Reusable Bags - FootPrint Bag Blog

Product Review: Footprint Bags

Posted By MUM’S THE BOSS on 4th MAY 2010

“Footprint Bags are an ingenious product range created by two environmentally-aware young mums, Hanny and Claire. When Hepden Bridge in Yorkshire, near where they lived, decided to become a plastic bag free town this sparked an idea, and 3 years later a fabulous and practical product – the reusable shopping bag pack. I still get excited at the anticipation that comes with expecting a parcel – especially a product for review. However, this time when the postman knocked with my parcel – a sleek and shiny black jiffy envelope – even my husband was intrigued. Inside the lovely packaging continued – wrapped in black tissue was my new 4 bag footprint bag pack. Smaller than I had anticipated, the pouch is secured with Velcro and contains 4 reusable bags – and the really clever part – a trolley coin attached to the handle so when you are shopping it hangs discreetly off the back of the trolley.

The reason for getting the smaller of the 2 was I was thinking about ‘going in to town’ trip, or to keep in the glove box of the car so when I stop to pick up some essentials on the way home I always have bags. Normally dreading the supermarket I had a lighter than usual step as I set out to road test the bags. Firstly – massively less bulky to carry than the hessian/cotton/plastic bag for life ensemble I usually cart in with me – and just hang neatly off trolley or sit discreetly in corner.

Then came the real test – would they hold enough? In fact they are a great size – larger than a carrier bag – but not so large you can’t then lift them up! The shape is great and very flexible, and the handles are wide and strong. Even the checkout commented on what a great idea and how neat they were. Carrying the bags from the car up the garden path revealed another advantage –the material the bags are made of means that the handles don’t cut into your flesh – even when heavily laden – result! One of the best and most practical products I have used this year – real thumbs up. I just need an 8 pack one now for the weekly shop – 4 just aren’t enough.”

To read more about Footprint Bag please visit the Footprint Bag website.

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You know you are onto a winner when bag buyers of major supermarket chains choose to use your product above all others to do their family shop!!

Which would you use?

• 8 x Bulky Hemp Bags = 1 x FootprintBag
• 5 x Cardboard Boxes = 1 x FootprintBag
• 2 x Bag for Life and a few checkout carriers = 1 x FootprintBag

Our FootprintBag pack is so good because it was created by exactly the people who use it - eco-minded mums and dads who regularly do family shops - not designers sitting in an office in front of a computer.

FootprintBags will change the way you shop forever. They are compact, stylish, contain all you need for a weekly family shop and they are tough!

They are made from parachute material and last indefinitely.
As one of the creators, Hanny says: “I have used our bags from the conception - already three years and they are still going strong!”

Footprint Bags can be found in retailers such as Lakeland and Footprint Bag have recently teamed up with a major supermarket, so look out for our bags. Join the revolution!

Editor Notes:

FootprintBags are packs of multiple shopping bags - the 8-pack geared towards supermarket family shopping and the 4-pack - great for mums on the go - a compact stylish pack of 4 reusable shopping bags, perfect for general shopping.

Both can easily hook onto a pushchair or trolley. (There is even a trolley coin attached!) Just think, you never need to pick up another plastic carrier bag and you are guaranteed to look a whole lot more stylish on your shop!

Our convenient multi-pack meets the real consumer need to find an alternative to plastic bags. FootprintBag packs make re-using stylish and easy.

Independent market research on FootprintBag shows overwhelming results:

- 86% like the concept of our multipack.

- 65% would consider purchasing the FootprintBag

Please feel free to browse our website Footprint Bag
or

watch the video and see why we are different, Bag Video

For further information/hi res images contact:

Hanny Wadsworth

Hanny.wadsworth@footprintbag.com,

or

Claire Eastwell

Claire.eastwell@footprintbag.com

Tel: 01484 664563

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Shopper’s Dilemma
On average each shopper uses 300 plastic bags per year.
There is nothing stylish about a plastic carrier bag and bulky jute bags are
so last year! Can you imagine taking eight jute bags to the supermarket for
your family shop? Go hassle-free with Footprint Bags. They are compact,
robust and above all, convenient - and you are guaranteed to look a whole lot more stylish on your shop!

