While there are more reusable grocery bags on the market now than ever before, not all are created equal. When purchasing a new eco-friendly, shopping accessory, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind. From machine washable material to collapsable designs, below are the top factors to consider before buying your new reusable grocery bag.

Material

Reusable grocery bags come in a range of materials. However, nylon tends to be the most commonly used material due to its durability and how easy it is to clean. You can wipe nylon bags down with a sanitizing wipe or wet rag or even run them through the washing machine. The other common type of material used to make reusable grocery bags is 210T polyester. Though not quite as strong as nylon, 210T polyester bags tend to be more affordable and are less likely to fade in color due to UV ray exposure.

Neither polyester or nylon are biodegradable and, therefore, cannot be recycled. However, some manufacturers are engineering nylon with eco-friendly, recyclable materials. While the reusable bags themselves may not be recyclable, using them instead of your grocery store’s disposable plastic bags will keep pounds of plastic out of landfills and oceans.

Intended Use

While pretty much any reusable bag will work for any kind of grocery product, there are models out there better suited for specific items.

Insulated bags are best used to transport frozen foods, meats, and warm meals meant to keep their temperature. Some bags are designed with waterproof material, which can be useful if carrying liquids, just in case you have a spill. And when you’re shopping for produce, mesh bags are a great choice as they help keep your fruits and veggies fresh.

There are specially-designed bags to transport bottles or other fragile items, like eggs, and even bags that help you organize your groceries while you shop.

Size and Capacity

It’s better to come to the grocery store with too many reusable bags than not enough. If you still have to use a couple of the store’s plastic bags to get your groceries to your car, it can defeat the purpose of using reusable bags. Plus, if you fill up your tote too much, you risk breaking or ripping it.

That being said, you’ll want to choose a reusable bag that has enough capacity to handle your weekly grocery trips. Pay attention to how much weight a bag can hold, and always opt for one that can hold more. Bags that can hold up to 50 pounds is a good rule of thumb.

Space

As with any new product you bring into your home, you’ll want to consider the space it will take up. Luckily, most reusable grocery bags are designed for easy storage, so they take up minimal room in even the smallest homes.

Collapsible bags usually have a flat surface that can be pushed down to keep your groceries from tipping over and lifted up to help the bag flatten. Foldable bags can be folded up into a small square or even into a pouch for easy storage. If space is a serious issue in your home, you’ll want to go with foldable bags since they take up the least amount of room.