Dating back to as early as 2007, numerous research studies and countless news sources have covered the story of filthy shopping carts and their potential for transferring dangerous microbes and diseases to shoppers. In fact, some of those studies suggested that a shopping cart carries more germs than a public toilet seat.
Until now, shoppers have dealt with these filthy carts by wiping them down with disinfecting wipes or attempting to outsmart germs by pulling the shopping cart by the tail or side rails—a fruitless endeavor given the research. But thanks to an ingenious and simple idea by a Scottsdale mom, all of that is about to change.
CartSafe was created by Andi Barness-Rubin, a working mother of three boys who was frustrated with the thought of going to the grocery store and trying to keep germs off of herself and her food. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, she would always wipe the handle of the shopping cart with a store-provided sanitizing wipe (when they were even available), but once the novel coronavirus began to spread, she starting thinking about all of the germs that were not only on the handle, but also all over the inside and outside of the cart. Frustrated by having to wipe down her entire cart, she came up with an idea that she knew would simplify her ability to keep herself and her family safe. With this idea in mind, Barness-Rubin worked at lightning speed to create and produce CartSafe, the first-ever disposable shopping cart liner.
“When COVID-19 hit all I could think about was not being exposed to germs and bacteria and I could not believe there wasn’t something that could protect us from dirty shopping carts,” Barness-Rubin says. “Thankfully, my husband is in manufacturing so we were able to work together to launch in record time. We were able to secure the patent and bring the product to market in under three months. Anyone in business knows what a feat that is.”
“CartSafe definitely gives me and my customers peace of mind when we put food or even pretty pillows in our shopping cart, especially since it’s convenient. Also, you get ten liners per bag, which makes each one less than you’d spend on a cup of coffee,” she adds.
CartSafe is recyclable, made from durable LDPE (low-density polyethylene, a #4 plastic). LDPE plastics are recognized by the FDA as a safe barrier from microbes. The CartSafe liner can be disposed of by simply placing it in the recycle collection bins that most large grocery stores display at the entrance to their stores.
Barness-Rubin was awarded a patent by the U.S. government in July 2020 and is currently pursuing a Good Housekeeping seal of approval for her product. Learn more by visiting cartsafe.com.
