http://www.care2.com/greenliving/whole-foods-outlaws-plastic-bags.html
Whole Foods outlaws plastic bags
By Care2 editorial staff
 |
JANUARY 24, 2008—”Paper or plastic?” The clerks at Whole Foods will cease asking shoppers that question as they discontinue the use of disposable, plastic bags at all 270 stores worldwide by Earth Day 2008 (April 22). |
The move is expected to save about 100 million plastic bags in 2008 alone, according to a company statement.
“Bring your own bag, save your own planet,” the graphic on the Whole Foods web site says, highlighting the company’s commitment to greener alternatives.
“Central to Whole Foods Market’s core values is caring for our communities and the environment, and this includes adopting wise environmental practices,” A.C. Gallo, co-president and chief operating officer for Whole Foods Market, said in a company press release. “Together with our shoppers, our gift to the planet this Earth Day will be reducing our environmental impact as we estimate we will keep 100 million new plastic grocery bags out of our environment between Earth Day and the end of this year alone.”
Whole Foods becomes the first U.S. supermarket to commit to eliminating the use of plastic bags. To celebrate the announcement, Whole Foods declared January 22 “Bring your own Bag Day” and gave out 50,000 reusable shopping bags.
Effective immediately, Whole Foods will begin using up the plastic bags it has in stock while raising consumer awareness of the hazards of plastic bags.
“Doing away with plastic grocery bags won’t just help protect marine life, it’s a key move in shifting us away from a ‘consume-and-dispose’ mentality,” Lisa Mastny, editor of the Worldwatch Institute report Oceans in Peril, said in a press statement. “Disposable plastic bags can linger in the environment for more than 1,000 years and are the major debris item found on the seabed, especially near the coast.”
While paper bags will continue to be available to consumers who don’t bring their own, these bags are made of 100 percent recycled material.
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13 comments
add your comment »To the lady in Arizona: Why not put a insulated cooler (ice Chest) in your vehicle with blue ice? That way your butter,milk,icecream, meat etc. will stay cold for your trip home from the store. We have lots of customers that shop at our store who are on their way to HOT Lake Powell and that is what they do.
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Another cute Idea for the CarryBags: I go to the dollar store and buy the carrybags that are decorated with pretty designs and use as gift bags for birthdays etc, that way the recipient gets to use the bag for shopping after the gift is opened.
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I have lived in Europe, as well as Australia. (In the Netherlands, you either bring your own bags to any large grocer or are charged for theirs. You pay to "rent" your shopping cart, as well). I now have 2 huge Albert Heijn Bags from Europe, one inside the other for maximum stability, the largest "insulated" bag Trader Joes makes, 2 smaller "insulated" Trader Joes Bags, 1 regular Trader Joes Bag & a large canvas bag from Fresh n' Easy. However, I have a physical limitations & live in Phoenix. Today, it will reach well over 100 degrees with extremely high pollution. Any dairy, I purchase today, if I go beyond 8 miles will potentially go bad if I stop for gas or any other errand, unless I add "blue ice" to my insulated bags. ICE CREAM & BUTTER WILL MELT, plastic, not paper, is what provides both insulation & protection for these & perishables including fruit & vegetables. Most of us are "aware" of the incredible increase in the cost of food, never mind the luxuries at a grocer like "WHOLE PAYCHECK." I do shop and eat there as well. For comic relief: I need a sticker here: FOOD ON BOARD. I also need permission to speed & run red lights to get my groceries home safely & without risking food poisoning.
Although I champion "doing the right thing" someone needs to consider all locales. As wisely mentioned, what about all that "plastic" at the ever-so-popular salad bar & take out food stations? Let's get real for a moment & is anyone checking
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Just read the article on Whole Foods outlawing plastic. Funny thing is, their produce department and bulk food sections are still full of it. So what's the point. There is a little Canadian company called Carebagsonline that has been sweeping the nation with their fantastic sets of re-useable stretchy mesh bulk and produce bags. They are totally awesome yet why doesn't wholefoods have them. who knows, the wholefoods single mesh bags that they sell are not a good alternative. thank god other vendors are down with locally made affordable reuseable products.
Kali P
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They've been doing it in Europe for YEARS, what's taking the 'cutting edge' Americans so long? I don't give a rip if they give me a funny look for bringing my canvas bags.
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My big bags from LLBean stack inside each other so the whole bundle go with me on shopping day. If I am planning on going somewhere different for something off the usual list I will "put thought" into best way of transporting it home. People are way too into being convienient and comfortable, than making an effort to take care of the glorious plante we call home. What will our great-grandchildren say when they realize this generation didn't care enough to leave them a treasure. My recyling weighs more than I do, when it gets rolled out to the curb. Every plastic bag that HasTo come into the house because it contains a purchased food product, gets used as a kitty litter bag. I applaud Whole Foods for ditching the bags. If they are not available, the shopper HasTo do something different. All of us who do use various forms of getting our purchases home, are shining examples for others to learn from.
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The stores supply the bags for the customer convenience. The CUSTOMERS have to take the reins and bring their own bags or boxes to carry the groceries from the store to their home. Then reuse the bags or boxes each time they go to the store. Never ditching the box until it is worn out, and the canvas bags NEVER or almost never wear out. That is true recyclying. Not- "I resuse the plastic bag for my cat litter" come on! let's recycle aggressively--as little plastic as possible. We can't undo the damage we've done in the last 35 or more years, but we can stop adding to that damage. Let's give it a try! Reuse, go to the boxes, get the canvas or other type of shopping bag and bring your own to all the stores, not just the grocery. Save the wild life and the ocean as much as we can when the world is wrapped in plastic!
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My problem with taking my own sacks is that I first of all don't always know how many sacks I may need to take. Also the sacks don't hold a lot. I usualy only do my major shopping 1 or 2 times a month that is alot of sacks. we are retired and live in the country so breaking up my shopping into smaller amounts and going more often than brings up the use of gas and time to go to town mulitiple times a month. Plus most people don't want to pop into the store every few days, it cost more money when you shop that way, because you end up buying things you don't need.
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We could stop buying things in plastics. Whole Foods is making up for the plastic bags at the cash register with plastic wrappings containing more and more of their stock every month - sandwiches, salads, cookies, cakes, beverages, vitamins and supplements, etc. A few years ago, no produce was ever wrapped in it. Now I am lucky if I can find fruits and veggies without it. So next: please do not buy food wrapped in plastic - start eliminating it for a week, then add beverages contained in plastic - for another week, then do not buy clothing made of plastic... do it again and again. Plastic molecules migrate, more and faster when warm. We do not like the smell of it. When we detect the odor of plastic, its molecules are entering our bodies. Avoid it like second hand smoke. It has as toxic effects. Recycling it is ridiculous; plastic in landfills leaches into the soil and groundwater. It is a huge contaminate in the oceans and kills sea birds and fish, mistaking it for krill - as it accumulates and blocks their digestive tracks. Google 'plastic toxic effects' or any similar search, for a serious wake up call. We need to ban it, incinerate it underground with 800 degree F in sealed furnaces to get rid of it. Canvas bags, waxed paper, cheesecloth, glass jars, recycle and reuse these. Be healthy and safer.
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http://www.care2.com/c2c/groups/disc.html?gpp=4346&pst=904646
A Green Sustainable Network, with more information on plastic bags and the alternatives, as well as more issues and how to deal with them.. Add to the discussion.. at the above link
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