A reusable shopping bag, sometimes called bag for life is a type of shopping bag which can be reused several or even many times: this is an alternative of single use paper or plastic bags. It is often made from fabric such as canvas, woven synthetic fibers, or a thick plastic that is more durable than disposable plastic bags, allowing multiple use. Reusable shopping bag is a kind of carrier bags, which is available for sale in supermarkets and apparel shops.

Reusable shopping bag requires less waste of natural resources such as oil and less emission of carbon dioxide to produce than plastic bags. In some countries, production and distribution of single-use plastic bags are regulated by law in. However, there are some arguments whether the regulations lead the purpose effectively.

Reusable shopping bags are becoming a new fashion trend because of the contribution of the apparel industry, although some point out that over-excitation of them as fashion trend triggers overconsumption of plastic bags. It is also claimed that replacement of plastic bags is not an effective way because it is not easy to change consumers’ behavior. First introduced in the US in 1977, plastic shopping bags for bagging groceries at stores flourished in the 1980s and 1990s, replacing paper bags.

In 1990s, governments in some countries started to impose taxes on distribution of disposable plastic bags or to regulate the use of them. Supermarkets increasingly discourage consumers from using disposable plastic bags and offer alternative reusable shopping bags with small prices, providing information on environmental damage associated with plastic bag. Because of these encouragements, reusable shopping bags are gradually taking place beside plastic bags.

The shape of reusable shopping bags which are now becoming popular is usually different from what they used to be before the prevalence of plastic bags. The apparel industry promotes reusable shopping bags as sustainable fashion. Many supermarkets encourage the use of reusable shopping bags to increase sales and profit margins.

Most non woven polypropylene bags cost $0.10-0.25 to produce and are sold for $0.99-$3.00 in most cases. As stores receive diminishing returns due to saturated markets, there are concerns that prices will drop and they will become the new single use bag. Some major supermarket chains have string or calico bags available for sale.

They are sold with announcement of environmental issues in many cases. The ones sold in supermarkets often have designs related to nature, such as prints of trees or that of the earth, in order to emphasize environmental issues. Some supermarkets give points for customers when they bring own shopping bags.

When the customers collect a certain amount of points, they can usually get discount coupons or gifts, which motivate customers to reduce plastic bag use.

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