A set of organic cotton produce bags
These organic cotton produce bags (from Wales) weigh hardly anything, so are ideal to weigh produce at zero waste shops (or take them to supermarkets to pack loose produce to avoid paper and plastic bags at checkout).
Organic cotton also helps produce breathe, so it will last longer, once you get home. You can even use them as ‘mini-colanders’ to wash fresh produce.
There are two types of bags: cotton muslin or cotton mesh. Both are premium quality and designed to last for years. You can mix and match if you prefer (the mesh bags have tare weight tags attached, to use in zero wast shops). Delivered in plastic-free packaging.
You can also use these bags for carrying and storing bread and baked goods, or for zero waste loose produce like pasta and grains. You can even use them as clothes or book bags!
May shrink a little on first wash. Do not tumble dry or bleach.
Why buy loose fresh produce?
Because simply, it avoids using paper or plastic bags (which you then have to return to supermarket bag bins to recycle).
Organic bananas are often wrapped in plastic to avoid contaminating non-organic Fair Trade bananas. Or visit farm shops where you may well loose bananas that are both organic and Fair Trade.
- Avoid onions and citrus fruits in ‘mesh bags’ as most are plastic, so can’t be recycled. To dispose of existing netting, cut open the holes and place inside a sealed bag for disposal (tie a knot in the middle) to avoid trapping wildlife at landfill. Recycle metal clips.
- Unless you have a food waste bin, bin pepper and allium scraps (onion, leeks, garlic, shallots, chives) and citrus/tomato/rhubarb scraps, as acids could harm compost creatures.
- Keep fresh dough and bread away from pets due to salt, dried fruit, onion/garlic. And don’t give leftover bread to garden birds or wildfowl (due to salt, choking hazards and fat, which can smear on feathers, affecting waterproofing and insulation).
