18 Dec 2021

Many locations have banned the use of single-use plastics in their stores, which is why whenever you go shopping, you are faced with the decision of paper or plastic. There will commonly be a charge for plastic bags in a bid to prevent people from using them so we can protect the planet.

Plastic bags are one of the most commonly littered items across the globe, and they are a huge pollutant to the oceans and landscape. This is why there are many initiatives, like the charge for plastic bags, to prevent the use of them as much as possible.

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Whenever you do use a plastic bag, this is more than likely to not be recycled as not all the plastics available can be recycled. Luckily, there are some creative ways that you can give plastic bags a second life and reduce your impact on the planet.

DIY Plastic Bag Projects

If you have some spare time, then you can use plastic bags in various craft projects. With these projects, you can give plastic bags a second life and prevent them from going into landfills or the ocean, where they will cause a lot of damage.

There are many ideas online for how to reuse plastic bags, but the following are some of the best we have found. With some spare time and a creative mind, you can give a new life to old materials and find new uses for what would have otherwise become trash.

Check out the projects below to see how you can make good use of your weekend and old plastic bags: 

  • Fuse Plastic Bags To Make Coasters

You can keep your table free from ring marks and make it last longer with the use of coasters underneath your cup or glass. If you do not have any coasters or have yet to find some that suit your home, you can make them yourself using plastic bags and an iron.

Follow these steps to have your own coasters made sustainably with items you already have at home:

  1. Find a small round object the size of the coasters you want to use as an outline. Trace around the shape on the plastic bags, so you know where to cut
  2. Lay a piece of plain, unprinted paper onto the ironing board and layer the plastic bags on top
  3. Before ironing, cover the plastic with another piece of paper
  4. Iron each side of the plastic, when covered in paper, for 10 to 15 seconds

Then you will have coasters that can be cut out and decorated to suit your needs made for free.

  • Make Bracelets From Grocery Bags

Show off your creative side and your passion for taking care of the planet with these fun, stylish bracelets made from grocery bags. 

You can make simple, knotted bracelets (reminiscent of the friendship bracelet era) using plastic grocery bags that you have just carried your food home in.

They are easy to make – simply cut the bags into three strips of plastic, making sure they are equal in size. Join the strips together with a knot at one end and braid them to make a bracelet. 

This is a fun project to get the kids involved with, and you can start a whole new trend for friendship bracelets for the eco-conscious generation.

  • Create A Jump Rope

Whether you are looking for a way to keep the kids entertained in the garden or want to try a new fitness trend, you can use old plastic bags to make a jump rope.

This is easily done, in a similar manner to the bracelets but on a larger scale, and allows you to exercise for free, and it will keep the kids entertained for hours. 

As they are made from plastic bags, these homemade jump ropes will be durable and can withstand a lot of use, making them a great use of your time. 

  • Make A Reusable Bag

Some plastic bags may be strong enough to reuse several times after you have brought them home, but for the more fashion-conscious of us out there, this will not do.

Instead, you can use old plastic bags to make a tote bag that will be strong enough to use every time you go shopping. This can be done for free, instead of buying a tote from a store, and will give you an edge when out shopping as you will stand out with something unique. 

You will need a lot of plastic bags for this project, which you likely have around the home, and some patience to braid them into a strong pattern to make the tote bag.

  • A Plastic Bag Basket

In a similar manner to making the tote bag, you can craft a basket, that can be used for loose items around the home, with plastic bags.

With a lot of plastic bags, you can weave a basket that can be used as home décor or as storage solutions to help you keep organized for free. Instead of buying new items from the store when trying to organize your home, you can use what you already have in the house to make something yourself sustainably. 

Not only are you recycling one of the major polluters on the planet, but you will also be saving money by using what you already have!