Sustainable cotton carrier bags

Sustainable cotton carrier bags: a choice for the environment

With all the regulations on plastic carrier bags, we see more and more organisations looking for better and more sustainable alternatives. Now there are several carrier bags available on the market that can replace the plastic carrier bag. One of these carrier bags are the cotton carrier bags, also known as tote bags.  

 One of the advantages why these carrier bags are much more sustainable than current plastic carrier bags is that they are reusable. Plastic carrier bags often cannot handle the weight of the filling so they are often used only once. Cotton is a much sturdier material that can handle a heavy filling. That is why cotton carrier bags often do not need to be replaced as quickly and are therefore reusable.  

Besides being reusable, cotton carrier bags can also be recycled. This is because cotton is made of natural fibres that are biodegradable and less harmful to the environment than synthetic materials. Because of these fibres, at the end of their useful life, the bags can be recycled and composted.  
 
However, it is important to note that there are also drawbacks to using cotton carrier bags. Cotton is a water-intensive crop, meaning a lot of water is needed to grow and process it into a carrier bag. Moreover, sometimes pesticides and chemicals may also be used during the production process. If used, the cotton production process is harmful to the environment.    
 
To reduce these drawbacks, there are several initiatives to grow more sustainable cotton. For instance, organic cotton, Fairtrade cotton and BCI cotton produced have entered the market. These initiatives ensure that cotton is grown in a more sustainable manner and that farmers get a fair price for their produce.

 

100% cotton carrier bag for Nølson 

Recently, Nølson, a clothing shop focused on creating the perfect shirt for this generation's current makers, switched to our 100% cotton carrier bags. The brand combines traditional craftsmanship with modern Scandinavian design to produce high-quality shirts from premium fabrics. To raise awareness of their brand, they felt it was important to offer a beautiful and sustainable carrier bag alongside their clothing. Colleague Ian Kentie was able to help Nølson realise this idea by offering and printing our 100% cotton carrier bags with Nølson's logo. The bags have recently become available as a limited edition in their shop and Nølson hopes that their customers will reuse these bags when buying new clothes, thus contributing to a more sustainable environment. 
 
If you are looking for a sustainable option for your carrier bags, then a cotton carrier bag is an excellent sustainable choice. However, it is important that you choose an organisation that uses sustainably grown and produced cotton. At Argos we already make use of this with our 100% cotton carrier bags. If you opt for these 100% cotton carrier bags, you contribute to this. Just don't forget to encourage your customers to reuse these bags to reduce their impact on the environment.