A Guide to Reusable Produce Bags | Treading My Own Path

When it comes to tackling single-use plastic bags, it isn’t just plastic shopping bags that we want to be replacing with better, reusable alternatives. Plastic produce bags (the extremely thin, colourless, clear bags we see in the fruit and veg aisles at supermarkets) are just as problematic – difficult to recycle, very difficult to reuse and a huge contributor to litter.

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Yet the conversation always seems to be around shopping bags, and the produce bags are left out.

Which is a tragedy! There are just as many solutions for replacing single-use produce bags with reusables as there are for shopping bags. Yet it’s something that isn’t on many people’s radar when they are starting out.

It certainly wasn’t on mine.

Fortunately, it is now. I want to share some of the alternatives to single-use plastic produce bags, the pros and cons of different options, as well as a few things you may like to consider.

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Reusable produce bags – some initial things to consider

There are plenty of options with reusable produce bags. Here’s a few things to consider:

Homemade versus purchased

Homemade is always cheaper, and there’s the option to choose the exact size that you need. If you want bags that last and don’t need to be mended continually, an overlocker generally produces better (longer-lasting) results than a regular sewing machine.

The flipside of homemade is needing access to a sewing machine, and knowing how to sew.

If you do know how to sew, produce bags make great gifts.

Second-hand fabrics

Second-hand fabric is an option for making reusable produce bags, and ready-made produce bags that used second-hand fabric are also available. Fabric includes old net curtains, tablecloths, sheets and old bedding. Choose a fabric that is machine washable and can go through a hot wash (rather than the handwash cycle).

Although mosquito netting seems ideal for produce bags, most mosquito nets are impregnated with pesticides, so not desirable for use with food.

Choosing the fabric type

Different fabrics have different properties. Mesh or net bags are lightweight and see-through, but are rarely made of natural fibres. They’re also not suitable for flour and fine powders.

Cotton cloth is natural but not see-through, and is slightly heavier. (Not all stores have the ability to take off the weight of the bag on the scales, so heavy bags will cost more.) Not being transparent will slow down the checkout operators, so be mindful of using too many of these bags on a busy day.

In practice, it can be useful to have different types for different things.

Reusable produce bags – different options

Personally, I have a combination of homemade and purchased reusable produce bags, and made of different materials.

As much as I recommend making do and using what we have where possible, I also know that sometimes we need shortcuts.

If sewing if definitely not your thing (and you don’t have a relative or friend to persuade to do it for you!) then here are some ready-made solutions.

Mesh fabric produce bags

If you haven’t heard of it or used it before, Etsy is an online marketplace where people who know how to make things sell these things to those of us who do not (or do not have the time). There are plenty of sellers on the platform who make reusable produce bags out of old curtains and tablecloths (as well as sellers who use new fabric, if that’s your preference).

If the second-hand approach appeals to you but you just don’t have the time or inclination, I’d recommend looking on Etsy for reusable produce bags made of upcycled fabric.

There’s no one Etsy seller I recommend, instead I’d suggest browsing and finding the seller that is closest to your home to minimise the packaging and transport footprint.

Recycled PET Plastic Mesh Bags

Some people don’t love the idea of going plastic-free and then buying reusables made of plastic. When I first went plastic-free back in I was the same. But then I looked into it a little more and adjusted my view.

If we stopped using plastic today, and didn’t make anything else made of plastic, there is still a huge amount of plastic already in existence. Legacy plastic, I call it. From a resource perspective, it makes sense to be using this to make resources rather than leaving it somewhere to sit for all eternity.

PET is the plastic that water bottles is made from. It’s hard wearing and durable. The PET plastic bottles can be recycled into a mesh that is used to make reusable produce bags. These bags have a much lower carbon footprint than other “new” bags because they are made from 100% recycled material.

