Everything You Need to Know about Reusable Produce Bags
Picture this: you pop to the shops for a few bits – some apples, a handful of carrots, maybe a courgette. Each item comes with a plastic bag. Fast forward a few trips, and suddenly your kitchen drawer is overflowing with them.
Sound familiar? This was the reality for people in the UK until the ban on single-use plastic in October 2023, which stopped the sale of single-use plastic if it is not designed or intended for reuse – part of a landmark effort to stop the 2.7 billion plastic items polluting our landscapes each year. The ban covers all plastic types – even "biodegradable" or "compostable" versions – if designed for single use.
While this was a welcome change, it does pose the question: What’s the best way to purchase and store loose fruit, vegetables, bakery items, and other goods? While some supermarkets offer paper alternatives, these aren’t always available, reusable or better for the environment (though these are recyclable, presuming they make it to the right bin).
This is where reusable produce bags come in.
In this guide, our experts share everything you need to know about reusable produce bags, including how to use (and re-use) them, their benefits, and how to make them last.
What is a Reusable Produce Bag?
How to Use (and Reuse) Reusable Produce Bags?
- Pop your clean reusable bags in your shopping bag or trolley before you leave home.
- Choose your loose produce and pop it straight into your reusable bag.
- Mention the tare: the weight of the bag itself (the "tare weight") is often printed on the tag or label. At the scales or checkout, make sure you subtract the tare weight, so you just pay for the produce inside.
- If your bags have drawstrings or closures, secure them to keep your produce inside.
- Once you’re home, pop bags full of potatoes, onions, or garlic into your pantry or cupboard.
- In the fridge, a mesh bag helps keep greens and herbs fresher for longer.
- Rinse delicate fruits like grapes or berries right in the mesh bag – it acts like a colander!
- Organise craft supplies.
- Store bath toys (and hang them up to dry).
- Use as a laundry bag for delicates.
- Repurpose as a wash bag for your travels.
Benefits of a Reusable Produce Bag
- Reusable and durable, for near-unlimited use.
- Breathable to keep your food fresher for longer, reducing food waste.
- Holds heavier loads than plastic.
- Comes with toggle closures to keep your produce secure.
- Biodegradable at the end of their life.
How Long Do Reusable Produce Bags Last?
With proper care (gentle washing, air drying), cotton and cotton mesh bags will last for several years of regular use. Silicone bags are durable, lasting decades, but are better suited for airtight storage.
How to Wash Your Reusable Produce Bags
Handwashing or gentle machine washing is recommended at 40 degrees. Tumble drying is NOT recommended - air drying or hanging prolongs the life of cotton/mesh bags. Aim to wash every 2-3 uses, or immediately if they look soiled.
What is the Best Reusable Bag to Keep Produce Fresh in the Fridge?
For most items – leafy greens, broccoli, peppers, cucumbers, courgettes – cotton mesh bags are ideal. To keep herbs perkier for longer, trim the stems and stand them in a small glass of water inside the mesh bag.
Where moisture control is needed (carrots, celery, radishes), place them in a mesh bag with a damp (not soaking) cloth tucked inside.
