Whole Foods outlaws plastic bags

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.

By Care2 editorial staff

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Belle W.

11:10PM PDT on Aug 15, 2011

Last time I went shopping with my mom, we realized at the cash register that we'd left our reusable bags in the car. The cashier was rather surprised when I handed her my backpack and asked if she could bag the groceries in there... :)

send a green star

Jennifer C.

6:44PM PDT on Aug 2, 2011

Thanks for sharing.

Diane V.

12:01PM PDT on Jun 29, 2011

My favorite place to shop for many reasons.

10:51PM PDT on May 16, 2011

Way to go!

Sophia M.

9:28AM PDT on May 14, 2011

This is a great step towards the future, I'm glad whole foods is leading the way. Hopefully in time more stores and even cities and states will follow their example.

KrassiAWAY B.

4:58AM PDT on May 13, 2011

Noted with thanks.

Robert O.

11:12AM PDT on May 12, 2011

Good idea.

That maybe true, John S. and is very beneficial but they also have more time on their hands since many European countries have several months of vacation each year and don't have the stringent 40+ hour work weeks that we have here that don't allow most us tiem to go shopping EVERY day after work.

John S.

4:21AM PDT on May 12, 2011

In Europe, people do crazy things like stop at the market on the way home and buy fresh foods - imagine! In North America, people go out and buy two weeks worth of food all at once. And use large canvas bags. I've brought my net bag from the UK so I can put it in my pocket - I don't see them in the USA much, maybe people would use re-usable bags in they were more convenient.

Vic A.

7:14PM PDT on May 11, 2011

That picture looks like my lilac tree, a plastic bag has been stuck on it for days but it's too high up to reach. It's unsightly and should remind people who pass just what a menace these bags are, although I doubt the kind of people who just chuck these away care about the planet anyway. We really need to be forced to care about our planet, most of human kind just can't be trusted to do it on their own. Sigh!

Dave C.

7:01PM PDT on May 11, 2011

never use plastic bags, always carry at least one recycled/cloth bag with me (we like to make re-usable bags from old t-shirts that can't be recyled or donated)....wish I could get more people to stop using plastic, little upsets me more than the healthy strong person at a store taking their one or two items in a plastic bag or 'double wrapping" their items...too many people don't think about the future and only about their convenience and too many bags end up in streets, streams, trees, the trash, etc....