My dad is getting older and often forgets to bring reusable bags when he goes shopping. As a result, he ends up buying new ones every time, adding to a growing stockpile of unused bags at home. On the other hand, I’ve adapted by buying less and only purchasing what I can carry by hand to avoid needing a bag altogether.

This feels (but I cannot say if it "is" without proper data) like a lose-lose situation: individuals either end up purchasing more bags (which defeats the purpose of reusables) or, like me, change their shopping habits in ways that might not be ideal for businesses themselves who would wish I spend more. I’ve also noticed more people skipping supermarket trips entirely and ordering everything online from places like Walmart or Amazon, which often deliver in boxes or reusable bags anyway.

It seems there isn’t a big-picture solution beyond individuals like me reducing consumption as much as possible—not necessarily out of environmental consciousness, but because it’s now more of a hassle to consume unnecessarily.