Between 2006 and 2009-10, there was a 43% reduction in single-use carrier bags issued in the UK, equating to the use of 4.6 billion fewer bags, or 45,800 tonnes, per year [1]. Within this time, in 2008, the UK Governments, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and leading supermarkets agreed to a voluntary approach aimed at cutting the number of single-use bags given to customers by 50% by spring 2009 [1]. Plastic carrier bags can take 500-1000 years to degrade in landfill and since October 2011 there has been a levy on their usage in Wales [2].

Therefore, it is a good idea to use reusable fabric or strong plastic bags, or at least reuse the “single-use” plastic bags given out by shops as much as possible. However, this does mean that you have to remember to take bags shopping with you and have somewhere to store them. They can be kept in the car, but you still have to remember to put them back there after shopping, and take them into the shop with you. And if you don’t have a car or use one to go shopping, this isn’t an option.

With this in mind, the Baggee, first released in 2010 [3], was developed by Jaq Croft, who was tired of always forgetting to take her bags with her and wanted to find a practical, stylish and environmentally friendly solution. She invented this key ring plastic bag holder so that whenever you go into a shop, you will always have some carrier bags with you ready to reuse and won’t have to take a fresh one. In addition to the Baggee, the Doggee, which is the same size as the Baggee and stores 20-30 dog refuse bags, has also been produced to prevent dog walkers having to carry around bulky loose bags or heavy full packets in their pockets.

The Baggee is a hollow, 55 mm diameter plastic ball (which is recyclable and made in the UK), with a hole that allows plastic bags to be pushed in and taken out. It is designed to hold 2-3 plastic bags, but could take a couple more depending on the size and how well compressed they are. The size of the ball is ideal as it holds several bags without being bulky or inconvenient. It can be attached (to keys, bags, dog leads, trolleys, etc) very quickly and easily by the removable spring lever key ring provided, and comes in a range of six colours. The plastic is strong and durable but not heavy – full of carrier bags the Baggee weighs about 35 g (1 1/4 oz), including the key chain attachment, which is 7 cm long and very sturdy.

The Baggee could also be used to hold a small cloth bag or strong plastic reusable bag, to make them easier to carry around, or at home to store away plastic bags waiting to be reused or taken to recycling points. Even if you are good at remembering to take reusable bags with you, if you also want to reuse the smaller plastic bags that are sometimes needed to take loose fruit and vegetables to the cashier this could be a convenient way to keep them contained but readily available. Alternatively it could be used to transport or store small quantities of other items, such as bags for used nappies, plastic gloves or sandwich and freezer bags to be reused. It is an inexpensive, space-saving and tidy alternative to having bags, cupboards and cars full of loose carrier bags or large packs of other items, and where possible helps to make reusing them easier and more efficient.

For more sustainable and resource efficient items designed to help you minimise your environmental impact visit our store.

[1] http://www.wrap.org.uk/media_centre/press_releases/total_carrier_bag.html

[2] http://www.wasteawarenesswales.org.uk/recycle/plastic_bags.html

[3] http://www.baggee.com/AboutUs.htm