i bag u is an incredible design that easily connects to any supermarket trolley cart, and replacing five single use plastic bags in one shopping outing.
I am a huge fan of showcasing an innovative design that considers both the planet and the people that live on it. This is why today\’s profile is dedicated completely to this very special bag, designed by Pailin Sinhaseni
Where did the idea of the bag come from?
Pailin: Thailand is part of the top five contributing countries that contribute to the world\’s ocean plastic pollution. Before the single use plastic bag ban from major retailers this year, I found that supermarkets and stores give out the most plastic bags. This is where the whole idea came from. Just thinking of an idea, but still being overwhelmed with plastic pollution and not taking action, was not going to work. So I thought there must be a way I could convince more people to be more conscious about their choices, starting with reducing the use of plastic bags.
How does the bag help shoppers?
Pailin: The ‘i bag u’ helps reduce the amount of plastic bags people use while shopping. Per shopping trip, people can use many plastic bags, but with the ‘i bag u’, it replaces these five bags with just one.
It attaches to the supermarket trolley and acts as a second layer to the shopping cart and takes only a minute to set up. It also folds into a small pouch, which means you can conveniently keep it in useful places such as your car or bag.
It is a bag designed for a beautiful mess. Because of its size, you can easily throw anything in it. It can be used forwork, gym, grocery shopping and everything in between. The moment that you decide to use this bag for the day, you are creating a positive social change without even realising it.
What scares you the most about single use plastic?
Pailin: The fact that most people are unaware of the damage caused by plastic pollution, even though their lives are hugely affected by it.
Some people complain about the weather being too hot or too cold, saying how it is unpredictable. Others complain about the air that they are breathing – it is not as crisp and clean as it used to be. What we need to realise is that everything we all do reflects back to the earth. Every choice we make counts.
Lastly, where can we get a bag from?
Pailin: Instagram @ibagu.onehundred and send us a DM to order. We ship to Thailand and internationally.
How I discovered i bag u
Pailin Sinhaseni, the founder of i bag u, gave a talk at an event I attended in Bangkok on how to tackle plastic bag waste from the supermarket or everyday shopping. If you don\’t know my story, you can read \”why I fell out of love with plastic\” here. Unsurprisingly, I found Pailin\’s talk interesting and loved the story behind her design. I waited around after the panel like a freaky stalker. I asked Pailin if she wanted to get a quick drink. Fast forward a few hours, and we were into the night. It also happened to be Valentine\’s Day. It was true love.
A few months later, we met up again to go shopping for me to see the bag in action. I quizzed Pailin further about the design of her zero-waste shopping bag. Now I am able to share all that I\’ve learnt with you.
What do you think? Could this bag work for you? Let me know in the comment section below!
