Whole Foods Banned Plastic Bags So Everyone Just Switched To Paper
If you haven't heard the news, on April 22nd, a.k.a. Earth Day, Whole Foods officially eliminated the distribution of plastic shopping bags to their customers, which means that shoppers have to use paper bags or bring their own.
Sounds great, right? This will totally protect their environment because everyone will bring their own bags, right?
Um, no.
A few days ago, I biked over to Whole Foods to do some shopping, and I can honestly say that out of the, oh, 200 people in the store, there was only one other person besides me who brought their own bags. That means, obviously, that almost all of those people took their groceries home in paper bags.
Now, I will say that at least Whole Foods' bags are made from 100% recycled paper, but I'm sad the store's reforms aren't having a more positive effect and motivating shoppers to bring their own bags—although, I'm not sure Whole Foods ever thought they would.
Maybe one day, Whole Foods will make a real commitment to the environment and start charging customers for each paper bag they take.
Afterall, IKEA saw a 92% decrease in the number of bags used at their stores when they instituted a fee, and grocery stores all over Germany charge people for bags and people almost always bring their own.
...I think this means I need to write Whole Foods yet another letter.
Sounds great, right? This will totally protect their environment because everyone will bring their own bags, right?
Um, no.
A few days ago, I biked over to Whole Foods to do some shopping, and I can honestly say that out of the, oh, 200 people in the store, there was only one other person besides me who brought their own bags. That means, obviously, that almost all of those people took their groceries home in paper bags.
Now, I will say that at least Whole Foods' bags are made from 100% recycled paper, but I'm sad the store's reforms aren't having a more positive effect and motivating shoppers to bring their own bags—although, I'm not sure Whole Foods ever thought they would.
Maybe one day, Whole Foods will make a real commitment to the environment and start charging customers for each paper bag they take.
Afterall, IKEA saw a 92% decrease in the number of bags used at their stores when they instituted a fee, and grocery stores all over Germany charge people for bags and people almost always bring their own.
...I think this means I need to write Whole Foods yet another letter.
Comments
One thing I have noticed is that Trader Joe's, which also does the paper verses plastic, seems to get more bag bringers in than Whole Foods. I'm not sure if it is having their own bag displays all over the store or if it is the raffle. (They put your name in a raffle if you bring your own bags for a chance to win $25 in store goods.) I don't think you will find more stores charging for bags in fear of losing customers...too much competition. They could, however, be better about offering incentives like the raffle, or give away free reusable bags, or even just sell them for $1 like Stop & Shop and Walbaums. (I actually see more green bags in Stop and Shop than I do Whole Foods.) People seem to think the paper bag has no footprint.
Well, the kids decided to write to big retailers asking them not to "give out" plastic bags. It was so very cool listening to their logic and concerns. They thought so deeply about what impact that would have, and they discussed Whole Foods policy change. They dislike that plastic bags wind up littering the world, but thought that paper wasn't all that much better of a choice. And those reuseable bags all the stores are selling, are they really more environmentally friendly than paper?
I think banning plastic bags is a step in the right direction, but I was really hoping for a leap.
Also, $.05 is a paltry amount when you're offering the carrot, rather than the stick. Surely, their paper bags costs more than $.05 each, and surely they could give a more generous discount for self-baggers.
By the same token, I realized that in "regular" stores it may be the same item in plastic AND in an additional paper carton on the outside. TJ just skips one step.
I always bring in my bags there- - but haven't won a raffle yet!
I dislike so many stores selling bags now if they are plastic instead of canvas. That bugs me.
I'm promoting a special cause this week too. Stop by if you have a chance.
I feel gypped - I went to TJ's to get almond milk for chai on Sunday, with my own bag, and didn't get entered in a raffle. *harumph*
I find it so interesting that these "expensive stores" still have free bags. Up here in Canada we call Whole Foods "Whole Paycheck" due to their costly foods. Across Canada the discount food stores such as No Frills, all charge for bags (plastic or paper) to help keep their overhead costs down. This has been going on for YEARS.
When 'normal' people are forced to fork out more cash for commodities they change their ways. But those that already live in a culture of excess (think giant houses, giant cars, giant rooms full of crap) 10 cents here or there for their groceries doesn't matter at all.
The more ironic thing is that items such as hybrid vehicles, solar panels, wind turbines etc are crazy expensive and ONLY the rich can buy them.
This is one craaaaazy world we live in folks!
The charge for the bags is considerable (i.e.: about 25 -30 cents each). Everyone grumbled a good bit to begin with, but now it's quite rare to see anyone without their own bags. Most stores sell brand-labled canvas/cloth carriers and charge about 1 euro for each.
When I went back to the States over the holidays I was shocked to see the irresponsible and thoughtless use of plastic bags. Why do people need a bag to carry 1-2 items to their car?
Anyway, rant over. I think the charging of bags is a fantastic idea and if it's universally implemented it is easily accepted.
I was browsing through a bunch of green websites and blogs and I came across yours and found it very interesting. There are a bunch of others I like too, like the daily green, ecorazzi and earthlab.com. I especially like EarthLab.com’s carbon calculator (http://www.earthlab.com/signupprofile/). I find it really easy to use (it doesn’t make me feel guilty after I take it).
Are there any others you would recommend? Can you drop me a link to your favorites (let me know if they are the same as mine).