On April 8, residents took to social media to post that the line at the Fremont Trader Joe’s was out the door with about 150 people. A great guess to this long wait could be panic shopping or the price of and demand for eggs. Although those are reasonable causes, the real answer may be even more frightening: Tote bags.
Yes, the long line of people had nothing to do with essential groceries like we saw just five years ago during the 2020 Covid panic shopping. This time around, people were waiting for 11-by-13-inch canvas tote bags.
This isn’t the first time Trader Joe’s has sold the mini tote bag. In February 2024 the bags were released and popularized on social media. The pastel-colored totes came in seasonal spring hues: blue, pink, purple and green.
I can admit that these bags are definitely pleasing to the eye—not to mention just under three bucks. However, seeing the demand on a glorified reusable item worries me.
This situation reminds me of the Stanley Cup craze. Most popularly, the “Quencher”—a 40-ounce water bottle which sports a large handle on the side—also became an item that has caused commotion. During the 2025 Valentine’s Day collection, buyers stormed stores to get their hands on the pink-and-red, limited-edition style, which sold out in minutes.
Hardcore fans of the clunky bottle have become collectors. Videos on the net show one person with rows and rows of the bottle with slightly different colors overflowing kitchen cabinets. The funny part is that the Stanley company offers a lifetime guarantee for all their items.
Why, with lifetime warranty, would someone feel the need to push and shove to get their hands on a water bottle that they already have just because it’s come out with—groundbreaking—a new color. This really has begun to defeat the purpose of a quality reusable item with the intention of minimizing waste.
Although I understand the excitement of a cute everyday item, is it possible that sustainability and accessories can somehow work together in a way that will not lead to hundreds of water bottles and tote bags ending up in a landfill?
What I’ve recently done to sidestep the landfill route with clothes I no longer use is repurpose them, like turning old jeans into a new purse.
Luckily, in the Tri-City area there are opportunities to get into celebrating sustainability and taking care of our planet in honor of Earth Day—no sewing machine necessary. The East Bay Park District will be hosting activities in various parks, Castro Valley Library will have seed exchanges and the City of Fremont is hosting their Earth Day Fair where visitors can learn about an eco-friendly lifestyle. For more details about these events, check out page 16.
