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A better, bagless future
Whole Foods Market changing the way you shop
By Rose Davis
“*Whole Foods Market is proud to be an industry leader in the movement to eliminate offering single use plastic bags.*”
- Autumn Faughn, Marketing and Community Relations Specialist at the Whole Foods Market
As spring approaches, slow as it may be, there is one store that is preparing to make a major environmentally friendly change. By Earth Day 2008 (April 22), all Whole Foods Markets will eliminate the use of plastic grocery bags.
This will occur throughout all 270 plus stores, including stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
“The decision came from Whole Foods Market’s core value of caring for our communities and the environment,” said Autumn Faughn, Marketing and Community Relations Specialist at the Whole Foods Market located on Prospect Avenue in Milwaukee.
“By taking this step, we are taking a strong environmental stance to help make a difference in our communities and for our planet.”
Even with the elimination of plastic bags, shoppers will still have plenty of options for bagging their groceries. Paper grocery bags, which are made from 100 percent recycled paper and are reusable, will still be available at the checkouts, and the store has a new, reusable “A Better Bag,” which is made from 80 percent post-consumer recycled plastic bottles and sells for only 99 cents. Whole Foods Market will also offer a refund of 10 cents per bag each time you bring in your own bags to reuse.
So far, the reaction to the change has been overwhelmingly positive.
“We are seeing a lot more of our customers shopping with our reusable bags, which are the best way to have a lesser impact on the environment,” said Faughn.
The Whole Foods Market on Prospect also serves as a site to drop off used plastic bags to be recycled, and recently the store has seen an increase in the number of bags being brought in.
They are taking a big step in the right direction.
“More and more cities and countries are beginning to evaluate and even place serious restrictions on disposable 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,” said Faughn.
“Whole Foods Market is proud to be an industry leader in the movement to eliminate offering single use plastic bags.”
Whole Foods Market is definitely on the cutting edge of environmentally friendly practices. Not only are they getting rid of plastic bags, but they have already replaced prepared food containers with biodegradable containers and are currently looking at eco-friendly alternatives for plastic bags in their perishable and bulk departments.
Hopefully Whole Foods Market will set a new standard and continue to encourage change in other stores across the nation and around the globe.
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