Its Earth day! However, I’m not a very “green” person. I do still accept plastic bags when I go grocery shopping, mostly because I need them for my rubbish 😛 But I’ve been trying to be a little more environmentally friendly by carrying my own bag when I shop. I started with the Envirosax.
The Envirosax is too big and floppy
However, I got a bit put off using the Envirosax because it was floppy and only came in 1 size.
So, even if I were to buy a carton of eggs, I’d have to whip out my large bag to carry the eggs, and the bag would flop around. This also meant it did not stay on my shoulders very well. It works when you carry a lot of items but not if you only carry a few. Also, because it flops around it has a tendency to “wrap” itself around your body which can be disconcerting when you are carrying things like apples and eggs in one bag.
If you don’t fold up the bag properly, you’ll find that it cannot button properly which can be a hassle. So after a while, I just gave up on the Envirosax bag and stuck it in a corner.
The next adventure was using RUME bags. RUME is pronounced roo-mee or as I like to call it “roomy”. In fact, I thought it was named Rume because it was roomy but it turns out that its called Rume because its supposed to say “ReUseME” gettit? 😛
Rume Bags are structured
I found that I prefered the Rume bags because they are structured. They aren’t stiff – they still roll up into little tubes not much larger than a pair of sunglasses, that secure with velcro (another plus point) but their seams are sewn up so the bag sits like a bag. Using velcro straps means that you can squeeze the size thinner to secure the bag if you have very little space and if you don’t fold it up properly you can still secure it.
A structured bag means that it is easier to pack when you are in a hurry at the cashier counter, and it makes for easier handling too. Things inside don’t roll around and it sits around nicely.
Rume Bags come in 3 sizes
I love the fact that Rume bags come in 3 sizes to suit different needs at different times! So, I can carry the small one to carry small purchases like bread or eggs or even my lunch, and use the Medium sized one for general grocery shopping. In fact most of my groceries fit into a Mini Rume as I’ve recently found.They handle frozen or wet stuff well because they are water resistent and can withstand heavy loads.
There is one large one called the Macro which can fit a LOT. I still have not quite figured out when I may need it. 😛
RuMe Bags are perfect for holidays as they don’t take up space
I took the Small (Mini) and Medium (Regular) Rume bags with me on my most recent holiday and it was awesome. They fold up into tiny little packages that you can slip into the sides of your bag and they don’t even take up any space at all. I kept them in my handbag and I used them to hold my shopping.
At the end of the day, I’d end up with 1 bag holding all or most of my shopping thereby reducing the possibility of having shopping bags go missing.This is always a concern when you have a lot of paper or plastic bags to contend with. If you put them all into one, you don’t have this problem.
Rume Bags are light and stylish
Rume bags are very light and machine washable. So, there’s no real excuse not to take them to the market where they’ll get wet and dirty. 😉 I like the styles Rume bags come in – the colours are bright and not overly girly so guys can carry them without qualms too. I made my brother carry my bright plum Medium Rume – he was not fussed so I reckon its a good colour for guys hehe… I may want to get a couple in brighter shades soon.
The bags can be strapped together using the velcro straps so you don’t have to dig around for your bags every time. Brilliant! I have one in my handbag or my pocket most times – you never know when they’d come in handy.
I’m very happy to find the Rume bags – they may be a little more expensive than other reusable bags, but I find them superior in terms of design and quality so yeah, I’d say get a Rume and you’d never look back! 😀
In Malaysia, Rume bags are available at Tiny Tapir. Elsewhere check out the RuMe site. The Mini bags are RM29, Medium is RM36 and the large Macro is RM45. For a start, I’d recommend getting a Mini and Medium. They are more than enough to cover your everyday needs.
Stay beautiful… and green!
Paris B
prettybeautiful says
April 22, 2009 at 10:04 amthink i will get a mini one and try out first. i have plenty of those woven bag but they are not easy to fold and fit into handbags. gosh. and sometimes i do thing plastic bags are necessary for trash! other than that, when i buy loose items, i just stash them in my handbag. hehe
ParisB says
April 22, 2009 at 12:21 pmHey prettybeautiful
Trust me you won’t stop at just 1 😛 I keep thinking of getting more! I do try to stop sales people from stuffing my purchases into small plastic bags that don’t serve any use but they sometimes give you weird looks.
Shay says
April 22, 2009 at 10:08 amThat’s cool! I don’t do grocery shopping. Hehe…but I would love to have one to bring when I’m travelling. For my hauls…hehe..
But then again nowadays cannot bring all the liquidy stuff onboard already…So, I gota rethink about this.
I’m not very earth friendly most of the time. But nowadays, I would tell the cashier that I don’t want a plastic/paper bag for my purchases. Just over the weekend, I bought a dress and a cardigan, all chucked into my big tote.
So proud of myself…:D
ParisB says
April 22, 2009 at 12:22 pmHi Shay
The RuMe bags are awesome for travel! I wouldn’t say its good for carrying on board but its good when you are out and about and don’t want to lose your many shopping bags 😉 Good on ya for saving a bag over the weekend!
Nikki says
April 22, 2009 at 10:36 amanother cute bag to help save the environment! I am loving it that the designs are getting cuter and cuter! Since I got my own Rootote bag, I’ve been carrying it around like my 2nd skin! LOL
ParisB says
April 22, 2009 at 12:23 pmHi Nikki
Unlike the Rootote its foldable smaller than my wallet! No excuse for me not to carry it everywhere I go 😀
Monstro says
April 22, 2009 at 11:04 amNice enviro bags there! Ben and I always bring our own bags when grocery shopping, but I’ve been using those that I get free from the shops:-D Maybe one day I will get one of these chic ones, they will surely last longer as well.
