Late Suggestion: Canvas Bags, no more plastic bags

[Rippy The Nekomatta]

OK, wondering why doesn't NDK issue canvas bags as part of the bag of goodies we usually get....I was considering giving this idea out to all conventions because its a great way to advertise the con and also cut down on the waste. People have made vows to never use plastic bags because they don't biodegrade and it would be a lot better for any conventions in the states to actually move toward issuing pre-regged people canvas vs. plastic. Also the canvas bags can be used in the dealers room in place of plastic bags cutting down the waste in trash cans and also making it easier for some people to keep track of their things.

[Mahou Shoujo Michi]

This is a somewhat good suggestion, but the only issue I can think of is that they would have to raise prices somewhere to cover the costs of bags.

Also there's no reason that people can't bring there own canvas bags/totes/etc to use.  If you want to cut down on waste, it's a simple matter of telling the dealer that you don't need a bag. I especially forgo getting the items I buy in the dealers room bagged if it's something small like a keychain.

[Rippy The Nekomatta]

I'm planning to bring my own canvas bags to NDK this year to make things easier. So I think we should ask con staff to encourage us to bring our own bags and make this a GREEN convention this year. NDK Staff, let's go green, no more plastic bags, please

[Mahou Shoujo Michi]

Once again, the issue is covering the cost of such a thing. Okay, starting this year, NDK is going to be capped at 7,000 attendees, plus daily passes. This means you would need a minimum of 7,000 bags. The cost of covering the bags would most likely be our (the attendees) responsibility. Now, it is a possibility that along with t-shirts, pins and lanyards, the NDK staff could offer to sell official totes or messenger bags, but I doubt the cost of that would be cheap.

Now, don't get me wrong, I think the idea of reuseable bags is a great idea. But I also think that's something that falls under an individual responsibility.  Bring your own totes, tell the people at the Dealers Room or Artist Alley that you don't need your purchase bagged, USE THE RECYCLE bin in your room.

As far as canvas bags cutting down on garbage at the convention, well you also have to realize you the tons of garbage generated by food and drinks.  boxes of pocky, ramune bottles, bags of fast food, bottles of soda, starbucks coffee cups, food containers, etc etc.

[Masurao Tsukino]

As I said on the Facebook group, and will re-iterate on here con staff has never stopped me from bringing in my "Anime: Drugs Would be Cheaper" canvas bag that I have.  Just understand that if you bring your own bag, if staff or one of the shop owners wants to see the receipt or to check your bags, to make sure you aren't stealing anything, be considerate and let them look.  If it can be zipped up keep it zipped at all times, unless you are putting something into it after you purchase it.  Just a few tips so that way the convention will be more accepting of the idea in future years. 

If NDK wanted to, they could sell canvas bags at their little place where they sell stuff, like lanyards, I wouldn't mind owning an NDK eco bag, even if it was for just a dollar or two. 

[LadySarabi]

OK, wondering why doesn't NDK issue canvas bags as part of the bag of goodies we usually get

This is a great idea, and something we've considered for years now.  Unfortunately, as it has already been suggested in this thread, it would be a considerable cost to move to the reusable bags for the pre-reg packets.  That is something we just can't do.

However, people are free to bring their own.  Just be aware that large bags and backpacks may be required to stay at prop check during Dealer's room visits.  Please visit this thread for more info.

the NDK staff could offer to sell official totes or messenger bags, but I doubt the cost of that would be cheap.

Actually... We've been selling official messenger bags and duffel bags for a few years now.  They've been pretty popular!  So we plan on keeping that idea going. 

(Bonus spoiler for the folks reading this thread:  We're working on adding new merch items this year, so some of our old stuff needs to go... meaning the NDK Messenger bags are going to be clearanced out this year!!! More merch info to come.)

If NDK wanted to, they could sell canvas bags at their little place where they sell stuff, like lanyards, I wouldn't mind owning an NDK eco bag, even if it was for just a dollar or two.

Oh...we want to!   The problem is price breaks.  Big Box retail stores can get away with selling bags for a buck or two because they buy gazillions of them.  Since our convention only does merch sales 3 days out of the year, our bag needs are much, much less, and the price breaks have been a challenge.  We haven't given up though. 

It seems you guys are reading our minds.  We've already got some plans in the works to hopefully make reusable bags part of our merch line up!  Thanks for bringing this topic up!

[Rippy The Nekomatta]

With this said, I am thinking of buying some canvas bags at my store (Walmart) and decorating them this year. Also I'm planning on walking up to the pre-reg asking politely to not give me the plastic bag and just put it in my canvas con bag. I think though NDK should try to do the grocery style canvas bags, they are cheaper, I saw some sites that sold them for 1.80 per 250 order, which is a real deal!

