Whole Foods To Eliminate Plastic Bags In US, UK & Canadian Stores - ENN

[hatrack]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Whole Foods Market Inc said on Tuesday that it will aim to end the use of disposable plastic grocery bags in all of its 270 U.S., Canada, and United Kingdom stores by April 22, Earth Day.

EDIT

http://www.enn.com/pollution/article/29755

Very short article.

[TreasonousBastard]

1. Great-- paper bags take up much more...

landfill space than plastics, and they do not break down. But it makes you feel so good that it's "recycled" paper clogging the landfill.

Maybe BJ's has the real answer-- no bags at all, ever. Bring your own or stuff the shit in your pockets. Most people just throw everything back in the cart and roll it to the car.

[ConcernedCanuk]

4. Actually, paper bags DO break down, but you are on the right track - -

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Paper bags still have a heavy environmental impact, but are still a better choice than present plastic bags, as the plastic bags can take over a Century to break down.

And for those like myself in my community, we can recycle the paper bags along with our cardboard and other paper products.

Heres a good read on the paper/plastic issue:

Paper Bags Are Not the Answer

Even in landfills, plastic bags can take a century or more to break down.

At first glance, paper bags seem to be the solution: they're made from a renewable resource, and they're biodegradable and recyclable.

But paper bags consume many times more energy to create and transport than plastic bags. Manufacturing paper also puts out a considerable amount of air pollution and consumes a lot of water. In addition, paper bags are not as durable as plastic in wet weather.

more

[Gormy Cuss]

2. Link to Whole Foods' own site for more details

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/byobag/faq.html

Their plastic bags aren't the thin flimsy ones used by most supermarkets --they're actually far more reusable. I have WF plastic bags that have been reused dozens of times. Still, it's a good symbolic gesture.

Now I'd like to hear how they justify removing all of the bulk spices and herbs and replacing them with more heavily packaged versions in inconvenient sizes.

[keepCAblue]

3. city of San Jose, like San Fran, will soon ban plastic bags, too. nt

[Snarkturian Clone]

6. ugh. That means

Philadelphia is going to ban them too just to be cool.

[NNadir]

5. Not bad for a bunch of libertarians.

[jwirr]

7. Why have clothe reusable bags never caught on? My daughter

says, "I will never remember them." Why are we not using the obvious solution?