Product Information
Yes, we know this will upset some people. We also know that our product is not truly green, like most of the green checkout shopping bags available on the market. When I first started developing the fruit & vegie sack, I spent many hours on Google researching what fabric options I could use, including ones made of renewable materials. In the end, the latter search all became too hard and the end result was going to be too costly for the consumer’s hip pocket. In the Google maze, I also began to lose sight of what my primary purpose was, “to provide an alternative to the small plastic bag used for fruits & vegetables with the aim of eliminating as MANY as possible.” The only way of achieving this was by offering an affordable product. At the time, it was not going to be possible using a renewable fibre. I had to choose between polyester/affordable/reaching more people or renewable/expensive/less people. The rest is history. I haven’t given up on the fully “green” product though!! That’s for down the track. NB: the “I” became a “we” as now my family is part of the business too! Lifespan We can’t categorically say how long greensacks’ fruit & vegie sacks will last because they have no history! Let’s be honest. What we can say though, is that I’ve done everything to create a product which will be long lasting. I certainly didn’t want to produce something which was going to make the planet worse off than what it is now. A great deal of thought went into the type of fabric to be used (weight, strength, durability, washability, longevity) and the stitches used (strong, neat, secure, flexible) to maximize the product’s lifespan. As an aside, we know of a bag made with similar fabric which is still going strong after 5 years of weekly use. If the care instructions are followed (no sharp objects) then there is no reason why our sacks won’t keep on keeping on. If by chance they do get snagged on something sharp and get a hole, the beauty of the net fabric is that it won’t run and cause a bigger hole. The sacks can still be used as normal. We know our sacks are not the 'perfect' solution but it’s better than the current alternative. Here's food for thought: •1 household uses 5 new plastic bags per week - that’s 260 annually
The paper used for the pack label is made from 100% post consumer recycled paper. The envelopes used for posting 1, 2 and 3 packs are also made from 100% post consumer recycled paper. The Australia Post parcel satchels are recyclable. Manufacture As of April 2010, we can happily say that we have successfully found a local manufacturer for our reusable fruit & vegie bag!!! Of course, this means that our production costs have increased but at least now we can offer an Australian version to our customers. We still have a limited supply of our Made in China bags too – but they are fast running out. We’ll wait for the feedback on the Australian made bag (and increased RRP) before we decide what to offer in the future. There is scope to offer two products though – Made in China for $15 and Made in Australia for $20. Customers can then choose for themselves. If you would like to comment on this, then please use the contact form to email your comment or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . NB: the manufacturer we chose in China is one who came with a recommendation from an Australian business. He provides above average working conditions for his staff.
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