Onestringbag

Help further reduce impact on the planet by minimising the use another layer of temporary food packaging.

home made in Melbourne
The first onestringbag came to life in 2002 and has been going to Victoria Market buying fruit and veggies ever since. Now onestringbag is here for everyone!

Values + Principles

avoid landfill at all opportunities
We’ve all heard the phrase now; there is no “away” when we throw things away.

minimise wastage
Simple design with minimal off cuts or waste in production.

re-use as much as possible
onestring can be washed if dirty and used over and over and over ...

repair when broken
The tulle netting is quite stable and holes don’t spread quickly. It is still recommended you look after your bags and avoid sharp pointy objects to prolong their life. Repair any small holes if they cause you problems. Yes needle and thread!

recycle when beyond repair
Okay so you've tried fixing and it can’t be repaired anymore? Don't throw it in the bin! It's time to find a new use for it - perhaps it will still serve to protect veggies in the garden or fruit on your trees.

constant review and improvement in sustainable practice
Apart from the bags helping to reduce a wasteful habit we have developed as we shop, onestringbag aims to become as sustainable as possible. Right now they are not perfect - but they aim to be one day.

no sweat shops
The bags are homemade in Melbourne - and since the maker would not want to be a sweatshop worker, she doesn’t want to treat anyone else that way either. onestringbag is not a registered nosweatshoplabel or fairwear brand, but please start looking for this label and asking for it. Help support fairness in production with the choices you make when you shop.

Q&A

what is it?
onestringbag is a net/mesh bag that comes in 2 sizes. Medium and Large. It is intended to not only help the grocery shopper reduce plastic bag usage but help people learn about sustainable practice.
The aim is to make the product more sustainable and environmentally friendly. These things are not always possible right away, but onestringbag is dedicated to continually evolve towards this outcome.

how long do they last?
The original prototypes are still going after 3 years. They are very soft (all the starching is gone) and some have a few holes after sharp objects ripped at them – but even the bags with small holes are still usable.

what do I do with it?
When you are choosing your fruit or veggies, use a onestringbag to collect them and give them to the nice person to weigh for you.

are they strong?
Yes they are very strong and have stood up well to being used for selecting and weighing fruit and vegetables weekly for 3 years. The nylon netting is a very strong weave - small holes do not seem to spread easily if at all. The edges are raw (unsealed) but do not fray. Though the netting it is no match to a knife or sharp objects, so they do require some love and care.

why do they cost that much?
Please refer to the price list for the actual prices. They cost this much because they are produced fairly - by Tania at her home in Melbourne.

how much do they weigh?
They weigh very little at approximately 5 grams per bag and therefore do not add too much to the overall weight of your purchase.

colours
Large bags: purple, red, yellow, forest (dark green) and sky blue.
Medium size bags: plum, teal and grass (bright green).
Occasionally different colours are available for limited runs.

sizes
The bags come in 2 sizes
M = medium (approx w 28 x h 32 cm)
L = large (approx w 27 x h 42 cm)

NB: There is a small variation of 1 cm in the size of the bags due to a practice of minimising wasted fabric.

made of
100% nylon netting.
100% cotton string.
100% polyester thread.
100% acetate tag.
Plus one rubber band you can re-use!
Tag printed on Ecocern,
100% Post-consumer recycled paper. Please pass on to a friend!
care instructions
treat with love: no sharp objects.
gentle cold wash