I strive to have a zero-waste home. In fact, it’s one of my missions in life. So I’m always on the lookout for new and better products that make my household, and personal mission, easier. So when I find new brands, companies, and product lines that fall in line with my personal beliefs on sustainability, I’m always a little giddy on the inside.
So recently when I was given the opportunity to review a new line of resuable bags I jumped at the chance.
So today I want to share with you my experience with the new Urban Market Bag line.
This venture started by longtime friends, Cindy Goldberg and Kerri Stenson, a pair that have raised their children together, volunteered, planned events, and started a business based on providing the public with a smart, stylish, reusable bag, the Urban Market Bag line.
You can also find out more about these awesome entrepeneurs here.
I received the Urban Market 3-piece bag set in the rural series, which features three bags in purple, taupe, and a rich, golden brown. The bags are also available in the Urban series, a fun, funky pastel collection.
My Urban Market set arrived tucked into a drawstring pouch (each measuring 5″ x 3.5″), which contained three bags, all of which were 26″ x 12.5″ in size. From the moment I took them out of their packaging, I was a smitten kitten.
I loved the look of the bags. They are sleek, fashionable, and not loaded with slogans (which is a bonus for me), yet are large enough to accommodate the same amount of groceries that would normally fit into a large, brown paper bag.
The Urban Market bags are durable and feel good in-hand. The bags are strong enough to be sent to school with my husband’s weekday lunches, but feminine enough to be carried to a luncheon date.
Since unpacking my Urban Market bags I have used, folded, and refolded my bags numerous times and can easily return my bags back to both their initial size and to the travel pouch without issue. These bags have moved from novel to necessary, in my opinion.
I also like to use these bags for transporting tarred mason jars used in bulk shopping. They also work well for carrying heavy-weight clothing items destined for the charity shop. These bags have proven themselves to be dependable many times over.
While these machine-washable nylon bags are relatively stain-resistant, like most reusable bags, run the occassional risk of the crumb-in-the-corner syndrome. Mind you, this can easily be remedied with occasional spot treating and/or cold-rinse cycle washing and air drying.
No mater your cleaning method, these bags when laundered will be left as good as new.
It’s also worth noting that like other reusable bags, the Urban Market bags are not air-tight – so they are not great to store bread products or crunchy snacks overnight, or while traveling. But for general shopping, running to the library, or for keeping reusable bags on hand in my vehicle, they are stellar!
So what’s the only drawback? The price. My three-pack will set you back a cool $28.00. The six-pack is currently priced even more at $40.00, and neither of these prices include shipping.
However, let’s also figure long-term zero-waste savings into this equation. As many national grocery chains charge customers upwards of $0.10 per grocery bag, per shopping trip for plastic grocery sacks, the initial price tag of the Urban Market bags would quickly be offset within two seasons of weekly use.
While it’s a personal preference as to whether or not you want to pay on the front or the backend for zero-waste shopping, rest assured you will pay either way! By choosing to pay the upfront costs for quality reusable bags, such as the Urban Market bags, you will at least have the satisfaction of not adding to landfill space in the interum.
With that said, for reliable, zero-waste shopping bags I’d gladly pay $28.00 for this three-bag set for all of my home’s zero-waste shopping and errand-running storage needs. Which for me, makes the Urban Market bag line worth a shot!
So, everyone, what do you think about the Urban Market Bag line? Do you pack a waste-free or no-waste lunch or shop for groceries using resuable bags? If you do, I’d love to hear all about it below!
Here’s to intentionally being a bag lady,
Please note, I received these bags as a review sample from Urban Market Bags. All opinions are my own. Thank you.
