Handbags   (The sad, the bad and the ugly. Non-productive stuff here.)

The 'bag for life' does last longer than did the free carriers, though not by much. They probably (depending on weight and shape of what you put in them) provide for about ten shopping events before splitting/holing/handles failing.

As they get returned to the shop, in exchange for replacement, it does remove them from the stream of 'discards'.

I saw so many plastic bags snagged in trees following the recent winds, that I think there is still a long way to go.