ParisB says
April 22, 2009 at 12:24 pmKnow what Monstro,
They will definitely last and can handle heavy stuff which is what I like. I used to carry those free ones too but they are always so big and bulky
prettybeautiful says
April 22, 2009 at 11:21 amok guess what. i just bought the mini!!! weee!
ParisB says
April 22, 2009 at 12:24 pmGoodness girl, you’re fast! 😀
Sylvia says
April 22, 2009 at 11:40 amNice prints. I am using Jusco Enviro Bag, not bad. The only down point it is not designed to be foldable.
ParisB says
April 22, 2009 at 12:25 pmHi Sylvia
Thats the thing about many of the Enviro bags that have popped up these days – they are usually bulky. I started with those and moved on to foldable ones once I got used to using my own bag. Its easier to remember to bring my own bag when its already inside my handbag! Also I get lots of envious looks at my pretty enviro bag 😉
synical says
April 22, 2009 at 2:40 pmI could’ve sworn I’ve seen these (or the other ones, I can’t remember) in HOMING in 1 Utama the last time I was there.
I usually carry a messenger bag when I go into mall rat mode; I refuse the tiny plastic bags and paper bags (unless I don’t have that design in my collection yet..).
ParisB says
April 23, 2009 at 9:40 amHi Synical
I’m not sure if they are sold there – perhaps you could let us know if you see them again?
synical says
April 23, 2009 at 5:29 pmI was just at 1U last night.
It’s the Envirosax lah, sorry… 😛
Envirosax is going for RM19.90 each, and the two for RM30 something. Nothing really caught my eye…
Michelle says
April 23, 2009 at 12:30 amIt’s really timely that you are doing this feature. We all need a reminder every now and then to Reuse Reduce and Recycle.
I too find the Envirosax a bit soft and stuff definitely flops about inside. Also, after “seasoning” the bag, it fades and gets even softer rendering it hopeless for groceries or small items.
I’m currently waiting for my Medium Rume in (classic but a-tad-boring) black 🙂 Yay!
ParisB says
April 23, 2009 at 9:46 amHi Michelle
Aww… you should have gotten a bright color! I love the colored prints of the RuMe – bright yet not so bright that men will avoid them LOL… And yeah the Envirosax does not age well.
j3nny9irL says
April 23, 2009 at 1:34 amYes I love Rume!!! I got the medium sized one. hmmm I think the print I had was the Autumn one. Kinda forgotten. They are great and I like their sewing compared to Envirosax and RooShopper 😛
ParisB says
April 23, 2009 at 9:46 amHey j3nny9irl
I never got the Rooshopper. They were too small for me. RuMe is perfect so far!
Kaoru says
April 23, 2009 at 7:42 amI have some Acme bags that I’ve been using for over a year (since Chrsitmas 2007), and they show no signs of death, or I would totally get these. They aren’t really fold-able, but they stand up when I’m loading and unloading them, so they work. I leave them in the trunk of my car, so I never have an excuse. I have a small bag for stashes, too, that folds into it’s own sack (forgot the name of it).
Maybe I’ll ask for these as a present, since I can’t make myself spend the money on something that I already have a working version of (hehe).
ParisB says
April 23, 2009 at 9:47 amHi Kaoru
Those are some pretty good bags you have if they will last that long! These are pretty and there are always birthdays and Christmas 😉
beetrice says
April 23, 2009 at 6:19 pmI <3 my RUMEs…and such pretty designs too! 🙂 Mine travels with me in my handbag for any purchases – and your new ‘baby’ will be coming home in it later too…LOL!
Tine says
April 24, 2009 at 6:38 amI’m currently still using my Envirosax for bigger shopping items as the RuMe Bee got for me is the smallest one. But I have to agree with you; the RuMe is a lot better than the Envirosax. It’s a lot sturdier. I’m going to contant Li of TinyTapir to get the biggest one from her 🙂
Hanie says
June 27, 2009 at 6:40 pmHi, I bump your site while surfing. Are you sure the Envirosax is only RM19.90, and 2 for a mere RM30 in 1U?? I bought it at TinyTapir at RM30+ for one last time!!! Oh that site is a totally ripped-of!!
I still love Envirosax tho agreed it’s floppy. The designs are cool. At RM30 for two I’d sold to it again anytime LOL
Tiny Tapir says
October 2, 2009 at 2:50 pmhi Hanie, rrp for Envirosax in Malaysia is RM24.90 by the new distributor (not us) and can buy it direct from China for low cost. We had to go through the Singapore distributor so our cost was much much higher because they charged us a high price, plus we have to pay 35% customs tax and additional shipping cost (goods coming straight from China don’t have this tax). We’re now still clearing the envirosax we had to stock before at below our cost price at RM20 each.
Sorry you feel ripped off, it’s not our fault. You can blame envirosax for that because they did not want to supply us through China when we started selling them years ago.
I hope our customers appreciate, we always pass cost savings to our customers when we can re-negotiate prices with our suppliers. That’s why most of our products will drop price over time as we build up the quantity we buy in.
CY says
July 12, 2009 at 2:10 pmI have a TFS (The Face Shop) foldable & zipped into one-small-rectangular bag that I got for free when I was in Korea. They gave it to me as “service” for buying their products. Its small enough to put into my handbag.
Been in KL since January, but have yet to use it. (no opportunity to do so), but with retailers charging 20sen p/ plastic bag, seems like a good opportune time to use it!