Some shopping bags are now made of canvas or other natural materials, and they are 100% recyclable. Not only that, you can use them over and over again without having to throw anything away, and you are not using any plastic or paper shopping bags. You can even throw many of these in the washing machine if they get dirty or if your groceries leak while you are taking them home. The only problem some have with these is that it can be hard to remember them at first. After using them for a while you will remember, but at first, be prepared to forget them at least a few times.
When you think about shopping bags you get from stores in the mall, for example, you may find that these are unchanged for the most part. They are generally made of paper and have a nifty handle on them. However, you can still take your reusable bags with you when you go there, and they will have no problem letting you use them. Some of them may soon enough come up with their own reusable shopping bags that are more in line with their image. If you look online, you can probably find some bags that you can use for this purpose that look much different than the ones you get for the grocery store.
If you are looking for a great giveaway for your business, or perhaps as a favor for an event, you can see if you can find some of these shopping bags to have printed up with your company logo or your event. You can even sell them in your store for a low price. They can be very great for promotional purposes, as those that use them will carry them around in crowds. It will also give your business a great reputation for being careful about what you put out there when selling your goods. A little thing like shopping bags can make a huge difference in anyone's reputation.
When I was a kid, you never heard someone ask if you wanted paper or plastic when you got your groceries. These were only paper, at least for a while. Plastic soon came about though, and many opted to use them, not thinking about what it might mean to the environment. Generally, only those that had a specific use for paper bags would ask for them, and everyone else would get plastic shopping bags. Today, things are a bit different, and many choose paper rather than plastic for environmental reasons, but that may not be the best option out there.