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Recycled cotton

Printed recycled bags

We print nine recycled bags, from light 150gsm totes to 340gsm canvas. Eight are GRS certified 100% recycled cotton, and the ninth is a blend of recycled cotton and recycled polyester. Four of them are on our express range, so they can be printed and sent from the next working day.

Natural recycled canvas tote printed with a grocer's logo, carried on the shoulder through an outdoor market

Our recycled bags

Lightest first. Prices are live: open a bag to choose a colour and quantity.

Which recycled bag?

BagFabricSizeCapacityColoursExpress
Recycled Cotton Tote Bag150gsm, 70% recycled cotton and 30% recycled polyester38 x 42 cm10 litres12Yes
Recycled Cotton Marl Tote Bag150gsm recycled cotton38 x 42 cm10 litres7 marlsStandard only
Recycled Cotton Drawstring Stuff Bag150gsm recycled cottonSix sizes, from 10 x 15 cm0.25 to 38 litres2Standard only
Premium Recycled Canvas Stand Up Tote220gsm recycled cotton, coated so it stands upLarge 46 x 38 x 20 cm, plus medium and small21 litres (large)2Standard only
Premium Recycled Canvas Carry Bag220gsm recycled cotton canvas, magnetic closure21 x 30 x 11 cmNot given2Standard only
Premium Recycled Cotton Tote Bag280gsm recycled cotton38 x 42 cm10 litres2Yes
Recycled Canvas Tote Bag280gsm recycled cotton38 x 42 cm, 10 cm base gusset18 litres6Black and Natural
Premium Recycled Canvas Tote Bag280gsm recycled cotton38 x 42 cm, 10 cm side and base gussets21 litres16Black and Natural
Premium Recycled Contrast Strap Tote Bag340gsm recycled cotton canvas35 x 48 x 14 cm33 litres2 two-toneStandard only

Express bags can be printed and sent from the next working day, up to 500 of each bag per order. How express works

Green marl recycled cotton shopper printed with a repair café logo, hanging on a peg

What recycled cotton is

Recycled cotton is made from cotton that already exists. Used textiles or offcuts are shredded back into fibre and spun into new yarn, so no new cotton has to be grown for it.

Recycled fibres are shorter than new ones, which gives the fabric a slightly flecked, lived-in look. The marl colours on the Recycled Cotton Marl Tote Bag come from blending natural and coloured cotton. None of this changes how the bag prints: we screen print recycled cotton just like any other.

The canvas bags are heavy, too. At 280gsm to 340gsm the recycled canvas is around twice the weight of a standard 140gsm cotton tote. See our heavyweight canvas bags

The marl colours

The Recycled Cotton Marl Tote Bag comes in seven marl colours.

  • Natural recycled cotton drawstring bags in three sizes printed with a coffee roaster's logo
  • Black recycled canvas tote standing open on a shop counter as a man packs his shopping
  • Green marl recycled cotton shopper printed with a cinema logo, carried on the shoulder in an autumn park
    Green Marl
  • Orange marl recycled cotton shopper printed with a dog walking logo, hanging on a market stall
    Orange Marl
  • Royal marl recycled cotton shopper printed with a bike shop logo, hanging on a white wall
    Royal Marl
  • Red marl recycled cotton shopper printed with a chocolate shop logo, carried through a shopping arcade
    Red Marl
  • Yellow marl recycled cotton shopper printed with a gallery logo, on a table in a bookshop
    Yellow Marl
  • Black marl recycled cotton shopper printed with a market logo, in a record shop
    Black Marl

Certification, in plain words

Eight of our recycled bags are made by Nutshell from GRS certified 100% recycled cotton: the Recycled Cotton Marl Tote Bag, the stuff bag, the four recycled canvas totes, the Premium Recycled Canvas Carry Bag and the Premium Recycled Contrast Strap Tote Bag. GRS, the Global Recycled Standard, checks recycled content through the supply chain. The same eight carry OEKO-TEX Standard 100, which means the fabric has been tested for harmful substances.

The Recycled Cotton Tote Bag is made from recycled fabric: 70% recycled cotton and 30% recycled polyester, and it's GRS certified too. It comes in 12 colours, and every one of them is on express. For colour in heavier canvas, the Premium Recycled Canvas Tote Bag comes in 16.

The Premium Denim Tote Bag has some recycled content as well: 20% of its fabric is recycled cotton denim.

Putting it on your bag

Printing "made from recycled materials" on any of these bags is fair. If you want to name a certification, such as GRS, on the bag or your packaging, ask us before you order so we can check the wording.

Recycled canvas tote prices

Price per printed bag for the Recycled Canvas Tote Bag, printed on one side, with the screen charge included. Prices are ex VAT.

Price per printed bag for the Recycled Canvas Tote Bag, by quantity and number of print colours
Quantity 1 colour2 colours3 colours
25 bags£3.36£84.00 total£5.21£130.25 total£7.06£176.50 total
50 bags£2.56£128.00 total£3.61£180.50 total£4.66£233.00 total
100 bags£2.16£216.00 total£2.81£281.00 total£3.46£346.00 total
250 bags£1.92£480.00 total£2.33£582.50 total£2.74£685.00 total
500 bags£1.84£920.00 total£2.17£1,085.00 total£2.50£1,250.00 total

Live prices for the Recycled Canvas Tote Bag in Natural, printed on one side, ex VAT. Each price includes the one-off £40.00 screen charge per colour, spread across the order. Delivery is added in the basket.

Questions people ask

Can I get recycled bags quickly?

Yes. The Recycled Cotton Tote Bag and the Premium Recycled Cotton Tote Bag are on our express range, and so are the Recycled Canvas Tote Bag and Premium Recycled Canvas Tote Bag in Black or Natural. Order before 1pm, approve your proof and they can be printed and sent from the next working day, up to 500 of each bag per order. The other recycled bags, including the Premium Recycled Canvas Stand Up Tote, take our standard 7 to 10 working days.

What's the difference between the two recycled canvas totes?

Both are 280gsm recycled cotton and 38 x 42 cm with a 10 cm gusset. The Premium Recycled Canvas Tote Bag has gussets at the sides and base and holds 21 litres. The Recycled Canvas Tote Bag has a base gusset only and holds 18 litres.

Do recycled bags come in colours?

Yes. The Premium Recycled Canvas Tote Bag comes in 16 colours, the Recycled Cotton Tote Bag in 12, the Recycled Cotton Marl Tote Bag in seven marls and the Recycled Canvas Tote Bag in six. The other recycled bags come in natural and black, or natural with black or navy straps.

Can you print white on black recycled canvas?

Yes. Light inks on black canvas look sharp. Our guide to printing on dark bags shows how ink colours change on dark fabric.

How do I wash a recycled cotton bag?

The makers advise hand washing only, which also keeps the print looking its best. Our wash and care guide has the details.

Are recycled bags better for the environment?

Recycled cotton reuses fibre that already exists, so no new cotton is grown for it. But the biggest factor is use: the Environment Agency (2011) found a cotton bag needs 131 uses to match the climate impact of a single-use plastic carrier used once. A sturdy bag people want to keep is the one that gets there. Are tote bags sustainable?

Need them this week?

Four of our recycled bags can be printed from the next working day. Tell us your date and we'll tell you straight away whether we can make it.

Ask us Delivery and deadlines