especially when you need to take them on the go.
Quick overnight bags
Next time your son asks to spend the night at a friend’s house, have him pack his clothes and toothbrush in one of your unused reusable bags.
Take your kids trick-or-treating
Plastic bags are just no good when it comes to trick-or-treating. Too often, they have small holes in the bottom and you don’t realize it until half of the candy has fallen out. Give your little tykes reusable cloth bags instead, and they’ll thank you later.
A day at the beach
Put your sunscreen, flip-flops, and sand toys in the bag and hang it near the door so all you have to do it grab it and go. Insulated shopping bags are a great way to keep your beverages cold as well.
7. Use as a diaper bag
Why spend your hard earned money on a diaper bag when you have extra reusable bags lying around? Save your cash and buy the kids a treat instead.
Use for martial arts
Put you Gi and pads into the bag, along with anything else you need to take to class. You may only be a blue belt in karate, but you’re on your way to becoming a black belt in reusing old bags!
Carry your books
If you’re in school, you probably have a lot of books to carry and organize. Use one for each subject or semester.
Use as a dance bag
Do you have kids in dance? Now they have dance bags! Let them carry their leotards and dance shoes back and forth in your old reusable bags.
11. Craft Projects
Reusable bags can be a craft project too! Jazz them up with glitter paint, rhinestones, and anything else you can find. Cover the name and logo if you want or just liven it up and make it look a whole lot prettier.
Let the kids take them to camp
Your kids have filled up their suitcases, but there are still things on the camp’s list that they need to take with them. No problem! Just throw the excess into your reusable bags.
Store your old CDs and DVDs
Not quite ready to part with your old tunes? Stack them neatly in a reusable bag and store in your closet until you’re ready to decide what to do with them.
Fill with kittens!
OK, this might be more their idea than yours, but there’s no denying that kittens love to play in boxes and bags.
Temporary toolbox
Need to carry a few tools down to your basement or the neighbor’s house? Don’t bring the entire toolbox, instead drop just the tools you need into a reusable bag for a lightweight alternative.
16. Use as gift bags
Attach a bow and a name tag to a reusable bag to easily wrap an irregularly-shaped gift. Decorate it first to make it even better.
Store your makeup
If you travel frequently, you can keep your makeup in the bag even when you’re home so it’s an easy grab when it’s time for your next trip.
Use one as an extra purse
Have you outgrown your little handbag? You don’t have to pick and choose what to take with you—just grab a tote bag and use it instead.
Donate to the local food pantry
If you really don’t want the ugly reusable bags you get from your local grocer, you can always donate. Food pantries are often looking for bags to distribute food in, and reusable bags are usually just as welcome as the plastic kind.
Harvesting your garden
Put each fruit and vegetable in a separate bag and toss in the refrigerator or pantry until you’re ready to clean and prepare.
Bag up items at your yard sale
If you have a lot of extra reusable bags, you can use them for your customers’ purchases at your yard sale instead of using paper or plastic.
Carry extra shoes
Carry your dress shoes to work or school in a reusable bag and change when you get there. You can also use your shoe bag to keep your clothes from getting dirty while traveling. Just put your extra shoes in the bag before placing them in your suitcase.
Quick laundry bag option
If you have a large reusable bag, you can use it to carry your clothing to and from the laundry room.
Tote your recyclables
Toss your recyclable cans and bottles in a large reusable shopping bag and use it to transport them to the recycling bin.
25. Get Organized!
To make it easier to find things in your closet, garage or basement. Sort the items into reusable bags, keeping related objects together. Next time you need something, you’ll be able to find it more quickly.
Organize small toys
Put building blocks, toy cars, farm animals, sand toys, and train sets into separate bags and toss them into the toy box. Bags with zip or Velcro closures work best.
28. Make your own planter
If you have a lot of extra reusable bags, you can use them for your customers’ purchases at your yard sale instead of using paper or plastic.
Assemble a first aid kit
Buy first aid cream, bandages, cold packs, and other first aid items and put them in one of your extra reusable shopping bags. Keep your new first aid kit in your vehicle in case of emergency.
Up and down the stairs
​Try keeping a shopping bag each at the top and bottom of your stairs. Use it to hold miscellaneous items that need to go upstairs (or down), and every day or so, carry the whole bag to its rightful floor to put the items away.
Car organizer
Reusable bags are handy to keep inside of a car, either to organize the umbrellas, hats, gloves, and other items that accumulate, or to fill with items that need to be brought inside.
