Being green is a pretty big thing these days. Recycling is no longer a novel past-time reserved for hippies and do-gooders, rather a ubiquitously followed process adhered to by all those wishing to remain within the clutches of social acceptability.
Of course, with such a heavy following, there is always that 'next step', that proclamation of 'let's be even greener'. The latest trend is carrier bags.
Figures from the British Retail Consortium this month suggested that Britons were now using approximately half the number of plastic bags (from seven selected supermarkets) than three years ago, falling from 870 million in May 2006 to 452 million in May this year.
Despite this success however, that's still a lot of environmentally-hostile bags.
A Guardian feature entitled What to do with spare plastic bags, informs consumers that there are a number of ways to continue the green revolution against carrier bags – including tips for those unable to shake that dastardly habit of carrier bag build-ups in the kitchen cupboard.
The article offers advice in turning your pile of carrier bags into one rather trendy clutch bag, or if you you've been moderately good and are only hoarding a couple, a purse.
For many, the main problem is not the materials, rather the ability to put them together. Knittinghelp.com is on hand for expert step-by-step knitting advice to help turn those environmental horrors into a useable item of fashion – or 'trashion' as it has been labeled.
On top of the plastic bag, all you'll need is a pair of scissors, metal knitting needles, an embroidery needle, press-studs and some superglue.
The Guardian's article takes the embroiderer through the bag-making process stitch-by-stitch, from the turning of your plastic bags into 'plarn' (plastic bag yarn) to the final gluing.
Once you've refined your knitting techniques on knittinghelp.com and followed the bag-making steps from the Guardian, you'll have your very own super-eco fashion accessory to show off both in the supermarket aisles and out and about.
Next time you go shopping though, make sure you remember your creation or else you'll end up with a room full of plarned bags rather than a cupboard full of carriers, which let's be honest, is a long way from being green.
© Adfero Ltd
