The Eco-bag is a reusable bag designed to replace single-use plastic shopping bags. It is strong and durable, allowing you to carry your shopping while reducing the plastic waste associated with single-use shopping bags.

The Eco-bag prevention project was launched in 2004 and is managed by Valorlux in collaboration with the Luxembourg Confederation, FLAD and the Luxembourg Environment Agency. The large Eco-bag was introduced at the launch in 2004, followed by the small Eco-bag in 2008. In 2012, this project was recognised as an example of good practice by the European Commission in the field of waste prevention.

The Eco-bag is made from recycled woven polypropylene. The handles are made from polypropylene webbing made from 40% recycled material.

The Eco-bag is designed to last several years, depending on the frequency and conditions of use. It can withstand several hundred cycles of use before showing the first signs of age.

Each type of bag has its advantages and disadvantages. One of the distinctions of the plastic bag is that it requires fewer resources to produce than a cloth bag, for example, which requires more water if the fibres come from extensive farming. As a result, the plastic bag needs to be reused less often to compensate for this production-related impact. A comparison of the different types of bags can be found here (in French).

The Eco-bag is available from a wide range of outlets, including supermarkets. A full list of participating shops can be found in the "partner stores" section.

Yes, the Eco-bag is available in two sizes to meet the varied needs of consumers, with a smaller format for picking up a few things and a larger format for the big shop.

The price of the Eco-bag varies according to its size and the point of sale, and is generally between 0.70 and 2 €.

By using Eco-bags, you save money in the long term by not having to buy single-use bags every time you visit a shop. What's more, the Eco-bag is designed to last for several years, reducing your expenditure over the long term. Once the Eco-bag has been damaged by wear and tear due to normal use, it can be exchanged free of charge at a participating store. In principle, this means that you only have to buy your Eco-bags once, saving you money in the long term.

As the Eco-bag project is part of a prevention initiative aimed at reducing shopping bag waste, we do not supply Eco-bags directly to events. The aim of the project is to encourage reuse and limit the consumption of bags, whether reusable or disposable. For this reason, Eco-bags are only available through our network of partners, where you can buy them.

Use the Eco-bag as you would a normal shopping bag. After each use, store it in a clean, dry place to maximise its lifespan.

Yes, the Eco-bag can be hand-washed with warm water and mild soap.

No, the Eco-bag only needs to be washed if you are carrying products that could make it dirty. Hand washing is recommended to extend its life.

The large Eco-bag is extremely strong and can hold up to 20 kg, making it perfect for carrying heavy or bulky shopping. The small Eco-bag, on the other hand, has a load-bearing capacity of up to 15 kg, making it a practical option for lighter shopping.

An Eco-bag can be reused several hundred times and remain in good condition for years if used for its intended purpose, i.e. transporting shopping.

If your Eco-bag is damaged and shows normal signs of age due to regular use for shopping, you can exchange it free of charge in one of the participating shops. You can also drop them off at the resource centres to be recycled. However, it is important to note that they do not belong in the blue bag, as there is no sorting line specifically for Eco-bags at the sorting centre.

Yes, Eco-bags can be recycled. Used Eco-bags exchanged at participating shops or collected at resource centres are baled and sent to Belgium, where they are processed into granules. These granules are then used as a raw material in the automotive industry, particularly for injection products.

Using an Eco-bag makes a major contribution to reducing the number of single-use bags produced, whether they are made of plastic, paper or cardboard. A single Eco-bag can replace hundreds of disposable bags, significantly reducing the amount of waste generated when you do your food shop. By adopting this simple habit of favouring reuse, you reduce your ecological footprint while supporting more sustainable consumption.

A study carried out in 2020 on the carbon footprint of Eco-bags assessed the emissions linked to their production. The small Eco-bag generates around 0.016 kgCO2e, while the large Eco-bag produces 0.025 kgCO2e. Although the manufacture of these bags generates emissions, their regular reuse reduces their overall environmental impact, especially when they replace multiple single-use bags. For comparison, the production of single-use plastic bags results in emissions of between 0.008 and 0.025 kgCO2e per bag, depending on the proportion of recycled material used. This shows that, in the long term, the Eco-bag is a more sustainable option when it is reused frequently.

Each type of bag has its advantages and disadvantages, depending on its life cycle and how it is used. A comparison of the different types of bags can be found here (in French).

The Eco-bag promotes reuse by enabling you to reduce your consumption of single-use shopping bags. Reusing the same bag for your shopping helps to prevent packaging waste linked to single-use bags and to reduce the number of bags that become waste.

You can encourage reuse by making your friends and family aware of the importance of reducing single-use bag waste. Share the idea of systematically using an Eco-bag for your shopping and discuss practical ways of not forgetting your bags before you go shopping.

Yes, the Eco-bag encourages more responsible consumption by reducing the waste associated with single-use bags and by reducing the demand for new bags. However, this is only true if the Eco-bag is actually reused on a regular basis. If a reusable bag is thrown away after only a few uses, its ecological footprint is worse than that of a single-use plastic bag, due to the greater amount of resources needed to produce it. It is therefore essential to maximise reuse to reap the full ecological benefits. 

Each type of bag has its advantages and disadvantages. A comparison of the different bags can be found here (in French).

Yes, Valorlux encourages local businesses to take part in its packaging waste prevention initiatives. You can contact us to find out more about the conditions for distributing Eco-bags.

Packaging waste prevention refers to all actions taken to avoid or reduce the production of waste right from the product design stage. According to the law relative on waste, this includes all measures taken before a product becomes waste, with the aim of reducing the amount of waste generated.

Since 2007, single-use convenience bags currently bearing the words "Please forget me!" have been subject to a charge on a voluntary basis by the sector as part of the Eco-bag prevention project. Since 31st December 2018, all single-use plastic bags and reusable plastic bags cannot be distributed for free under the law relative on packaging and packaging waste. Only very thin bags, used for reasons of hygiene or to pack loose food, are exempt from this rule in order to limit food waste.

The law on packaging and packaging waste aims to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic bags. It sets precise targets for lightweight plastic bags (thickness between 15 and 49 microns).

The thresholds are as follows:

• By 31st December 2019, annual consumption should not exceed 90 bags per person.

• By 31st December 2025, this target will be reduced to 40 bags per person per year.