I have a set of Onya bags that I purchased for my first Plastic Free July back in . They may not be as white as they were when I purchased them, but they function as good as new. (Which cannot be said for my biodegradable ones, which have, well, biodegraded and needed some stitching up).

Mesh bags are great for fruit and vegetables, loose salad leaves (the produce can be washed in the bag) and loose bread rolls.

Cotton Produce Bags

Cotton bags are great for all the things that mesh bags aren’t: powders and flours. I have a set made out of an old bed sheet. The advantage of these is that they can be repaired easily, and composted at the end of their life.

It’s possible to buy new cotton reusable produce bags: I’d recommend looking at your local bulk store as they will often stock them.

I’d always recommend supporting a local brick-and-mortar store where you can, but if this isn’t an option, they can easily be found online.

• Australia or New Zealand – I recommend Biome
• UK: I recommend &Keep
• USA: my first choie would be Life without plastic

If you’re further afield here’s a list of independent online plastic-free and zero waste stores.

Bulk reusable food bags

These reusable produce bags are a fairly new idea, and are designed for bulk store shopping (as opposed to fruit and veg shopping). Whilst reusable produce bags are very easy to transport, they aren’t ideal for storing food.

Onya Life launched these bulk bags in (made of recycled PET, which I talked about above) as a lightweight alternative to glass jars. They can be labelled and are suitable for food storage.

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They are not something I’ve used, but I think they are a great alternative for those of us who don’t want to carry huge amounts of glass jars on our shopping trips, or have to decant everything into said glass jars when we get home.

Other options: making do

Before rushing out and buying anything new, have a think about what you might already have at home. Many bulk stores accept glass jars for refilling, so consider taking jars rather than bags, if that is practical. A pillowcase makes an excellent cotton bread bag. Laundry bags are a mesh alternative to mesh produce bags – and they are definitely machine washable.

If you do decide to buy something, just be sure that it is something that you will use. Reusables that sit in the back of the cupboard are not a good use of resources!

The best reusables are the ones you use often.

Now I’d love to hear from you! What reusable options do you use? Do you have one preference, or do you use a combination? If you sew, do you have fabric types you recommend and any to avoid? Are there any other alternatives or DIY hacks that you can suggest? Please share you thought in the comments below!

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We all require that kind of multipurpose bag that can easily carry tons of weight without getting the products damaged inside it so that whenever you store the product it always remains fresh. For this kind of objective, PP Leno mesh bags are the most useful and adequate bags. These bags are easily available for bundling for vehicles, dealing with and warehouse building of items. PP Leno Mesh bags can be purchased in brilliant tones, containing the possibility of various adjustments and inscribing with your customized label.

These Vegetable Packing Bags are aimed to operate with ultra-expensive quality accompaniments according to assiduity-characterized parameters. One of the best aspects of Vegetable leno mesh bags is that they are available in various lengths and varieties as per the necessities of the consumers. These bags are also greatly used for shopping objectives.

Why are PP Leno Mesh Bags Valuable?

The PP Leno Mesh Bags are extremely beneficial as they are very adaptable sacks that are very strong and impossible to grab heavyweight products. PP Leno bags have Zero Toxicity and it is primarily used to keep several kinds of farming derivatives. The fabric which is used in every PP Leno bag is incredibly long-lasting, also all the derivatives which we keep in these PP Leno Bags can be viewed from the exterior very efficiently. The PP Mesh Bags are very unwilling to precipitation.

PP Mesh Leno Bags- Features

PP Leno bags are useful for multiple industries and in particular for those industries that have businesses in products related to agriculture. After comprehending the primary information about PP Leno Mesh Bags. Now it’s time to understand the characteristics of these Mesh bags.

• Longer Life & Water-Proof Bags

The life of PP Leno mesh bags have a longer life and these bags easily save the products from any type of water.

• Adaptations

The transformations for PP Leno Bags can be accomplished on the inclination and assignments of the buyers. As all the PP Leno Bags can be modified according to the customer’s demand.

