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Whole Foods Bagging The Plastic

Organic grocer switching to reusable shopping bags

January 22, 2008

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In a move to boost the environment, Whole Foods says it will end the use of disposable plastic grocery bags at the checkouts in all of its 270 stores in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. The organic grocer said it hopes to be plastic-bag-free by Earth Day, April 22, 2008.

"Central to Whole Foods Market's core values is caring for our communities and the environment, and this includes adopting wise environmental practices," said A.C. Gallo, co-president and chief operating officer for Whole Foods Market.

"More and more cities and countries are beginning to place serious restrictions on single-use plastic shopping bags since they don't break down in our landfills, can harm nature by clogging waterways and endangering wildlife, and litter our roadsides," Gallo said.

"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 says it is the first U.S. supermarket to commit to completely eliminating disposable plastic grocery bags to help protect the environment and conserve resources. It marked its announcement by "Bring Your Own Bag Day" and said it would give out over 50,000 reusable shopping bags to customers at the checkouts this to celebrate.

"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," said Lisa Mastny, editor of the Worldwatch Institute report Oceans in Peril. "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."

"During our International Coastal Cleanup each year, our volunteers find hundreds of thousands of bags on beaches and in the ocean posing a threat to birds, turtles and other marine life," said Laura Capps, senior vice president of communications and outreach with Ocean Conservancy.

Beginning immediately, each store in the company will work on depleting stocks of disposable plastic grocery bags at the checkouts and will help raise awareness about the benefits of reusable bags. Over the next three months, stores will reduce plastic grocery bag inventories and increase selections of reusable bags for purchase.

Whole Foods Market has encouraged shoppers to bring their own bags for years by offering a refund of either five or ten cents at the checkouts, depending on the store.

The company also sells different types of reusable bags, ranging from canvas to its new large, stylish "A Better Bag" - made largely from recycled plastic bottles.

"Before Whole Foods Market decided to do away with this disposable plastic grocery bags at our checkouts, we ran tests in San Francisco, Toronto and Austin. Customers have overwhelmingly supported the plastic bag ban initiated by Whole Foods Market in these cities and applauded the progressive stance the stores have taken," said Gallo.

Although the natural and organic grocer hopes to inspire shoppers to bring their own reusable bags, the company will continue to offer an environmentally sensitive option when needed - 100 percent recycled paper grocery bags.

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