Shopping bag
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Shopping bags are medium sized bags, typically around 10-20 litres in volume (though much larger versions exist, especially for non-grocery shopping), that are often used by grocery shoppers to carry home their purchases. They can be single-use or reusable. Types and typical use of shopping bags vary by country:
- In the United States, plastic shopping bags are common and typically free with a purchase.
- In many European countries, plastic shopping bags were also free and common well into the noughties, and as of 2007 still are common, but their use is becoming less and less widespread, partly due to environmental legislation, which has led retailers to charge for plastic bags. The Republic of Ireland for example imposed a dedicated plastic bag tax, thus forcing retailers offering plastic bags to charge for them.
- Reusable shopping bags are increasingly used, eg. in EU countries where use of plastic bags is in decline. Reusable bags are often made from jute cloth, also known as burlap in the US (the fabric of these jute bags/burlap bags is typically less coarse than that of gunny bags, which are often much larger), but sometimes they are also made from plastic; however these reusable plastic bags are sturdier than regular plastic shopping bags.
- Paper bags are another more environmentally friendly alternative to plastic bags. Paper bags are also in widespread use within the United States and other countries.
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