Two mothers find a solution
FootprintBag was borne out of our frustrations at the lack of a practical
alternative to plastic bags for our weekly shops! Being environmentally
aware, we had already adopted reusable bags - but were tired of car boots
full of bulky bags, which invariably got forgotten in the car or buried
under tins and nappies in our trolleys! We were inspired by the example
of Hebden Bridge - being plastic bag free - and were excited by the idea
of creating a product which could potentially eliminate plastic bags altogether.
The spec was that the Footprint Bag should be compact, contain all you need for
a weekly shop, the pack should be easy to access, practical and not least,
be rather good looking!
After many cups of tea and design sessions, the Footprint Bag started to take shape.

We are two mothers who have been friends for five years and both live in
Yorkshire. We met at local swimming classes for our eldest boys when they
were a year old. Hanny is originally from Germany and settled in Yorkshire
with her husband Ian, born in Huddersfield, a former Town footballer. I moved to West Yorkshire with my husband at about the same time, after living
in London and Manchester. We now have five children between us and the combination of this and a busy company, takes up most of our time!

Footprint Bag - The Company
We formed our Footprint Bag Ltd in November 2007. Hanny has a background
in advertising, having worked at the world renown Gray Worldwide GMBH and
I work at British Airways as long haul cabin crew. Developing a new product
is exciting and a great learning process but with the recent credit crunch,
is something that requires a great deal of persistence. Hanny and I have
worked through three pregnancies (!) and I even had a photograph with a
Footprintbag on my wedding day!! It has been a learning process but we
have had lots of interest from the start, from Rachel Elnaugh, former
Dragon’s Den star, to local entrepreneur, Carl Hopkins (Secret Millionaire) who enthused after taking his Footprintbag to the local supermarket!!
Footprint Bag - Reusable Bags with a difference
Footprint bags are designed to make re-using easy - with eight strong bags
made from rip-stop material (also used in parachutes) within one
compact pack. The pack hooks neatly onto the front of a trolley and
can be dropped open at the check-out and the bags pulled out as needed.
There is even a handy trolley coin attached, so no more scrabbling through
your purse for a pound coin!!

Not only does the pack slot neatly into a car glove compartment, it can be
carried in your handbag for general shopping. There is no need to accept
a plastic bag again -(the average person uses 300 bags per year.) This is
the last stand of the plastic bag before Footprint bags wipe them out for good!

We have just completed market research with a local company, Susan Kenyon
Associates, and were heartened by the fantastic results.

This is what market research found…
• 86% like the concept of our multipack.*
• 65% would definitely consider purchasing the FootprintBag.*
* August 2009 official market research on Footprint Bag

This proves what we already suspected, that there is a real consumer need
to find an alternative to plastic bags.

We sell on-line at our own website and through a few chosen on-line retailers,
including Eco-Handy and Essentials catalogue. As far as the ‘big boys’ go,
we have had meetings with some fo the big supermarket retailers who have expressed serious interest.
Despite the credit crunch, we have also landed a deals with other prestigious retailers.

Problem Solved with Footprint Bags!

Check out our website Footprint Bag
Watch the video Footprint Bag Video

admin Footprint Bag, Press Releases Eco Bags, fold up bag, plastic bag, Reusable Bag, Reusable Shopping Bag, Reuseable Bag, shopping bags

Reusable shopping bags are a good idea, but when you see what is available out there, do consumers have a viable alternative to the plastic bag for the weekly shop?

