Welcome to the second Something Different Upcycled Product Profile! This week, the focus is on drawstring market bags (which can be used for produce as well as bulk shopping bags for legumes, pastas, rice, and the like) and bread bags (which can, of course, also be used for other kinds of baked goods or dry bulk goods). These are a great and easy swap for mid-way through Plastic-Free July.
Why do you need this?
We all know by now that single-use plastic is a MASSIVE problem for the global environment. Choosing reusables for your grocery shopping is an easy way to reduce the amount of single-use plastic you consume. The bags are great for getting your food home from the farmers’ market, bulk store, bakery, or conventional grocery store. From there, put your groceries away in whatever way makes the most sense.
I will sometimes leave my produce in the bags until I’ve cleaned it but always remove the bread or baked goods from their bags to prevent too much moisture building up (a known problem in my house).
What are they made of?
All of the drawstring market bags and bread bags are made of cotton. Fibre content is determined by information from the original label, if it is present and readable, or by burn testing. Like all Something Different Upcycled items, the produce/bulk bags and bread bags are made of upcycled and second-hand fabrics. Choosing items made from this type of fabric further helps to reduce the amount of waste generated by grocery shopping.
Both the drawstring market bags and the bread bags are made with fully enclosed seams for durability and easy cleaning.
The ties and drawstrings are made of cotton twill tape.
How Do You Take Care of These?
They are machine washable. I recommend air drying when possible but they’re safe to go in the dryer too. All fabrics used in Something Different Upcycled items are machine washed at least twice before they’re sent to you: once before they are sewn and once afterward. I use minimally scented laundry products in this process and never fabric softener. I encourage you to launder your items according to your own preferences before use. Please note that cotton fabrics may shrink slightly with tumble drying.
You might want to put your drawstring market bags and bread bags into a mesh laundry bag to prevent the drawstrings and ties from becoming tangled.
What sizes are available?
The drawstring market bags are available in small, medium, and large sizes, or approximately 8x5in, 10x8in, and 12.5x12in respectively. Perfect for small amounts of grains or nuts, all the way up to big bunches of lettuce or broccoli.
The bread bags are approximately 14.5x12in for the solid beige fabric, 17x11in for the beige checked fabric, and 17.5x12in for all others. Any of these sizes are perfect for standard sized loaves of bread (about 1.5kg), or 4-6 dinner rolls or good sized croissants without crowding (smushed baked goods are no fun). A relatively small sourdough or rye boule should also fit pretty well.
Why did I make these?
To be honest, I first made the drawstring market bags to show off some great vintage cotton that I’d found. The original fabrics were combinations of white and yellow, and just felt perfect for farmer’s market season. (That’s also why I made our Basic Totes, but that’s a product for another profile.) The bread bags are fairly straightforward heavy-weight cotton, originally made from napkins but now also including table cloths and curtains. The neutral colours somehow just felt right for bread bags.
More practically, I love the idea of having fun – as well as durable and practical – alternatives to plastic bags. I had reusable drawstring market bags that were plain white and although they were very practical, I wanted something with a bit more personality. I’d never had a bread bag before I made the prototype for these because I make most of our bread at home. I LOVE these ones for bringing other baked goods home, like buns and croissants. The bread bags are also great for sharing! Take your homemade goodies to a friend, no heavy containers or plastic required!
Click to go straight to the shop for drawstring market bags and for bread bags.
I think that our drawstring market bags and bread bags are wonderful additions to any low-waste, sustainable life, whether you’re just getting started or are a seasoned plastic-free practitioner.
What else would you like to know? Let me know in the comments below or send me a message.