What are the bags made of? Are the bags machine washable?

Yes! Our bags are made from polyester made from recycled materials and are machine washable. Our chil insulated bag is wipeable with soap and water. Our new products are made from 50% recycled REPREVE polyester fibers which are traceable, transparent and certifiably sustainable using both post consumer (PET bottles) and post industrial fiber waste.

Why BlueAvocado?

Our dream for starting BlueAvocado was to empower everyday shoppers to take small steps that make a BIG impact on our environment and the communities in which we live, not just for ourselves – but most important, for future generations.

For us, BlueAvocado is about the marriage of style and sustainability.  The avocado stands as a symbol for the green that resides inside each of us. And the blue is evocative of style and simplicity – those traits that make it EASY to grab hold of the movement and bring some joy back into the shopping experience.

The idea behind BlueAvocado is to create lifestyle products that make it easy to do good and ultimately – get it done – IN STYLE.

How did BlueAvocado get started?

Facing the imminent plastic bags bans that were occurring across the country – and specifically in our hometown Austin, Texas – we came together as 3 women – each with different styles and sensibilities to tackle the issue.

We spoke to over 300 people - our family, friends and colleagues to determine what was needed to start to change shopping behavior.  What we heard overwhelmingly is that people were tired of having to choose between what was convenient and what was right. To create the ripple we hoped to make, we were told we needed to create something that is cute, convenient and green – hands down.

Ten prototypes later and lots of feedback under our belts, we launched in November with the gor-pakTM (patent pending) – the first fashion-forward grocery system that tackles functionality (produce, insulated, carry-all, and stuff-n-go bags) and collapsibility (all bags fold into themselves as well as the main pak for easy storage  – eliminating the clutter). And we have tried to make it fashionable to help people remember their bags. When all is said and done  – our hope is that by using this  – it brings a little joy back into the shopping experience. 

How are these bags different from other reusable bags?

First of all – the gro-pak is a system. It is a family of bags. Each bag stands on their own and folds up on their own but the beauty of it is that they all fold together and collapse inside a main carrying PAK for easy storage – eliminating the clutter of numerous bags strewn in the back of your car or home.

Also, each bag has versatile handles that allows the shopper to carry multiple bags with the weight distributed evenly for the urban walking consumer or the shopper who likes to bring all of their bags in at once.

Finally, each gro-pak bag is labeled with a carbon footprint label that highlights the impact (both plastic bags and carbon emissions avoided) per trip and per year.

How “green” is BlueAvocado?

It is our vision to avoid 1 billion pounds of CO2 emissions by inspiring our customers with products that make it easy to “do good and get it done.” From our triple-bottom line business mdoel to our ‘One-planet’ sustainability charter to our products and packaging to our Billion Bag Pledge, BlueAvocado is committed to reducing our use of natural resources, avoiding waste and creating social change.

Our product invites people to take the first step on a green journey. By using our BlueAvocado gro-pak shoppers are able to avoid over 1000 plastic bags annually and nearly 25 pounds of CO2 emissions. In addition to avoiding waste, we are recycling consumer and industrial waste to create our machine-washable, polyester bags. Our new products are made from 50% recycled Repreve polyester yarns which are traceable, transparent and certifiably sustainable using both post consumer (PET bottles) and post industrial fiber waste.

As part of our commitment to educate and inspire our customers at every opportunity, we have introduced the first carbon footprint label for bags that highlights the impact of the number of plastic bags avoided per trip and per year along with our carbon emissions avoided listed on the label reflects the audited number (provided by Green Mountain Energy) of our entire supply chain. Our hope is that this “nutritionlabel for the planet” helps to provide a “conversation starter” for people to recognize the linkage between their shopping behavior and the ultimate carbon impact on our planet.

Our working daily assumption is that we have just one planet. And it will take all of us coming together to preserve and protect it for generations to come.

What is the Billion Bag Pledge and who is Schlumpy?

We created the billion bag pledge because the devastating environmental effects of plastic bags are too big to ignore. That’s why Schlumpy, the plastic 8-foot ball too big to ignore, has traveled to cities like Los Angeles, Austin, Atlanta, Nashville, and Chicago, to promote awareness and encourage people to take the first step with the pledge.

Where are the bags manufactured?

The bags are manufactured in China. We started our journey over a year ago with an all-organic cotton system manufactured here in Texas. It would have had to retail for over $200. As founders, we came together to make our first major business decision – what was the impact we hoped to achieve through our product offerings? And our belief was that our impact would be greater by getting the system into the hands of many versus those of an elite few.

In China, we have visited the facilities and audited our practices to ensure we meet the country’s environmental, health, safety and labor requirements. China is the largest manufacturer of recycled materials and because of our commitment to providing product with recycled materials, we would have had to have sourced our materials from there, regardless. As we looked at major retailers across the country and their manufacturing partnerships in China, we realized as a start-up of 3 – we must begin there as well. Over the past nine months, our manufacturer has become a trusted partner and collaborator. 

That said, we have challenged ourselves and our suppliers to someday create product right here in our backyard. We are seeking the support of retailers interested in making that investment with us.

Are plastic bags really that bad?

Here are some top facts:

• Each year, an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide, with more than a third of that consumed in the US. That comes out to over one million per minute. Billions end up as litter each year.
• According to the US EPA, the US goes through 340 billion plastic shopping bags annually. (Estimated cost to retailers is $4 billion)
• Hundreds of thousands of sea turtles, whales and other marine mammals die every year from eating discarded plastic bags mistaken for food.
• Plastic bags don't biodegrade, they photodegrade – breaking down into smaller and smaller toxic bits contaminating soil and waterways and entering the food web when animals accidentally ingest.
• Plastic bags are among the top items of debris most often found in coastal cleanups, according to the nonprofit Center for Marine Conservation.
• In June 2009, the United Nations called on all countries to ban plastic bags, due to the destruction of plastic on marine life and beaches worldwide.

What is the impact BlueAvocado hopes to make?

Our vision for the company is four-fold:

• Create an impact that makes a ripple - where the acts of one effect the lives of many.
• Empower millions of people to reduce their carbon footprint - because they can
• Take a stand for the planet and leave it billions of pounds lighter in CO2 emissions
• Invest in the dreams and journeys of women entrepreneurs (1% of sales going back to kiva.org)

What has been your impact to date?

• Products Help Avoid 11 MM Plastic Bags, 547,0000 Lbs of CO2 Emissions
• Billion Bag Pledge invites thousands, Avoid 672,000 Plastic Bags 
• Invest in 35 Women micro-entrepreneurs from Nicaragua to Ghana