15 best reusable shopping bags you can buy in 2022
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IF YOU'RE committed to helping the environment and want to cut down on your plastic shopping bag use, you should invest in one of the best reusable shopping bags around.
They are usually made of cotton, nylon or mesh and have emerged as the stylish alternative that's better for the environment than single-use bags, as well as much more convenient.
Reusable shopping bags come in a range of styles, prints and price points. In fact, they've become style statements in their own right.
They're also more durable than plastic bags, which are prone to rips, holes or breakages, and often more spacious.
From cotton totes to mesh bags, these are the best reusable shopping bags available on the market to buy now.
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Best charity reusable shopping bag: Help Save the Bees from Lisa Angel
- Help Save the Bees Tote Bag, £7 from Lisa Angel -
With £1 from every sale of this bright, sunshine yellow bag going to help save bees with the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, you can rest easy knowing you've made the right choice with this reusable shopper.
This charity donation bag is made from 100% natural cotton which is durable, lightweight and wipe-clean.
Its hand-drawn design has been printed from water-based inks, so there's no room for nasties.
Best reusable shopping bag of the moment: Standard Baggu Reusable Nylon Shopping Bag
Standard Baggu Reusable Nylon Shopping Bag, £10 from Liberty -
It doesn't get any more functional - or stylish - than Baggu's reusable nylon shopping bag.
It comes in every print and colour you can think of, is made from 40% recycled ripstop nylon, and folds down into a handbag-friendly pouch.
This one from Liberty is machine washable and is as useful for grocery store trips as it is when scouring flea markets for clothes. We even think that this on-trend leopard print looks good enough to take on a night out to keep your flats handy, too!
Best reusable string shopping bag: John Lewis
- Cotton string bag, £6 from John Lewis -
Cotton string bags are a stylish, durable and sustainable alternative to plastic bags.
This 100% organic cotton string bag from John Lewis is value for money at just £6 and is useful for weekend trips to the farmer's market or popping into the shop to pick up some wine and dinner after work.
It's compact enough that you can easily have one bunched up and crumpled in your handbag all the time.
Often, cotton strong bags can hold up to 20lbs (more than 9kg) of weight - plus, they're machine-washable!
Best reusable foldaway shopping bags: BeeGreen Reusable Grocery Bags
- BeeGreen Reusable Grocery Bags, 5 pack for £20.07 from Amazon -
These eye-catching, brightly coloured ripstop reusable bags from BeeGreen are a real hit among the eco-conscious.
They're made of super-strong, durable nylon which boasts being able to hold 50lbs (22.6kg) of goods - despite this, the fabric is still lightweight and machine washable. You'll receive a pack of five printed bags in a range of patterns and colours, including polka dots, cacti and flamingos.
The handy bags fold down into a very small, integrated square pouch, too (which is attached to the bag) so you can have them with you on the go, every day.
Best designer reusable shopping bag: Karl Lagerfield
- Karl Lagerfeld tote bag, £75 from Farfetch-
If you're a fiend for designer goods and can't bear the thought of carrying a shopping bag without a big name emblazoned on it, then we've got you covered.
This giant Karl Lagerfeld reusable shopping bag is available for £65 and does just the job for designer-obsessed shoppers.
Choose from black or natural coloured cotton canvas fabric, which is both heavy-duty and durable, yet lightweight.
A perk of this pricier bag is that it has a magnet close - so you never need to worry about losing your precious goods again.
Best reusable mesh shopping bags: Shinok Reusable Produce Bags
- Shinok Reusable Produce Bags, 6 pack for £12.99 from Amazon -
Made from 100% organic cotton, these mesh produce bags are an effective, durable and lightweight alternative to plastic bags.
This set of six features three sizes, S (8x10in), M (10x12in) and L (12x15in) and each bag has a handy drawstring and pop-lock.
These are ideal for buying fruit and veg but can also be used to store toys, hold make-up or safely wash your delicates in the washing machine.
Best reusable shopping bag set: Bingone Reusable Shopping Bags
Bingone Reusable Shopping Bags, 4 pack for £12.99 from Amazon -
Choose from stripes and polka dots, or dogs, cats and owls in this affordable set, with four for £12.99 on Amazon.
Lightweight yet strong, these stylish nylon shopper bags are built to last a lifetime. They're washable and fold down into a small rectangular pocket for easy portability, too.
Best for kids: Sass & Belle Fox Foldaway Bag from Amazon
- Sass & Belle Fox Foldaway Bag, £5.79 from Amazon -
This Sass & Belle bag is easy on both the eyes and wallet, coming in at just over a fiver.
The bag is a greener option, and made from polyester, but folds away in a cute orange fox head - it also comes with a clip attachment to keep handy on your kids' school bags, belts or key rings.
If they're not keen on foxes, no fear - the Sass & Belle range on Amazon also includes foldaway sheep bags, pandas, hedgehogs and avocados.
We totally wouldn't judge if you bought this super cute fox foldaway bag for yourself either.
Best eco-credentials: Kind Bag London
- Recycle, £10 from Kind Bag London -
If you'd rather opt for substance over style, this 100% recycled bag from Kind Bag London is for you (but they do have a vast array of colours and designs to choose from, too, if you're not sure!).
Made from six plastic bottles that were destined for landfill and our oceans, this shopper is water-resistant, lightweight and machine-washable.
