The reusable bag market in 2020

In a few years, the reusable bag has become an essential daily accessory during shopping sessions or food purchasing.

Whatever its material: plastic, jute, cotton or paper, the reusability of the shopping bag has become a major challenge in the fight against pollution for several years now.

Although a single-use plastic bag takes an average of 450 years to degrade, more than 5,000 billion plastic bags are consumed each year around the world (Source: novethic.fr).

The reusable bag, which has a lower environmental impact compared to single-use bags, is only the first step towards a more eco-responsible and ecological behavior. LBX ASIE looks back on its history, from the appearance of the woven polypropylene shopping bag to new developments towards natural products.

Reusable bag … The story of the end of the single-use checkout bag (French Royal law)

In 2015, France passed the law on energy transition for green growth, also known as the Royal Law since it was adopted by the then Minister of the Environment, Ms. Ségolène Royal.

This law is based on a new French economic model aimed at encouraging greener growth. In favor of a so-called circular and more ecological economy, waste management has been completely redesigned, and leads to the disappearance of the single-use checkout bag! From 2016, plastic bags made available to customers must be reusable, that is to say technically with a thickness greater than 50 microns.

Appearance of the reusable woven polypropylene shopping bag. It has everything in its favor: durability, strength, recyclability and it is a mean of communication

The big winner of the French Royal Law is the shopping bag! Usually made of woven polypropylene, this reusable bag avoids the tons of waste generated by single-use bags. Renowned as ripstop, odorless and recyclable, polypropylene is a flagship material for food packaging and retail. Thanks to its durability and solidity, the shopping bag is also a powerful mean of communication. What better way for a brand than to faithfully accompany the owners of its bags not only when shopping, but also when going to play sports or go on a trip? The advantage is not only a permanent diffusion of the image, but above all a discreet way to talk about yourself without doing too much.

In order to really present a better environmental impact than the disposable version, the reusable shopping bag must be used between 16 and 98 times. (Source: https://ici.exploratv.ca/).

A marvelous mean of communication, with rare qualities of strength and recyclability, it is, however, being in competition lately by other products that are apparently even more respectful of the environment.

New developments towards natural products (cotton, jute, paper), plastic ban

With the current zero waste trend, the rise of ecology and the organic market, plastic is increasingly in competition despite its clear advantages in terms of ease of recycling and is already seeing its leadership challenged. LBX ASIE, aware of evolution in mentalities and consumer concerns, has decided to expand its tailor-made range to eco-responsible solutions that are more respectful of the environment. Cotton, jute or even paper bags, for example, meet these expectations.

• A cotton bag or its “tote bag” version is solid, recyclable, washable and customizable. It is also an excellent mean of communication because it is now often considered a fashion accessory.
• A jute bag is perfect for its strength (its resistance can go up to 40kg for some models), it is also customizable and can be used in a street marketing campaign for example. It is made from a natural material just as cotton.
• The paper bag also has many advantages, however its durability is lower and it should be used for light carrying.

LBX-Asia can assist you in your choice

Whatever your objectives in terms of form, use, material and communication, LBX ASIE supports you in defining the best possible combination. From design to completion, we analyze your needs and offer you the best solution for you and your customers. Do you want to take an eco-responsible sourcing approach? We’re here to accompany you.

Did you like this article? Also discover our article on the diversification of LBX ASIE’s activities.