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"It’s all too vivid — my freshly polished, almond-shaped fingernail snagged the flimsy plastic grocery bag, launching my oat milk in a downward spiral toward the dingy ground. The milk met its demise and the bag had to be discarded, its shameful single-use life over; its carcass destined for a landfill along with the 15 million plastic checkout bags we have been using in Canada each year, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.\r\n\r\nIt was a sad situation, but it’s unlikely to be repeated. Last June, the federal government announced a ban on the manufacture and import of single-use plastic items, including checkout bags, in the hopes of achieving zero plastic waste by 2030. “Reusable” bags made of plastic are permitted, defined as meaning they won’t tear or break if carried 100 times with 10 kilograms of weight over a distance of 53 metres, and when washed once. The ban comes into effect this December, though most of the large grocery chains have already jumped on board.\r\nThe milk met its demise and the bag had to be discarded, its shameful single-use life over; its carcass destined for a landfill along with the 15 million plastic checkout bags we have been using in Canada each year.\r\nThis means we now need to remember to bring our own totes for every trip to the register—or outlay additional coin to purchase reusable bags, which adds to the bill along with the exorbitant cost of that weekly romaine. As an agnostic grocery store patron constantly lugging giga-packs of toilet paper and family-size cereal boxes (I have three kids!), I’ve been testing out the range of options available for months. I go to Costco when I need to start from scratch, No Frills for the pantry basics, Farm Boy for the freshest veg and when I want something fun (the Fiesta Cheese Ball, always and forever), Sobey’s in a pinch, and Metro just because it’s conveniently close to my house.\r\n\r\nTo save you the stress (or bore, depending on your star sign) of figuring out the best way to haul your groceries, I formalized my test drive with a few criteria in mind: Did the bag do what it was asked, and house my groceries safely all the way home? Did it make the process of hauling groceries more pleasant? Less taxing? And did it have any standout characteristics, like a nice design or easy-to-store foldable construction?\r\n\r\nHere are the best grocery tote bags to bag your produce, as well as some upgrade options if you’re feeling fancy.\r\nThe winner: Farm Boy\r\n\r\nThe cost: $0.25\r\n\r\nMaterial: Woven polypropylene\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLike the going out tops hanging pretty in the closet, I’d call these the “nice bags” in my grocery bag stash; the ultra-lightweight sacs quietly blend in with my outfits thanks to their cold-brew hue. (That’s why they’re also my go-to for delivering bread, which my husband occasionally makes for our neighbours and friends.) Most importantly, they can house a 4L bag of milk, plus several glass bottles, and show no sign of stress. The all-in-one construction means they’re less likely to come apart with heavy use, and the soft woven material means I can throw them in the washing machine with no fear of plastic straps tearing off, plus the fabric doesn’t agitate winter-worn dry hands. Farm Boy makes a more structured version as well, made of recycled water bottles, with louder colours and branding.\r\n\r\nBest for protecting produce: Sobeys\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe cost: $0.99\r\n\r\nMaterial: Polypropylene, 20 per cent recycled materials\r\n\r\nThe East Coast grocery giant has been sans plastique bags since January 2020, and they’ve used that time to level up their reusable options beyond the standard sac. Their large ones are vivid apple green (which inspires me to up my own greens intake) and feature genius interior pockets to keep bottles upright and in their own lane, preventing their inevitable path of destruction over my squishy berries or baked goods. If you’re a frequent large bottle shopper, you’ll love these. But beware, heavy weight does stress the handles; after multiple trips, one of mine handed in its resignation. They fold down without fuss for easy storage.\r\nBest for on-foot hauls: Metro\r\n\r\nThe cost: $0.99\r\nMaterial: Polypropylene, 70 per cent post-consumer recycled materials\r\nWhen I spy the lipstick red glossy finish of a Metro tote in my trunk, I know I’ll be able to leave the store with more than just an onion, and go to town on the heavier items. The customizable design is a treat; two different strap lengths allows me to toss one over my shoulder on longer walks or to hold in hand during busy subway rides. But I have detected some fraying along the shorter handles, showing early stages of handle detachment.\r\nThese bags won’t fold down into a tiny square easily, but they’re great at herding other bags, as they stand up straight and can help you create a localized rectangle of spares, as opposed to the shapeless stuffed sacks that ultimately end up as piles of lumpy balls in various corners of my home.\r\n\r\nBest for big restock trips: Ikea Säckkärra Carrier Bag\r\n\r\nThe cost: $2.49\r\nThe material: Polypropylene, at least 60 per cent recycled\r\nThe behemoth of bags (a crisper refresh of Ikea’s famed blue and yellow Frakta) is on standby for pantry restock missions or Costco visits as its structured framing allows me to keep boxes upright and store awkward items. It’s both aesthetically pleasing and its sturdier-than-most handles have yet to let me down. I’ve pushed it past its carrying limit time and time again, and I’m convinced it’s indestructible.\r\n\r\nBest for medium trips: No Frills\r\n\r\n\r\nThe cost: $2\r\n\r\nThe material: Polypropylene\r\nThe lemonade hue and punchy taglines bring joy to my shopping monotony, and offer no shortage of support. At 16 inches high and 25 inches wide, these roomy totes can easily store three days’ worth of groceries, with sturdy handles in two lengths to support varying carrying heights. They’re on the shapeless side, so you’ll need to be strategic about your packing plan: They tip easily if the weight is poorly distributed, which I learned the hard way with a box of warm croissants. The thermal version is on my wish list.\r\n\r\nBest for multiple errand days: Bellroy Market Tote\r\n\r\n\r\nThe cost: $59, bellroy.com\r\nThe material: 100% recycled nylon, made from plastic bottles\r\nThe trio of interior slip pockets lured me in, but this tote’s ability to stand upright when open has me hooked (it also folds flat). I love how it is a workhorse at the grocery store but stylish enough to sub in as a purse or beach bag, easily adapting to whatever it needs to hold. The cool colourways (copper, olive, a recent collab with the artist Karan Singh) add to the versatility factor. It’s composed of 100% recycled PET plastic bottles and comes with a three-year warranty.\r\n\r\nBest for gifts: Baggu\r\n\r\n\r\nThe cost: $14, baggu.com\r\n\r\nThe material: Recycled ripstop nylon\r\n\r\nThe GOAT for good reason, one standard Baggu can tote two to three bags worth of groceries in hand or over your shoulder. The colours are joy inducing, but the durability keeps me coming back. I recently used one to tote a gigantic sherpa coat, which I was convinced it couldn’t accommodate, but it magically expanded as Baggus do. I love using these in place of gift wrap, too: It’s an extra useful treat for the receiver, and the prints are so incredible lately, they rival traditional wrapping paper.\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBest for stashing in your purse: Ecosilk Shopping Bags\r\n\r\nThe cost: $11, ecosilkbags.com.au\r\nThe material: Nylon, a.k.a. “parachute silk”\r\nA thoughtfully designed bag from beyond the grocery realm makes errands a little chicer. Long before it was hot to tote reusable bags, I purchased one of these on a tiny island off the coast of Vancouver Island, and 15 years later, this durable wonder is still working hard to bring home the bacon with only a few repairs to the inseam. The “parachute silk” nylon is featherlight and silky, making it packable even into the teeniest Jacquemus mini bag, and comes in dreamy colours like mustard and mocha. The newer large shoulder bags can even accommodate a bulky winter coat—yes, I’ve already placed an order.\r\nThis article contains affiliate links, which means The Kit may earn a small commission if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase. All our journalism is independent and is in no way influenced by advertising. By clicking on an affiliate link, you accept that third-party cookies will be set.&nbsp;More information."
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