It's been made with strong stitching to make it durable enough to carry two to three plastic bags of shopping - with weights of up to 20kg.
It also has long straps, to make carrying those heavier loads extra comfy and convenient on your shoulder, and it comes with a carry pouch so it can be folded up small and tight to chuck in your handbag.
Best personalised reusable shopping bag: Etsy
- Personalised large tote bag, from £11.97 at Etsy -
Never lose or misplace your favourite reusable shopping bag again with this giant personalised tote bag from Etsy.
Made from 100% eco-conscious cotton and natural jute fabric, this bag can be hand-printed with your name in black, gold or rose gold swirling calligraphy.
The premium quality jute fabric is durable, yet lightweight, and easy to fold into a square for storage.
It looks expensive and stylish, yet it only costs around a tenner for a choice of five different designs.
It's a great gift for yourself or the on-trend bag lover in your life.
Best structured reusable shopping bag: Westford Mill, Amazon
- Westford Mill Unisex Shopper Bag, £7.18 from Amazon -
Sometimes, the problem with cotton, nylon or fabric shopping bags is that you can't put them down without everything moving around and sometimes spilling out.
This structured jute bag from Amazon is here to change that - meaning you can safely pop it on the ground for a breather when it gets too heavy, and rest easy knowing everything will stay intact.
Inside, the natural jute bag has a wipe-clean plastic lining and is structured with strong stitching to form a rectangular shape - and its handles come in an array of different colours to suit any outfit.
This bag would be great for carrying books and your laptop to the library, as well as safely bringing home the week's shopping.
Best extra-large reusable shopping bag: Kind Bag, Gingham
- Gingham, Extra Large, £15 from Kind Bag -
Sometimes, you need more than one bag for the entire week's shopping - or for commuting with your books and laptop - and it can get a little too heavy to handle on your own.
Kind Bag is here to help, with a gigantic gingham-design, extra-large shopper - with all of its eco credentials still intact.
The 100% recycled shopper is made from 12 plastic bottles, once destined for landfill, and is vegan, cruelty-free and super-strong.
It's lightweight, yet can hold up to 25kg of shopping or luggage, and is machine-washable.
It has wide straps to make carrying on your shoulder more comfortable, too, and is water-resistant to keep all your goods dry during a drizzly walk home.
Best 2-in-1 reusable shopping bag: Decathlon Foldable 2-in-1 tote bag
- Foldable 2-in-1 tote bag, £19.99 from Decathlon -
This unique shopper from Decathlon is 2-in-1, meaning you can wear it slung on your shoulder like your average shopper, or transform it into a backpack when the going (shopping!) gets tough.
Ideal for transporting to the shops and gym, or accompanying you on your commute to work, this shopper is durable, and very handy thanks to its flexibility.
It can be folded down to a helpful pouch to chuck into your handbag and is available in two different colourways.
It has a 15L capacity and a foam back to help add a little much-needed comfort with those long, heavy treks home from the shops - or spin class.
Best waterproof reusable shopping bag: Etsy
Waterproof nylon shoulder bag, £16 from Etsy -
There's nothing worse than being ill-prepared when the heavens open - especially when it starts to rain and you've got your arms full with shopping.
Instead of settling for soggy groceries, be prepared with this waterproof nylon reusable shopping bag from Etsy.
Made from waterproof nylon, the shoulder bag perhaps isn't big enough for a family shop for the week, but it's more than enough to fit some essentials on your way home from work - complete with a magnetic close, for peace of mind.
It comes in a variety of colours, too, including beige, orange, teal and black; meaning it ticks both style and eco-conscious boxes.
How to fold reusable shopping bags
How to fold reusable shopping bags is entirely dependent on which fabric shopper you've chosen.
If it's cotton, mesh or nylon, it usually can scrunch into a small ball or pouch and be chucked straight into your handbag.
A lot of reusable shopping bags come with attached pouches, which can be tricky to fold down - we recommend laying it on a flat surface, folding the sides to meet in the middle, and then rolling up tightly from the bottom.
If your shopping is jute, or wipe-clean plastic (like a Bag for Life) it is best to follow the pre-folded lines when it comes to storage.
Pinch the sides of the bag to collapse it, then fold up the bottom, and then in half to store with ease.
Can you recycle reusable shopping bags?
If you have a supermarket-branded reusable shopping bag, you can often take it in-store to a plastic bag recycling point to be recycled, and then replaced free of charge.
If you have opted for a fabric bag from this list, it can often be recycled in a fabric recycling drop-off facility - usually found at your local supermarket next to the bottle bins.
Be sure to check with the brand, recycling point or supermarket before recycling to make extra sure your bag can be recycled.
Can you wash reusable shopping bags?
Most reusable shopping bags are thankfully machine washable. If you've opted for a cotton, mesh, string, or nylon reusable shopper, then it can be chucked in the machine to wash at (an eco-friendly!) 30 degrees.
If you have opted for jute or plastic, it is often wipe-clean with soap and warm water.
Always be sure to check the tag or with the brand your bag is from before washing.
How to dispose of reusable shopping bags
Most shopping bags are extremely long-lasting, and a lot of brands boast they'll last a lifetime - so hopefully you won't need to chuck them out if you take good care of them.
If you can, repair any ripped shopping bags with a simple stitch, or donate to charity if a bag is still in good condition.
Otherwise, you can recycle fabric bags at a fabric recycling facility or plant - usually found at supermarkets.