Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Whole Foods Market "Sacks" Disposable Plastic Grocery Bags


Whole Foods Market, the world’s leading natural and organic foods supermarket, announced yesterday 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. with the goal to be plastic bag-free by Earth Day, April 22, 2008.

It's estimated that Whole Foods Market will keep 100 million new plastic grocery bags out of our environment between Earth Day and the end of this year alone. This is good news for animals as well as the earth since plastic bags not only endanger wildlife by polluting land and water but also pose an environmental threat, as some plastic bags can take more than 1,000 years to break down in a landfill.

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” — a sound environmental choice since 80 percent of its content comes from recycled plastic bottles and it is an economical choice as well since it costs only 99 cents.

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. Last year, Whole Foods Market became the first and only food retailer in North America to offer these recycled paper grocery bags made with 100 percent recycled fiber content, which also are completely recyclable.

More information can be found at online at www.wholefoodsmarket.com/byobag.

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