Reusable cotton bags have become icons of eco-conscious living. Yet, a 2018 study by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency found that an organic cotton tote may need to be reused 20,000 times to match the environmental performance of a single-use plastic bag across all impact factors. For climate change alone, the figure is much lower—around 149 reuses.

Shelie Miller, professor at the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability, explains: “The big idea with reusables is that, in order for reusables to have environmental benefits, we actually need to reuse them. It sounds so simple, right? But it’s often a larger number of [uses] than people realize... If we’re just constantly buying reusable items and treating them more or less like single-use items, we’re increasing our environmental impact.”

Kayla Montanye, an environmental program specialist with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, reminds us that “The best reusable bag is the bag that you already have.”

For more on sustainable living, visit EcoCycle.org or PlasticPollutionCoalition.org.