Whole Foods Bans Plastic Bags, But Proposes A "Better Bag"

Austin City Council proposed a resolution to reduce the use of plastic bags back in May, but Whole Foods is taking matters into their own hands and no longer offering plastic bags at check out. They are upping the ante from 5 cents to 10 cents for those who bring reusable bags, or customers can conveniently purchase the new 99 cent "better bag" made of 80% post-consumer waste.

The 13X15 inch bag displays a bright bold design with the Whole Foods signature green apple intended (we can only assume) to present feelings of ease and joy. Most likely this will have an enormously positive impact on the environment. However, it will require a significant shift in consumer behavior and likely create some angst for those multi-plastic bag shoppers who are not accustomed to the reusable bag lifestyle of remembering bags with each visit. San Francisco and Portland have both already adopted city bans of plastic bags, so Whole Foods jumping on the bandwagon may be a catalyst to take the movement to promote reusable bags nationwide (they plan to roll out the ban company wide early next year).

According to a company spokesperson, "the reason for the change is preservation of natural resources ... Americans throw away about 100 billion plastic bags annually, 0.6 percent of which are recycled. It takes 1,000 years for a plastic bag to break down in a landfill, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. In addition, many plastic bags are made from crude oil and natural gas, both nonrenewable resources."

Mirroring the Anya Hindmarch "I'm Not a Plastic Bag" craze in July, Whole Foods kicks off its program today at its two local stores — downtown and North Austin. It will give out 1,000 of the new recycled plastic bags, free at checkout to shoppers, some with gift cards of $10 to $100 in them.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@austinist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By paigedd in News on December 19, 2007 12:50 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

davetx

Brutal.

csiplastics

What's SXSW?

Grape Ape

Thanks for the spam...for the record, don't buy any bags, go to SXSW, support the local economy and use your SXSW "big bag" for groceries. There, better than any HEB, Whole Foods and CSI Plastics.

csiplastics

Reuseable Bags are great but we think that Whole Foods missed the boat here. We are in the plastic recycling business and we don't feel that "A Better Bag" is recyclable. When it's worn out, we think that all you can do is throw it away! We designed "The Better Bag", it's made from recycled material and it is 100% recyclable. Please visit our new website THEBETTERBAG.COM to learn more about reusable bags. The Whole Foods bag contains co-mingled materials. Read about co-mingled plastics at our website.

greenbee

Just came across a great story on these reusable bags on the website Sustainable is Good

http://www.sustainableisgood.com/blog/2008/05/mystery-surroun.html

Bernadette

Does anyone know what company makes the recyclable bags used by Whole Foods? Bermadette

Chris Trew

Score one for Whole Foods.

b

this takes care of my plastic bag vice.

but what about my paper towel vice!!??

i'll pray for answers.

Grape Ape

While people may not care about saving $.10, they would surely be complaining if they had to pay $.10 - they are worth the same are they not? Its funny how peoples minds work sometimes. Its like those people who won't pay $25 per hubcap, but they think 4 for $100 is a good deal....sort of.

elvislives

Any discount at Whole Foods should be appreciated. Although I'd like to suggest they change the name to the Sack Discount.

Or just the Dime Sack. Maybe that would spawn a Whole Foods to open up on the East Side.

Gentriforganics!

cram

I actually wish they went in the other direction and charged for bags like IKEA does. But, still at 10 cents, I'm not sure how many people would notice/care.

samuraispy

You shouldn't have to bribe consumers to get into the habit of stop using plastic bags.

Mowank

If they gave $.50 or $1, lots more people would bring their own bags and more consistantly.

cram

Z-

I think they currently give you a 5 cent credit for every reusable bag you use/bring instead of using a new paper/plastic bag. They're just upping that credit to 10 cents.

heyzeus

"They are upping the ante from 5 cents to 10 cents for those who bring reusable bags"

?

They're going to charge you if you bring your own reusable bag?

Jon

What about paper bags?

Jon

What about paper bags?

ESeufert

This is great. Whole Foods is one of the more innovative grocery store chains in the US, and I'm glad that they've adopted this forward-thinking policy in the Austin stores.