Plastic is a big problem, especially in our oceans. Ocean plastic acts as a sponge for chemical pollutants, entering first the food chain and then our bodies. It upsets delicate ecosystems and marine life. Every year Leatherback Turtles travel to British waters looking for their favourite food - jellyfish. Unfortunately, those flimsy plastic bags look a lot like jellyfish to a turtle….

It was in response to this issue that Turtle Bags was started. Set up by an ecologist, their mission is to raise awareness around ocean plastics and offer practical solutions. From their inception 20 years ago their classic cotton string bags have been hugely popular. They’re expandable and can carry up to 40kg which means they’re perfect for carrying even your heaviest shopping home!

The string bags start with cotton grown by farmers in Dhar, India. The cotton is both Fairtrade and certified under the Global Organic Textile Standard. So why do the farmers and Turtle Bags think using organic cotton is so important? 

Conventionally grown cotton is known as ‘the world’s dirtiest crop’. Chemical pesticides and intensive farming methods deplete the soil and so crops need more water, becoming a drain on local resources. Farmers inhale these cancer-causing chemicals, especially if they aren’t equipped with the correct protective gear, and the waterways become polluted. Tragically, birth defects are common.

In contrast, organic farming nurtures the soil, helping it store more moisture, and so water consumption decreases. Healthy soil is carbon rich and reduces carbon in the atmosphere too. Grown sustainably, the world’s dirtiest crop has the potential to be an ally in the climate crisis rather than a major contributor! 

Turtle Bags are at the heart of a new range of plastic-free alternatives which we now have in store. In the coming months we’ll be moving to a new collaborative ethical shop in larger town centre premises (we don’t know where yet!) which will give us the space to increase our plastic-free offer and include a refill station, plus lots more Fairtrade goods too.