Using a Reusable Bag isn't so good for the Waistline

The issues surrounding the use of reusable bags at the grocery store just got a little more complicated. That's because Harvard and Duke researchers found out that using a reusable bag changes your behavior, and not all for the good. People toting around a reusable bag did buy more organic foods, but they also felt good enough about themselves and their helping-the-environment that rewarded themselves with junk food:

"It was clear that shoppers who brought their own bags were more likely to replace nonorganic versions of goods like milk with organic versions. So one green action led to another. But those same people were also more likely to buy foods like ice cream, chips, candy bars, and cookies. They weren’t replacing other items with junk food, as they did with organic food. They were just adding it to their carts."

Maybe we need to update the old saying "A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips" to "Don't bring your own bag or your butt will start to drag"?


Hattip to Don Loepp at PlasticsNews for this item.

Previous Years

April 21, 2014 - The Week That Was(n't)

April 21, 2011 - Small is not Necessarily Better (with Plastics)

April 21, 2010 - Visible Light Photocatalysis - Even in the Dark

April 21, 2009 - The Double-Edged Sword of UV Light