A collective “Hooray” went through the green community earlier this week, when Whole Foods proclaimed that it would getting rid of plastic bags at the checkout aisle by this Earth Day (which is April 22, 2008, in case you didn’t know). Of course, Whole Foods has been working up towards this day for some time now.
Like many supermarkets Whole Foods has been selling reusable bags for its customers to use at checkout and encouraging them to byob (bring your own bag), whether it came from Whole Foods or not. They even give customers a discount (a paltry discount of 5 cents per bag to be sure) for reusing bags at checkout, but a discount nonetheless. I wish my ShopRite did that!
The question that remains, though, is what will Whole Foods do about those ubiquitous plastic-bag rolls in the produce department? I went to the source and spoke with Ashley Hawkins, a Whole Foods’ spokesperson. Here’s what she told me in an email about potential changes in the produce department:
“We are considering several bio-based plastic alternatives, and we do currently have paper and reusable options in the stores in the smaller produce-friendly sizes.”
I wondered if Whole Foods would allow its customers to bring their own produce bags when shopping–either by reusing plastic they had from an earlier shopping trip, taking reusable plastic containers that you might use for leftovers or choosing those cotton mesh bags that you see Europeans carrying to and from the market. In fact, I used to own a couple of those bags when I lived in New York City a decade ago and wanted an eco-friendly way to schlep my groceries. Wow, I was ahead of my time. Anyway, here’s what Ashley had to say about this bring-you-own notion for holding produce:
“We absolutely welcome shoppers bringing in alternative containers to gather their produce items. Yes, they will need to be taken out of those containers when weighed, of course. Many of our shoppers simply don’t use bags to gather produce, preferring simply to place produce in their shopping carts.”
I’m so conditioned to take plastic when bagging my fruit, vegetables and even meat, but I’m sure I can changes my habits. Next time I hit the grocery store, I’m going to bring additional reusable bags, maybe my Lock & Lock containers from QVC or those long-lost mesh bags, if I can find them, to hold my produce and meat.
I’m sure there are many other clever ways to find reusable containers to hold fruits and vegetables while shopping. What do you think you might bring with you the next time you need to buy fruits, vegetables or meat, and don’t want to reach for the same-old plastic bag?
READ LEAH ON HOME GOES STRONG
My Shop Rite offers 2 cents a bag. Not such a huge incentive, but incentive enough.
I’ve found some nice bags through a company called GreenFeet online. I like their Chico Bag that fits in my purse. Their produce bags would be nice for the Farmers’ Market in the summertime.
Daisy:
This is what I found from Green Feet:
http://store.greenfeet.com/itemCombination.asp?GroupCode=6012-00145
Are these the bags you like?
Leah
Hannaford’s is another grocery chain that offers incentive for bringing your own bag. 5 cents a bag. You figure if you use them for long enough, the bags will pay for themselves. As far as produce goes, I am trying to break my plastic bag habit, especially for peelable fruit. Produce touching my carriage kind of grosses me out, even though I wash it when I get home.
Our Whole Foods offers 2 cents I think,per bag. so we keep them in our trunk.
Unfortunately, we still have lots of plastic grocery store bags, but we re-use them one more time as garbage bags.