Whole Life Times: The Anti-plastic, Super Fantastic Ecohero

November 2007 | On Our Radar

The Anti-plastic, Super Fantastic Ecohero

On the eighth of September, Egan Sanders — a self-proclaimed “Yankee Jew Intellectual” living in conservative West Texas — was dropped into the world’s largest reusable shopping bag, via crane. 24 hours later, “Bagonaut” — Sander’s canvas-space-suit-clad alter ego — emerged, having successfully shown the world (or at least the San Angelo Sam’s Club parking lot) that there’s a better answer to the paper or plastic question.

During the 24-hour lockdown in BigBag1, Bagonaut oversaw the distribution of over 1200 reusable shopping bags to San Angelo residents, who in turn donated 4,026 pounds of food for a local food-bank. CC caught up with Bagonaut on the tail of his victorious mission for a closer look at how the superhero plans to revitalize eco-activism.

Bagonaut, what gave you the courage to risk your life and embark on the BigBag1 mission?

Once I heard about the dangers of plastic bags, I just couldn’t relax. I mean, polymers are forever. Did you know there’s a plastic vortex in the middle of the Pacific Ocean larger than my own state? And Texas isn’t small! We’re running out of time. I had to take action, because what are our alternatives?

Originally, I was going to chain myself to fifty shopping carts and stand there in the parking lot screaming at the top of my lungs, but I didn’t want to scare people or get arrested. Texans are extremely friendly and down to earth, but they’re stubborn. You can’t tell them what to do, so I thought I’d take a different approach — an all-American one. A little bit of shtick, a little bit of showbiz, a lot of enthusiasm and a can-do attitude.

What did you learn in your 24 hours enclosed behind the canvas of BigBag1?

As I emerged from BigBag1, I proclaimed, “One small step for Bagonaut, one giant leap for reusable shopping bags.” It was a small triumph that taught me patience with this process. If I have to do this three times a month for the next year to get my message out, well that’s what I’m prepared to do. I’m gonna give out a million bags.

Is the world ready to hear Bagonaut’s message?

I hope so, because if not we’re gonna wake up one day without resources and we’re gonna be surrounded by garbage that we could have used. It takes 12 million barrels of oil a year just to produce the plastic bags in America. People better start paying attention. Basically what I’m trying to communicate is simple, like Sydney says in the Bagonaut theme song: “The Earth Needs Friends.”

Now that you have successfully completed your Sam’s Club big bag challenge, what’s next for Bagonaut?

The offers are flooding in. We’re looking at 48 or 72 hours, and eventually the Million Bag March with the “I have a reusable bag” speech. We’re also looking to expand the team by adding Bagonnettes and Land Phil to future Big Bag missions. Have no fear, Bagonaut shall return.

For more Bagonaut (or to invite BigBag1 to a parking lot near you) visit Bagonaut.com.

— Andrea Manitsas

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