Shoppers who bring reusable tote bags to the store are more likely to buy organic foods, according to a new study out of Duke University and Harvard Business School.
But here’s the better part: while those shoppers are filling their bags with organic food, they were also 7.3 percent more likely to buy, well, a little treat. The study looked at shoppers in one California supermarket between 2005 and 2007, and found that their purchases of so-called indulgent items went up when they brought their own bags.
The conclusion from the study? That bringing your own bag makes you feel a little smug. A little like you earned it. The researchers described it as being “licensed” to buy treats.
One important exception: parents with reusable totes actually bought fewer indulgent items.
Good job, moms and dads.
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