Reusable bags are everywhere now, which is a good thing. But a reusable bag only helps if it is actually reused, again and again. Making any bag takes energy, water and raw materials, and a sturdy cotton bag takes more to make than a thin plastic carrier.

What the research says

Life-cycle studies compare bags across their whole life, from growing or producing the material to disposal. A widely quoted 2011 study for the UK Environment Agency estimated that a cotton bag needs to be used around 131 times to have a lower carbon footprint than a single-use plastic carrier bag used once. Other studies that look at more environmental factors, such as water use, arrive at even higher numbers.

The conclusion is not that cotton bags are bad. It's that the benefit comes from use, not from ownership.

How to make your bag count

• Choose one or two bags you genuinely like and will carry every day.
• Keep a bag where you'll need it: by the door, in the car, in your backpack.
• Use it for everything, from groceries to the gym to the beach.
• Look after it so it lasts for years, and repair it rather than replace it.
• Say no to free promotional bags you don't need.

Embracing a circular way of living

A circular economy keeps products and materials in use for as long as possible, then returns them to make something new. For a bag, that means a long life of everyday use, repairs when needed, and textile recycling at the very end.

A bag used 500 times is a good bag. A bag in a drawer is not.

Ready to make it count?

Find a bag you'll reach for every day.