You have to time your “no thanks, I don’t need a plastic bag!” carefully so that you get it out before the shop assistant has whisked the bag out from under the counter, otherwise they sometimes scrumple it up and throw it in the bin (especially in supermarkets – don’t shop in them!). I find it agonising when that happens! I try to keep a couple of used bags stuffed in my pockets/bag so that I always have some on me, but usually I take my lovely soft woven straw shopping bag that makes shopping a pleasure…!








