Episode 43: From Plastics to Reusable - Bag Lady Lisa D. Foster Talks Consumer Behavior

As images, stories and videos of plastic pollution's impact become more commonplace, consumers increasingly are turning to reusable bags and other items to reduce single-use plastics.

For Lisa D. Foster, also known as the "Bag Lady," the idea of proliferating the reusable bag movement in the United States began on an early-2000s trip to Australia. Foster, who at the time was an English teacher, found her hands full when she didn't have a bag in handy. 

Upon her return to the U.S., Foster jumped into action, forming a company that produced reusable bags with a tag that explained the environmental impacts of plastics. After three years in business, more than 8 million reusable bags were sold throughout grocery stores and retailers.

In this episode of Stef Talks Trash, Foster discusses how she morphed from school teacher to entrepreneur, how consumer behavior has shifted since founding her company and what EPR legislation could mean for single-use plastic reduction.