Shop Til You Drop

I have yet to arrive in Denmark (or even finish packing!) and have already found that in Denmark, you either bring your own bags to the grocery store, or you pay. From my Pre-Arrival Information, I was informed that everyone uses reusable shopping bags. If you do not, you are charged for every plastic or paper bag that you use. What a simple concept! 

Americans use over 100 Billion Plastic Bags per year, 98% of which are thrown away after the first use. Stores give away these bags like Halloween candy! In the money driven country that we live in, Supermarkets would be very wise to sell plastic bags, as it would increase their profits AND encourage customers to carry reusable shopping bags. This would show that companies were taking an environmental initiative, benefiting the world and themselves all at one time. 

Yes, that would require some thinking on the customer's part to carry the bags with them. However, people never seem to forget their coupons when going shopping. Americans need to just get in the mindset that reusable shopping bags are environmentally-friendly coupon. 

In fact, all stores should implement this. There's no reason that people can't use reusable shopping bags for all their wants and needs. I understand that people take pride in  wearing brand names and there is a distinct satisfaction about carrying a certain store's bag around the mall. However, hopefully Americans aren't THAT materialistic to kill the environment for that short walk- when there's such a simple alternative.