Host a Better Bag Workshop

Reusable bags are easy to make out of old household materials, plus they can be a great way to introduce someone to reuse habits!

Check out the Action “Create a Better Bag” to learn how to make a reusable bag from an old t-shirt. You’ll use this same method to make reusable bags at your workshop. 

1. Organize a drive to collect old t-shirts. This can be as simple as placing a sign and box by your school entrance, or community center.
2. Work with your classmates and your teacher or another adult to schedule a time and book a location to host your workshop. You’ll also need lots of scissors and some tables. (See if your school or center has scissors you can borrow, or ask people to bring a pair from home when they come to the workshop.)
3. Invite people to come to the workshop. You could do this through a school or class announcement, on social media, with flyers, etc.
4. At the workshop do a demonstration, or show this video, to teach everyone how to make a reusable bag from a t-shirt. Then, get started making as many bags as you can.
5. At your workshop, snap some photos to share with us, and on your socials! Don’t forget #betterbags and #wayfindersociety
6. Count how many bags were made and decide how you’ll use the bags. Here are some ideas:

• Send them home with workshop participants to keep at home or share with friends and family.
• Pass them out at your local grocery store, to educate and give back to your community.
• Give them to a local food bank or homeless shelter for them to pass out food in. Lots of food banks use single use plastics which often become litter. Reusuable bags can be reused better by the homeless and those in need.

Lots of t-shirts these days are made from polyester, or a cotton-polyester blend. Making them into bags is still a great way to keep these items out of the landfill and give them a second life, but you can also make it a good teaching moment for your workshop participants by talking about the problem of plastic textile waste.

• Have some fun with it! Play music and bring some plastic-smart snacks and drinks!
• Your local community center might have some good ideas on who to best donate the bags to.
• If you’ve got young kids attending your workshop make sure to talk about safe handling of scissors.

To submit your work and get recognized for your contribution to the movement, complete the form below. If we approve your submission, you’ll be awarded 10 Action Hours.