Give reusable bags to your Japanese friends

Word is that the the Japanese are using way too damn many plastic bags for the planet's own good. “We consider wrapping a part of the product. Of course it’s good to cut down on plastic bag use,” Shimamura said. “But we can’t hand customers a hot lunch box or cold ice cream without a bag. That would be unhygienic and very rude.” But paving the planet with tiny flapping bits of trash, that's both clean and cool. Oy. So if you have Japanese friends, do your part for conservation by giving them reusable shopping bags such as we've already discussed - but lemme remind you after the jump.

Bishopston Trading has organic shopping sacks for only £11..  Bonkers paper rucksacks are sturdier than normal disposables and easy to carry around (plus at 10 for £3, well worth stocking up on).  Hemingway's TRAID tote is snazzy and only £6.  BYOB chic totes are bespoke and $25 USD plus P + P.  Then there's the shopping bag we all love best, the super tiny, super strong, super affordable (at £6.50) Onya bag, made from parachute silk, with 15 liters of storage, but compressing down to smaller than a small pear and clipping nicely to your purse.  No reason to use plastic, Japan.  None at all.  [GT]