• Lesser Cost of Bags

When we discuss the expense of using these bags for our products then we should know that these bags are very cost effective. So that you don’t need to think twice about pricing while using these bags.

• Usable in Various Color Shades

Another extraordinary characteristic of Leno Bags is that these bags are available in numerous colors.

• Long-Lasting Life

When these leno mesh bags are simulated a high-quality material is used so that your Leno Bags can be utilized for a lengthier duration.

• Very Easy To Handle

When you replenish the PP Leno Bags it is very satisfying to pull them up due to the Drawstring which is present on the top authorizing you to carry these bags very effortlessly.

Usage of Leno Bags

There are several benefits of Leno Bags. Some of the popular products that can be kept in PP Leno Bags are vegetables,  fruits,  firewood, and other farming items.

The mesh bag can easily store and transport various little-sized items or large items, like potatoes, onions, or different types of fruits such as apples, and pears. Mesh bags are created from round HDPE monofilament thread, so they permit air and vapor in and out willingly for your fruit warehouse requirements.

To store vegetables like potatoes or onions, you should place the two vegetables jointly to decrease the danger of bacteria development by containing an ionizing agent (i.e.garlic)

What are PP Leno Mesh Bags?

A mesh bag is a type of warehouse container that is used for the storage purpose of fruits, vegetables, and additional items. It can be solid or netted in the configuration that ratifies air to disseminate willingly through these bags.

Mesh bags are normally created from plastic monofilament threads which are known as polypropylene, nylon, or PEBAX® (a type of thermoplastic least).

What is the traditional fabric to create net mesh sacks?

While creating Leno Mesh bags many fabrics can be utilized to create net mesh bags. The regular material is plastic monofilament threads such as hoop HDPE or LDPE, etc.

How does the PP Leno mesh bags work?

A mesh bag operates by permitting air and moisture in and out willingly for your fruit and vegetable storage needs. You can store potatoes or onions in a Leno mesh bag.

How to make a PP Leno mesh bags?

While manufacturing the Leno Mesh Bags in a manufacturing unit there are 5 types of equipment involved in its production.

The procedures which are involved in manufacturing these bags are knitting machines, shaping tools, cutting devices, sewing devices, and packing tools.

1. Knitting Machine: this machine is utilized to create tubular mesh bags in rolls.

2. Shaping Equipment: this procedure shape the mesh bag rolls into the ultimatum width.

3. Cutting Machines: this tool cut the HDPE mesh bag rolls into parts while sewing its underside part.

4. Sewing Machines: By this procedure sew the open end with a string by hand of these bags.

5. Packing Machine: According to this procedure they pack the mesh bag into a woven bag and condensed it to save room in various delivery paths, such as by ship.

Where to Purchase a PP Leno Mesh Bag?

There are many ways to purchase as lots of manufacturers are available where you can purchase mesh bags. You can purchase from wholesalers, mesh bag factories, importers, stores, etc. Also, you can purchase them from the online market in reserve.

Singhal Industries is not only a manufacturer of PP Leno mesh bags but also an exporter of mesh bags throughout the world. We can deliver numerous sizes of mesh bags for alternatives.

What are the other benefits of PP Leno mesh bags?

A Leno mesh bag is utilized to load potatoes, onions, and a few other types of vegetables. The mesh bag enables the products to breathe and keep fresh for a longer duration.

Mesh bags can be purchased in different sizes relying on their usage. Mesh bags can also be utilized to load firewood. Mesh bags can be utilized in storing and transporting various applications. Such as protecting date palms from insects and birds before reaping.

These HDPE mesh bags are perfect for reaping and reserving seed harvests, from onions to potatoes.

The stretchy nylon fabric permits extended breathing, authorizing vapor to flee easily, but keeping the harvest tidy and handy for shifting.

Useful Articles Link 

PP Leno Mesh Bags- The Extraordinary Bag for Vegetables & Fruits

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