Going green for Earth Day

Tara Duggan, Amanda Gold,Miriam Morgan

The upcoming Earth Day is another reminder to do our part to help the environment. But those green reusable grocery bags? Not exactly a fashion statement.

Now you can reduce your carbon footprint and look good doing it. In time for Earth Day, check out these trendy reusable totes from Chicago-based Company Goody Green Bag. The affordable carriers come in six designs, from the pink-hued "cherry picking" to black and white patterned "fair and square."

Made from a lightweight, water-resistant material with a pocket in front large enough to hold a bottle of wine, the bags are perfect for a trip to the farmers' market, an afternoon of grocery shopping or a spring picnic.

"Green" just got a lot more colorful.

The bags retail for $8.95 plus shipping at goodygreenbags.com (take advantage of a

Use those colorful bags - or any other reusable bags - at any of the three Draeger's stores on the Peninsula, and you'll be entered in a weekly drawing for $100 worth of groceries. For every bag you use, you'll get 5 cents off your bill and a ticket. The tickets go into a box for a drawing every Tuesday, and you don't have to be present to win.

Draeger's, 4100 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville; 222 East Fourth Ave., San Mateo; 1010 University Drive, Menlo Park; 342 First Street, Los Altos.

As for recycling, Reynolds Wrap has a new 100 percent recycled aluminum foil that is similar to a product from If You Care, a green product line. Both come in eco-friendly packaging made of recycled paper and water- or vegetable-based ink.

Manufacturers say the production of recycled aluminum wrap consumes 80 to 95 percent less energy than brand-new foil. Best of all, you can recycle it again.

Reynolds Wrap recycled aluminum is available in regular (50 square feet or 35 square feet heavy-duty, $2.99) at Target and is due to be at Safeway and Raley's stores soon. If You Care is sold at independent grocers and Whole Foods (50 square feet or 30 square feet heavy-duty, $3.40-$5).

This article appeared on page E - 2 of the San Francisco Chronicle