Reusable Shopping bag Sometimes called Bag-for-Life. It is a type of shopping bag which can be reused many times. It is the best alternative to single-use paper or plastic bags. It is often a tote bag made from fabric such as canvas, natural fibres such as Jute, woven synthetic fibers, or a thick plastic that is more durable than disposable plastic bags, allowing multiple use.

Reusable bags require more energy to produce than common plastic shopping bags. One reusable bag requires the same amount of energy as an estimated 28 traditional plastic shopping bags or eight paper bags. “If used once per week, four or five reusable bags will replace 520 plastic bags a year”, the average cotton bag is used only 51 times before being thrown away. In some cases, reusable bags need to be used over 100 times before they are better for the environment than single-use plastic bags.