It seems to me that consumer mindsets are finally changing, as I’ve noticed recently how many more environmentally conscious companies and products there are on the market now.
We are now thinking more about the environment and how our personal choices are impacting the earth. I was thrilled when Australian major supermarkets recently banned single-use plastic bags, however, even though this has been a major accomplishment, walking around any grocery store it's evident how far we have yet to go with reducing our plastic waste.
Thin and flimsy plastic bags are still offered in the fruit and vegetable sections of grocery stores and supermarkets, leaving shoppers no choice but to use the bags or risk their produce being bruised or rolling around the bottom of the trolley.
In my local supermarket, they offer a number of fruit and vegetables pre-packaged in Styrofoam and shrink-wrapped in plastic. This is actually worse than the single-use bags!
There must be a better way.
Bolsa Reusable Produce bags are the perfect solution to our growing plastic problem. The word ‘bolsa’ translates to bag in Spanish, and they come in a handy pack of 8 medium and large bags, or you can also buy individual bags. The bags weigh next to nothing, so you don’t have to worry about them adding a cost onto your weighted produce. They are very strong, however, and can hold up to 2KG of fruits and veg.
Bolsa bags can be used anywhere – supermarkets, farmers’ markets, independent stores and more. Being clear and porous, the shop attendant can easily see what is inside your bag, can swiftly weigh your produce and proceed to checkout.
The bags come with a handy carrying case which keeps all the bags together in a small space and makes it easy to hook right onto your shopping trolley or just store in your handbag.
Produce can be stored in the bags in your fridge as the contents will be able to breathe. This can even extend the shelf life of produce as they are kept separate from other items.
As the bags are porous, you can wash the produce right in the bags as well. Make sure not to wash them until ready to use, however, which helps extend the shelf life.
I fell in love with these bags a little bit more when I heard that they were made from recycled bottles! Anything we can all do to reduce the existing and ever-growing plastic problem is great. Well done Bolsa!
Becky Gilhespie is a food writer and former Masterchef semi-finalist. She is currently working part-time as a chef, having chosen to do on the job training instead of enrolling at the culinary school. Becky is a recipe writer and product tester for many household name brands via Everten, and her own food blog, www.eatwhatweeat.com focusses on family-friendly meals with the wow factor that are healthy, fast and simple to prepare.
Becky is originally from the US but lived in London for 15 years and now resides in Gerringong on the NSW South Coast with her husband and two little boys. Her food is inspired a lot by her travels (and desire to travel more).
