Tote Bags: Another Environmental Conundrum
- reptilicus
- Apr 18
- 4 min read
"Every man has a bag hanging before him, in which he puts his neighbour's faults, and another behind him in which he stows his own." William Shakespeare, Coriolanus.
Hybrid-Styles Cotton Organic Black Tote, modelled by Jamal
I read an interesting article in Vogue, August, 2021, the writer of the article asked the question..."Are Cotton Tote Bags Really Doing More Harm Than Goode?". An interesting question, especially when we are asked to reduce, reuse and even stop using plastic bags. The article refers to a piece of journalism in the New York Times, that highlighted the fact tote bags may not be as eco-friendly as one thinks. In my house I have counted 5! I think I purchased one of them, and the others we have some how acquired.
Apparently, an organic cotton tote needs to be used 20,000 times to counteract its environmental impact! This was taken from a study commissioned by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency, 1018. The study was called "Life Cycle Assessment of Grocery Carrier Bags". It is a very in-depth study looking at all types of grocery bags produced from different types of materials; plastic, paper, starch, cotton and composite bag. Too detailed for this blog. Click on the study title and you can pour yourself a glass of your favourite beverage and savour the content! The least impact on climate change were provided by LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene) carrier bags, this takes into consideration use of materials and production, and the time LDPE takes to break down (it breaks down more easily than other types of plastic). However, the negative factor is LDPE is a plastic! Paper and biopolymer bags provided the lowest scores when reused as a waste bin bag.
Why Am I launching a range of Organic Cotton Tote Bags?
"You know the good thing about digging your own grave? You always make it just the right size." - Alison Gaylin.
Prior to reading the articles from Vogue and the study by The Danish Environment Protection Agency, I had already produced my cotton tote bag range, but, wanting to be transparent, I thought I would still write this blog.
In September 2025, I launched a range of tote bags which were more up-market, lined with upcycled shirts, with two interior pockets, the outer denim shell, made from recycled fashion and textile waste. These retail at £60. I think this a good price for what you get, however, I wanted to produce and offer a tote bag that was more affordable, thus having a more accessible price point.
The most common tote bag we are familiar with, is the one we can purchase from museums, craft fairs, supermarkets and often, given free as a promotional tool. A good size for carrying, perhaps, some books, your lunch or a few items from the supermarket, corner shop. I decided to launch what is called a "shopper" tote bag. It is a heavier weight cotton, has stronger webbing handles, larger in size, suitable for a larger shop and it is also suitable for a trip to the beach and more durable. It can also be recycled and sent back to Teemill to be shredded and returned into the production cycle (a circular business model). Like my Hybrid Styles T-shirts they are made from organic cotton, digitally printed on the Isle of Wight by Teemill, using eco friendly ink. Click on this link to read my blog which outlines the sustainable side of my Hybrid Styles T-shirt range, where their products are made, how they are made, and their sustainable practices. I also offer wanted to make these tote bags a bit more personal by offering a bespoke shopper, lining the tote with the customers unwanted cotton shirts. Please contact me using the Hybrid-Styles contact form if you are interested.
A Very Brief History of The Tote
A tote bag is a large unfastened bag with parallel handles, that emerge from either side of the pouch. It can be made from all sorts of materials but is most commonly available in cotton and in its basic form, affordable.
The word tote is a colloquial term of North American English origin meaning "to carry" or "transport" or "lug". According to an article by Hozen, a vegan accessory brand, the verb "tote" was popularized in the 17th Century. Wikipedia states a more precise 1677. According to the outdoor accessory company, L.L.Bean, their tote bag started its life as an "ice carrier" for hauling ice from "car to ice chest" (see L.L.Bean catalogue above,1944).
Over the years the simple tote has developed form a humble bag into a more sophisticated bag, a staple item found in the accessory ranges of Fashion houses and on the high street. Prices range from, as little as £12.00 for a cotton tote, to a Chanel calf skin tote for £3,480.00, Spring Summer, 2026.
Hybrid Styles shopper comes at a humble price of £20.00. What makes it unique is that each bag has an applique or machine stitched detail which I add myself.
Bibliography
Chanel
Walsh. T.A. History of Tote Bags - A Brief Story About The Tote Bag, (2025), Hozen
New York Times, (2021), The Cotton Tote Crisis,
E.Chan, (2021), Are Cotton Tote Bags Really Doing More Harm Than Good?, British Vogue.
L.L.Bean
Valentina Bisinella, Paola Federica Albizzati, Thomas Fruergaard Astrup, Anders Damgaard, Life Cycle Assessment of grocery Carrier bags, (2018), Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark, The Danish Environmental Protection Agency,
Low-density polyethylene, Wikipedia.
Tote Bags Market and Analytics
U.K Tote Bags Market, 2025, Trends Analysis 2032, (5 August 2025), Consegic Insights & Analytics
Tote Bags Market Report (2026), Nester.
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