[rini]

canvas bags wholesale at around $4-12 each, depending on the style and size. times 7,000, that's $28-84K in costs.

however, what about e-bags? you've seen them at grocery stores, race for the cure, etc. they're the recycled plastic bags that are heavier and reusable? i've never priced those out, but i would think they're considerably cheaper.

[Boomerjinks]

canvas bags wholesale at around $4-12 each, depending on the style and size. times 7,000, that's $28-84K in costs.

I love that you googled the answer to this question. I love people that know how to find knowledge on the internet, answering their own questions. Love love love it.

An important NDK tradition of mine is handing out the plastic bags I accumulate at playgrounds the following weekend. I rename them "flexi-space helmets" and give them to kids to wear on their heads as they run around playing.

Why would you want to kill such an important tradition for the sake of trendiness??

[Masurao Tsukino]

An important NDK tradition of mine is handing out the plastic bags I accumulate at playgrounds the following weekend. I rename them "flexi-space helmets" and give them to kids to wear on their heads as they run around playing.

Why would you want to kill such an important tradition for the sake of trendiness??

Fear not @Boomerjink since it is still up to the sellers discretion to give you a bag, even up to your discretion to even buy the bags in the first place, you don't have to worry, just don't purchase the bags and they will give you your plastic bags to let your long lived tradition thrive.  

In researching something like this: http://pouchdepotinc.com/non_woven_bags.html (the first one on the page) might be a good choice, you can also give them artwork and they will print it on the bag.  Just a suggestion.  I am sure there are lots of places out there that are probably better choices.  

[rini]

In researching something like this: http://pouchdepotinc.com/non_woven_bags.html (the first one on the page) might be a good choice, you can also give them artwork and they will print it on the bag.  Just a suggestion.  I am sure there are lots of places out there that are probably better choices. 

yah, those are the bags i was thinking of. they use them for goody give-aways at race for the cure, and king stoopids has them for sale for like $1. they're pretty durable, all things considered.

[Lunara]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVh15aUt8-c


NDK Canvas Bags. I actually kinda like the idea.

[allpowerfulbob]

I was a little worried about that video at first, but then it got awesome.

I'm looking forward to see what our gurus of schwag come up with for the convention.

[Alitain]

Yeah, canvas bags would be fun, but totally unreasonable in terms of prices.  Just best to bring your own.  That's what I did, well in a sense.  Two years ago I bought a messenger bag, Lain particularly...yay!  Specifically to use for NDK to carry my stuff around.  I normally would just use the plastic bag from the pre-reg grab bags, or a dealer's purchase bag, but figured this was sturdier.  And then I also put all my patches on it, since I've been collecting them and had nowhere to put them.  Lot of fun, and worked really well to keep things like DVD covers and such safe for signings and all.

[Skrae]

If I might throw my two cents in.  I think you're really better off just bringing your own bag in if you're doing it for the green factor.  The so called "canvas" bags are typically just recycled plastic, woven together into a canvas.  Don't get me wrong, I'm all for saving the environment.  But many of the reusable canvas bags require 28+ times the energy of a regular plastic bag, not including the energy transportation from whatever country it was made in (typically China) requires. 

These bags don't really make an impact unless you reuse them, alot.  I understand, yes, some people will reuse them, but many won't, and they'll wind up forgotten in a closet, or decomposing in a landfill alongside their cousins, with the exception that their cousins will be gone a lot sooner than they will.  They're (usually) made from the same material as ordinary plastic bags, but alot more of it.  If you even reuse an ordinary bag once, you're being better on the environment (in regards to carbon emission) than reusing a canvas bag again and again and again.

So my opinion is, keep the ordinary plastic bag, reuse it until it falls apart.  Many grocery stores have absolutely no problem with you bringing in your own bags, as evidenced by the canvas bags themselves.

[Eric]

I would totally buy a NDK tote bag at the merch table. Been wanting some for grocery shopping.

Another option is bags made from corn.

[Alitain]

I would totally buy a NDK tote bag at the merch table. Been wanting some for grocery shopping.

Another option is bags made from corn.

Well if the bags were made from corn at least then maybe some of the con goers would eat something healthy during NDK, or just eat something period...haha!

[Skrae]

Yeah, but then the whole con would smell like corn chips, and while I enjoy Fritos, the con already has an...  "Aroma," of its own.

[Rippy The Nekomatta]

Corn chips? LOL......I happen to like those....I wouldn't mind a bag that smells like Fritos....

Huh Lee told me they are made of corn husks, but a bag that is able to be eaten would be kind of cool to see.

[Greg Hines]

I think we're getting off the topic here...