Today I'm launching a “Get a Bag Keep the Bag” campaign that encourages shoppers to take their own stylish eco-friendly bags with them when they go shopping. Plastic bags are bad for the environment, too many end up in our already spilling over land fills.

Everyone can get a sturdy reusable shopping bag that they can take on each shopping trip. When you get to the check out counter,tell retailers to “keep the bag”. To make the movement fun and exciting for art lovers, I've created a collection of shopping bags that feature colorful and vibrant artwork. The images are inspired and full of life. Dancing ladies, angels with huge hearts and other images from the Jordan Mercedes collection are featured on the front of the bags with the campaign slogan “Get a Bag Keep the Bag” on the back. The 100% cotton, washable bags send a message to the world that we can get our own reusable shopping bags and we can tell retailers to keep their plastic bags.

It’s estimated that over 500 billion plastic bags and plastic wraps are used each year. That’s a lot of non-biodegradable material being created that we have to find something to do with. On a given day it is not uncommon to see a bag once used to carry a bottle of soda, floating around on the road or in the gutter. Bags end up on the beaches, in the parks, down the city drainage system and more.

This is an effort to take my creative energy and put it to good use with the “Get a Bag Keep the Bag” campaign. If your business uses plastic bags, why not join the effort by making reusable bags available for your customers!

You can find the canvas tote bags at www.jordanmercedes.com.

Things you can do with the plastic bags you already have:

Most stores have a recycle bin for the bags. You can gather all of the ones you have in the house and drop them off. This way they can get a new life and maybe come back as a rubber hose!

When you get groceries, take your bags with you. You can bag your own groceries in your bags from home. Use them until they can't be used any longer and then drop them in the recycle bin.

Us them as storage bags for supplies, socks, camping gear and more.

Every little bit counts and can all make a difference it just take a little bit of earth friendly thinking.