The New York times posted an article about a study done on people who bring their own bags to the grocery store. The study basically studying the habits of people who bring their own reusable bags to the grocery store. Researchers from both Harvard Business School and Duke University concluded that people who bring their own bags are more likely to make other environmentally-centered buying choices while they are in the store–like buying more organic products.
The study also found that the feel-good response to having brought your own bag also led to people making more indulgent self-rewarding buying choices, like treating themselves to cookies, ice cream, or potato chips.
I thought this study was rather interesting. When I use my re-usable bags my only thoughts are “Is all this food going to fit in my bags?” Maybe I’m weird but never once did I feel the need to treat myself or buy organic. It kind of makes me wonder if they type of people who bring in their bags are also they type of people who would buy organic regardless? And, let’s face it, most of us treat ourselves to ice cream or potato chips–so do you think they studied the plastic bags of other folks in the grocery store and actually found that reusable bags peeps had more treats?
What do you think, are they on to something here? Do you feel like you deserve a little something special if you remember to bring in your reusable bags?
~Mavis
Cindy says
Nope–when I bring my own bags to shop I only buy what’s on the list.
But I do wonder where you got that cool Keep Calm Brit tote bag!!!!!!
Donna says
I am mainly thinking “I hope this meat/detergent/milk doesn’t leak onto my reusable bag”.
Lisa Millar says
Funny study!
Supplied plastic bags are now banned in our state, unless you buy the reusable ones from the shop… its bring your own.
I wonder if the sales of ice-creams, lollies and chocolates have sky-rocketed in Tasmania? 🙂 All those people feeling good about their environmental contribution and rewarding themselves!
We generally only get the ‘treats’ if they are on sale and we haven’t had heaps for a while.
(Ice-cream is the exclusion. That is an established food group in this household, regardless of what bags I use!)
Tamara says
OF COURSE ice cream is a certified food group essential to good health! As is chocolate! What are they talking about … indulgences!?!
Lisa Millar says
That made me laugh. Love having someone whole heartedly agree! 🙂
Lauren says
South Australia is the same, it’s just second nature to bring the reusable bags now & to carry purchased clothes and things awkwardly in your arms because you forgot to bring a bag and don’t want to pay for another one that you don’t need.
Tammy says
I bring my own bags to Aldi because I do not want to pay for grocery bags, nor go through the store trying to find cardboard boxes that I could use in lieu of bags. And I use the bags for Meijer also. I initially bought my bags because I was tired of all the plastic bags I’d get from the store and wanted to cut that down. I don’t feel the need to reward myself because I used a reusable bag. I buy organic when I can afford it.
Crystal says
I live in a town with a bag ban. Basically, plastic bags are banned, and stores are required to charge at least five cents for every paper bag. So I started bringing my own bags. I rarely buy organic, but occasionally of course I do treat myself. I wonder if it is different when it is “forced” rather than a decision made specifically for environmental purposes by the person.
Mary G says
I bring reusable bags pretty much all the time. I don’t need the plastic bags (that often don’t hold much anyway). I do use plastic for raw meat, but I try to bring extra ones I have for that. Bringing the plastic bags is just something I do, along with bringing a shopping list, so I don’t reward myself for it. I do buy some organic foods, but I would anyway.
Terri says
I use reusable bags as often as I remember to bring them into the store. I’m getting better at it. Instead of buying magnets on a recent trip to Europe – we bought beautiful grocery bags. They don’t have plastic bags there – so every museum, grocery story, and ship sell them. They are a beautiful reminder of our travels. Those and a Costco zipped thermal bag are my go to bags.
Rachel says
What a great souvenir idea! I’m going to have to add that to christmas ornaments as must haves.
Carole Browne says
I use my own shopping bags when I buy groceries mostly because I was tired of having all those plastic bags! They have been recyled so many times that they are too thin to hold any object of weight without being double bagged. When I forget to take the bags (which is a rarity) I find the bagger to be putting one or two items in each bag and double bagging! Such waste…… My village is now offering reusable grocery bags to all it’s residents free! It has the village logo on it, but I’m proud to show it off.
TrayceeBee says
Nope – I don’t reward myself at all! LOL Here’s something I DO find annoying when I am checking out and am curious if this happens to others….If there is a bagger, they tend to bag my groceries very lightly and then proceed to place items (that could have very well fit in the bags I brought!) into store plastic bags!!! Even after I tell them to go ahead and bag them heavy! For example, those really big Aldi canvas bags? I have had baggers place a loaf of bread and a couple bags of chips in it and THAT’S IT! Such a pet peeve for me!!!
Mavis says
That would make me crazy, too. Most reusable bags can hold a lot of weight!
Diana says
Interesting study, but there is nothing special about using reusable bags, unless you only use them once in awhile. It has been at least 6 years since I went exclusively to reusable grocery bags. That is its own treat…not having plastic grocery bags in my house and car, and not having to go to the effort to drop them off in the store’s recycle bin on my next trip. So no, I don’t buy treats for myself or buy organic just because I’m carrying reusable bags, just like I don’t treat myself to a giant high-calorie milkshake just because I went for a run or bike ride that day. I go for a run or bike ride almost daily.
