Real Canadian Superstore (loblaws) to eliminate plastic bags(in small BC town store)

[st7860]

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/n...0d6f98&k=55859
Shoppers at the Real Canadian Superstore in Langford will notice a big change when they check out their groceries beginning next Thursday: no plastic bags.

As part of the national retailer's green initiative, the grocery chain has selected the suburban Victoria store -- which is being relaunched next week -- to be what it calls the first major grocery and general merchandise retail store in B.C. to eliminate traditional plastic bags at the checkout.

As part of the plan, each household in Langford will be mailed a complementary reusable "Green Bag" and a coupon for a free "Green Box" with a minimum $25 purchase. The Green Box fits into a shopping cart and holds the equivalent of three to five plastic bags worth of groceries.

Until Dec. 8, shoppers will be offered a buy-one-get-one-free deal for the Green Bag and $1 off additional Green Boxes.

As well, shoppers may bring in any reusable bag, even from another retailer, for their purchases.

According to its news release, Loblaw Companies Ltd. made a commitment in April to reduce one billion plastic grocery bags from Canada's landfills within one year.

It said that reducing the number of plastic grocery bags offered in stores and offering more sustainable choices, will help achieve this goal. Currently, the release stated, Canadians use about 10 billion plastic bags per year.

"As Canada's largest grocery retailer, we have a responsibility to help reduce waste in our communities," Loblaw executive chairman Galen G. Weston said in a statement. "Opening this store with bagless checkouts is another step in the right direction."

In early 2008, Loblaw Companies will launch Maxi & Co. in Sherbrooke as the first big-box retail store to go bagless in Quebec. Sherbrooke will be the third plastic-bagless Loblaw-owned store, with Milton, Ont. the site of the first plastic-bagless Superstore.

Loblaw spokesman David Primorac refused Thursday to answer questions about the plan or discuss details that were not in the news release, and would not provide a picture of the new reusable bags.

Aron Bjornson, marketing manager for Capers Community Markets, said in an interview that Capers still uses plastic bags but encourages the use of reusable bags. "At the end of the transaction, we give five cents for each [reusable] bag or use it as a token for charity."

Bjornson said Capers also uses heavier plastic bags, so that they can be reused many times. Capers and its parent company Whole Foods Market also sell reusable cloth bags.

bmorton@png.canwest.com

A BAG OF FIGURES

n Estimated number of plastic bags handed out worldwide each minute: one million.

n Estimated number that end up in landfills each year worldwide: 500 billion to one trillion.

n Estimated weight that ends up in Canadian landfills each year: 28 million kg.

n Number of plastic bags Canadians use each year: 10 billion.

n Number of plastic bags that Loblaw Companies Ltd. hopes to keep from landfills in a year: one billion.

DISPOSABLE SOCIETY PAYS A HIGH PRICE IN WASTE

The use of plastic bags poses a mounting cost to the environment

Estimated number of plastic bags that are handed out worldwide each minute: ONE MILLION

Estimated number of plastic bags that end up in landfills each year worldwide: 500 billion to ONE trillion

Estimated volume of plastic bags that end up in Canadian landfills each year: 28 MILLION kilograms

Number of plastic bags Canadians use each year: 10 BILLION

Number of plastic bags that Loblaw Companies Limited hopes to reduce from Canada's landfills in a year: 10 BILLION

Estimated energy equivalent saved when one ton of plastic bags is reused or recycled: 11 barrels of oil

Source: Loblaw Companies and various sources

[Tjalfe]

with no plastic bags available, don't people have to buy new plastic bags to line their green bins and use for dog poop?..

[st7860]

they could teach fido how to do his business in the garden

[alkaseltzer01]

I believe Superstore in Milton has been doing this since they opened back in Aug 2007.

http://www.superstore.ca/milton/Milt..._HO_Final1.pdf

[Tjalfe]

they could teach fido how to do his business in the garden

it still needs to be picked up eventually.

Personally I would rather see them getting rid of the styrofoam trays they sell meat on.

[The Destroyer]

I believe Superstore in Milton has been doing this since they opened back in Aug 2007.

http://www.superstore.ca/milton/Milt..._HO_Final1.pdf

That is correct!

You should see some people's faces when they are at the you scans and they wonder where their plastic bags are and when they find out about this.

[rchong]

Thanks!

Until Dec. 8, shoppers will be offered a buy-one-get-one-free deal for the Green Bag and $1 off additional Green Boxes.

I thought I was too late for the BOGO free deal.

Store employees have been handing out pamphlets for awhile now about the discontinuation of plastic bags.

[nik003]

I find this really funny, especially when some municipalities encourage the use of plastic grocery bags for lining your green bin:

How to get the Green Bin right

Option #1: Line your small indoor container with a plastic or biodegradable bag. Plastic grocery bags are ideal for this. Fill your indoor container with organics. Transfer your tied organic-filled bag into your Green Bin. Place your Green Bin at the curb on your collection day.

Option #2: Line your Green Bin with a large plastic or biodegradable bag. Fill your small indoor container with organics. Transfer loose organic material from your small indoor container into your lined Green Bin. Tie your Green Bin liner closed. Place your Green Bin at the curb on your collection day.

Note: All organic material must be contained in bags. Organic material placed loosely in your Green Bin will not be collected.