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Ironically I've never seen anyone in Germany carrying one of those.

My shopping bag is a cheap nylon one that fits in a pouch on my keyring - sold everywhere for under 3 euros.

$25 is pretty different from $2. I'd check into other options. Even Envirosax (about $5 each on sale, in packs) are cheaper.

Yeah...when you're looking for a $2 bag, the $25 suggestion is a bit steep. Here are a few other options.

From etsy
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24688093

From Green Feet
http://www.greenfeet.com/itemdesc.asp?kw=Oval-Knit-Cotton-String-Bag&ic=6012-00208-0000&eq=

From resuable bags
http://www.reusablebags.com/store/organic-cotton-string-bags-black-p-970.html?=&page=3&osCsid=5e4508c407474c6f13274ebb79bee1f8

http://www.reusablebags.com/store/organic-cotton-string-bags-natural-p-4.html?=&page=9

Lots of choices here
http://www.ecobags.com/Our_Products/Our-Classic-String-ECOBAG

These kinds of bags are also pretty easy to make. All you need is a ball of cotton string from the hardware store and a crochet hook. There are lots of free patterns and good instructions on the web. Just google "crochet grocery bag."

This isn't exactly the same thing, but here's a template for a similar DIY version.

http://www.marthastewart.com/goodthings/no-sew-market-tote-bag?autonomy_kw=bag%20template&rsc=header_6

my food coop sells string bags- cotton versions of the same thing.

And if you knit, there are about a zillion knitting patterns for string shopping bags. But they you have to knit...

I remember these when I was a kid and I don't remember them costing anywhere near 25 bucks. It must be the import fees or something. In Germany the stores charged you extra if you needed bags so we had a couple of these when we went grocery shopping on the economy. They do hold a lot but are also great for camping. You can throw a few beers in one of these, tie it off in a stream and in no time at all have a cold beverage.

I used to have a couple of these back in the early 90s! Everybody thought I was a loon back then.

Anyway, I got mine in the Seventh Generation catalog waaaaay back in the day. I find their website impossible to navigate so I don't know if they still have them.