However, I do treat myself more often than necessary, to new reusable bags. There are some pretty cool ones out there, so resisting the temptation to buy new bags is its own challenge, LOL. Today’s temptation was this ‘Trolley Bag’ system. https://youtu.be/OFX-lx8l47g
Deborah says
I’m not an impulse buyer, and having remembered to bring my bags has never motivated me to “treat” myself. In fact, it seems like an odd correlation to me.
I really like the idea of souvenir bags. I’m going to do that next time I travel. 🙂
I strive to always use them. I finally made myself buy reusable ones whenever I forgot mine. Only made that mistake a few times. 😉 Publix has some really cute reusable bags at a decent price. But I also have stocked up on some plain basic 50 cent bags from Walmart, cuz my son has a way of “borrowing” them when he visits, and I never see them again. Plus, they wash up well in the washing machine.
Joann says
i almost always bring my own bags. Sometimes I forget. I have a huge collection of canvas bags as I don’t like the reusable bags made from plastic.
I’m vegan and always buy organic so it hasn’t made a difference to me. I buy myself a treat when I feel like it. I’ve been on a foodplan with a shopping list and stick to that. It saves calories and money.
Norma says
I have been bringing reusable bags to the grocery store before they starting deducting $.05 for each one you bring in. That has stopped within the last year, but I still bring them. My job had ones made for a big trade show, and they handed out one to each employee. My nephew’s wife didn’t like hers, so I inherited it.
I still end up with one or two once in awhile, which I use for wet garbage, and spent cat litter. If I look like I am getting too many, I give them to my work supervisor who in turn, takes them to her church for the food pantry they run.
I rarely buy organic, and rarely buy treats, as I can make most of the things I love just following this blog.
Norma
Mavis Butterfield says
Norma I LOVE the idea o f donating them to a pantry. Great idea. Thanks!!
CathyB says
I try to always bring my reusable bags to the store because they are much stronger and stand up better when put in the trunk. It is too much of a habit to treat myself just for doing that. I really hate it when I forget to bring them because then i have those flimsy plastic bags that break easily and stuff rolls around in the trunk. I try to remember to wash mine every so often so that they don’t get too gross. I like to buy the cute reusable bags and then give Christmas gifts in them instead of a paper gift bag.
Stacey says
I love using my cloth grocery bags. I was accumulating so many of the plastic bags I was tired of having to deal with them. At Trader Joe’s they use the nice paper grocery bags, but I didn’t like getting rid of them either. I have a little pile of them in the trunk of my car. The cloth bags are so much easier for me as long as I remember to bring them in. They don’t rip, and they have handles that I can put over my shoulder to carry them inside. At this point, even if I wasn’t annoyed with waste, I would use them! They’re easy to clean in the washer, too.
irma says
My local shop rite had a program where they would give you 5 cents credit for every cloth bag you used (it stopped last year). Loved it… as every penny counts. Family of 4 with 5 pets I felt like I was always running back for something we ran out of. It did get me into the habit of bringing my own bags. Now I only use the store bags when we are running low on garbage bags as I refuse to buy traditional garbage bags. We only use one a day which I think is pretty good… we recycle just about everything. Love your blog Mavis. Thank you!
Cynthia says
I try to use reusable bags — but I don’t always remember to grab them. 😉 Regarding organics, I think the trend is in the other direction — purchasers of organic food tend to bring their own bags. Indulgences? Maybe, especially in the non-greenies. For me it’s simply that the reusable bags are bigger and therefore more practical than the “t-shirt” bags — and my state is about to ban plastic bags too.
Cynthia says
Oh, and they hold more too!
Nicole says
I treated myself to ice cream long before I started using re-usable bags! But I absolutely do try to make more environmentally-centered choices. I am not a fan of single-use items, especially if it’s plastic, and I take re-usables for more than just grocery shopping.
Jen Y says
I only take my bags to Aldi because I don’t want to buy them…I guess that means I don’t have a reason to feel good about bringing bags.
Karen says
Here in British Columbia we are charged 3 cents per bag so it makes sense to bring your own .Some stores give you money to use your own bags.
Cheri says
I always try to remember my reusable bags when I shop, and it’s never occurred to me to treat myself because of it. It’s just something I feel everybody should do. Not a bad idea, though! I’m always looking for reasons to treat myself. 🙂
Rose says
I almost always bring my own bags & eat organic. I follow a crazy strict healing diet that doesn’t include “treats” (SCD), so I certainly don’t reward myself (do berries count?). I started using reusable bags while I lived in NYC because they are easier to carry over many blocks and up 5 flights of stairs. I started eating organic soon after I realized I needed to dramatically change my diet. I think my earth conservation feelings grew AFTER I started the organic and natural/whole food eating. For me it suddenly made sense to be more of an earth momma and less of a disposable fashionista.
Barbara Ann says
The “treat yourself” syndrome prolly has more to do with the study sample than in-the-trenches reality.
I’ve been using canvas/reusable/netting bags since the ’80s, when my local King Kullen sold their own branded canvas bags. Seeing pictures of sea creatures strangled by plastics had much to do with my decision, and hearing of the Pacific Garbage Gyre sealed my plastic-bagless fate.
For some levity, check out Tim Minchin’s paean to the canvas bag: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVh15aUt8-c