For further information please visit Footprint Bag and take advantage of their Christmas discounts. A christmas gift that is practical, compact and stylish, which helps reduces the number of plastic bags out there.

admin Press Releases, Product News Eco Bags, fold up bag, Footprint Bag, plastic bag, Reusable Bag, Reusable Shopping Bag, Reuseable Bag, shopping bags

We are looking for people, companies and organisations who have an interest in reducing the impact on the environment.

We at FootPrint Bag started with a simple goal, to eradicate the use of plastic bags.  Replacing them with reusable bags that could be used for the weekly shop, but also for other tasks is now gaining traction. There is a growing interest in replacing plastic bags and some countries have already banned them, or at least controlled their composition.

If you have energy saving advice, tips, products or services that can help reduce emmissions, waste or polution, then we would like to hear from you.

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Plastic carrier bags are harming the environment, both on land and at sea. The introduction of reusable bags that are stylish, practical and robust means that plastic bags can be eradicated for good.

Reusable bags can replace the plastic bag for the weekly shop, but they can also can be used for carrying items on holiday and out in the country. Footprint Bag have launched a “100 Reasons not to use Plastic Bags” initiative that is aimed at raising the profile of Resuable Bags as a viable alternative to plastic bags.

Have a look at the FootPrint Bag website and send us your reason why Plastic Bags should not be used.  If your reason is published, you will receive a 25% discount voucher against your next purchase.

Have a look at our current list:

100 Reasons not to use Plastic Bags

Note, we have a sense of humour, but will not publish any offensive or inappropriate suggestions.

admin Footprint Bag, Trade News fold up bag, plastic bag, Reusable Bag, Reusable Bags, Reusable Shopping Bag

Reusable bags are replacing plastic bags, but reusable bags are also being used for carrying items on holiday and out in the country. Footprint Bag have launched a “Reusable Bag in Europe” initiative that is aimed at showing how versatile fold up reusable bags can be.

Have a look at the FootPrint Bag website and see if you can name the place where the Reusable Bags were photographed.  Alternatively, send us your Footprint Bag photographed in a well known location.  If you guess the location correctly, or we publish your photograph, you will receive a 25% discount voucher against your next purchase.

Here are two locations for starters:

Reusable Bag in Europe

Reusable Bag in Europe 2

admin Footprint Bag, Product News Eco Bags, fold up bag, Footprint Bag, plastic bag, Reusable Bag, Reusable Bags, Reusable Shopping Bag, shopping bags

Why are reusable bags becoming more popular and why is there a growing movement to replacing plastic bags?

Watch this compelling video…

admin Footprint Bag Eco Bags, Footprint Bag, plastic bag, Reusable Bag, shopping bags

I read with interest an article on the reduction of plastic bags within large retailers by charging a nominal fee for each plastic bag.

This is a step in the right direction, but the overall percentage reduction means there is still a long way to go. Hence, the focus must be to reuse bags whenever possible and put the emphasis on that, rather than using less plastic bags, as this does not address the problem head on.

Many initiatives have sprung up, namely:

- Make a charge for plastic bags, a small deterent, but when faced with a large trolly of shopping, guess what happens.
- Bag for life, strong plastic bags, but how many times can they really survive a fully loaded family shop?
- Natural fibre, addresses the Eco element but again the cost of ownership over 3 years will surprise many people.
- Reusable Bags, some are nylon based so appear not to be Eco friendly, but looking over the life of the bag, scores very highly.

So why have reusable bags not caught on?

1. An individual reusable bag can vary from £1 to £8.
2. They tend  not to be practical, in terms of  giving enough carrying capacity, at an affordable price.
3. Lots of single bags are difficult to store, the outer sheath can easily be misplaced.
4. Some of the bags are not considered to be stylish, therefore do no foster a positive attitude to using them.
5. Some of the bags cannot be folded away compactly, which is a problem when you need more than one.

Footprint Bag was designed to address the reusable shopping bag problems of price, style, robustness, and compactness. So the end of the plastic bag cannot come soon enough.

For more information visit: Footprint Bag

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