ChicoBag kicks the produce bag habit

ChicoBag's produce bags come as a set of three.

Political and social attempts to stop the use of disposable bags are gaining steam. But these efforts generally focus on the “carry-out” bag shoppers use to transport purchases from the checkout stand. Rarely, if ever, are efforts made to reduce the use of plastic produce bags.  Chico-based ChicoBag sees that as a niche to fill.

The company is introducing its new Produce Stand Collection, a new line of reusable bags made to hold fruits, vegetables, grains and bulk foods. ChicoBag says the product is a first-of-its-kind reusable produce bag set, manufactured with hemp and recycled content. All of the bags stuff down into a small apple pouch with an attached carabiner.

Based on conversations with retailers, “more produce bags are given out in grocery stores than regular carry out bags,” says ChicoBag inventor and president Andy Keller. Even as he tries to fill that niche by selling a set of three bags in a bag for $14.99 each, Keller says he knows that the reason it exists will be his five-year-old company’s biggest challenge. “It’s one of those things people don’t pay attention to. They are not conscious about it.”

Consumers are becoming more aware and evidence is mounting that education coupled with even minor social engineering can drastically reduce the amount of plastic consumers use. In January, almost 20 million fewer plastic bags were given out in Washington, D.C., after just one month of a 5-cent tax on single-use plastic carry-out bags, according to reports.

ChicoBag launched its first bag made from recycled PET plastic on Earth Day in 2005. They are sold nationally in retail outlets and online. Keller says he has “bootstrapped” the company since he first launched it in 2004. He declined to release revenue numbers but says the company now has 30 employees.