When I’m standing at the grocery store checkout counter trying to juggle putting in my valued customer discount card, swiping my debit card and answering the baggers question (if Im lucky enough to be asked), Paper or Plastic, I have to stop and wonder, which is better?

My gut reaction is to respond, Paper. How did I rationalize this? I can fit a lot more items in the bag (actually I use two), it wont rip as easily, and I can re-use it for my recyclables or for carrying tasty treats over to a friends house for dinner. I thought I was doing my part by saying no to plastic.

But what really goes into the process of manufacturing paper and plastic bags, what happens after I toss them into the recycling bin? Which one consumes the most energy and natural resources in the process? After reading up on the topic, I was surprised to find out the results (this is a hint that paper wasn’t the winner).

As a former grocery store employee in my high school days, I shutter to think of how wasteful the act of bagging groceries and other goods can be, day in day out, across thousands of stores around the country and the world for that matter.

So what’s the answer? For me and increasingly many others, it’s reusable bags. Most local stores (Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, etc.) are selling their own branded reusable bags. There’s also a few local companies sprouting up selling fashionable bags to suit your personal style.

Reusable bags are very affordable, most cost about $1, and enable you to buy enough that you can store a few in your trunk (for unplanned trips to the grocery store, or even the mall) and also have a few in the house (for when you keep forgetting to bring them with you on the way to the store!). They are also way more durable and comfortable to carry than their paper and plastic counterparts.

I encourage you to read this article from Treehugger, Paper Bags or Plastic Bags: Everything You Need To Know by Collin Dunn, that provides great insights into how both types of bags are made, recycled, and the implications of using and recycling each kind of bag.