Reusable Bags Archives - Environment+Energy Leader

Bacteria Rife in Reusable Bags

October 11, 2011October 11, 2011 by Leon Walker

Bacteria is evident in almost all reusable bags as most consumers never wash them, according to research by the University of Arizona. The study by University of Arizona microbiologist Dr. Charles Gerba found that large numbers of bacteria were found in almost all bags and that coliform bacteria were found ... Read more »

GNC Cuts Energy, Paper Use Across all Stores, HQ

October 5, 2010 by Gina Roos

GNC’s environmental initiatives have yielded reductions in energy use at its Pittsburgh headquarters and across its 2600+ company-owned stores in the U.S. and Canada, together with reductions in paper use and elimination of all Styrofoam cups at the company’s headquarters. The retailer also made some changes in its energy management ... Read more »

Wegmans Pulls Two Reusable Bag Designs with High Lead Levels

September 13, 2010 by Gina Roos

Wegmans has stopped selling its reusable shopping bags with the green pea and 2009 holiday designs because preliminary testing indicates elevated levels of lead in the bags. The supermarket chain with stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia and Maryland says it is not a food safety or children’s health concern; ... Read more »

Kroger Sustainability Report: Energy Use Down 27% since 2000

June 28, 2010 by Gina Roos

The Kroger Co. has reduced energy consumption in its stores by more than 27 percent since 2000, according to the company’s 2010 Sustainability Report (PDF). The grocery retailer says that is enough electricity to power every single family home in Memphis, Tenn., for one year. Kroger has saved companywide more ... Read more »

CA Assembly Passes Ban on Single-Use Grocery Bags

June 3, 2010December 14, 2010 by Gina Roos

The state of California has taken the first step towards banning free single-use grocery bags. The state Assembly narrowly approved Assembly Bill 1998 that would make California the first state in the nation to ban single-use plastic and paper bags from being handed out at grocery stores, reports The San Francisco Chronicle. ... Read more »

Sobeys, Wegmans Continue Reducing Plastic Bags

October 13, 2009October 21, 2009 by Sarah Roberts

Sobeys’ stores in Ontario have exceeded the province’s targeted guidelines for reducing plastic bags. Sobeys, which operates in Ontario under the Sobeys, Foodland and IGA banners, has reduced plastic bag use by 72 percent, compared to the province’s goal of a 50 percent cut, reports Supermarket News. Six months ago ... Read more »

AFS, CGA Promote Reusable Grocery Bags

September 1, 2009October 19, 2009 by Sarah Roberts

To reduce plastic bag waste, Associated Food Stores in Salt Lake City and the California Grocers Association are separately promoting the virtues of reusable bags. Associated Food Stores starts a partnership with the Salt Lake City mayor’s office on Sept. 9 to remind shoppers to take reusable shopping bags on ... Read more »

Top UN Environmental Official: Ban Plastic Bags

June 10, 2009October 19, 2009 by Gina Roos

Plastic bags, which choke marine life, should be banned or phased out rapidly, says Achim Steiner, executive director of the U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP). UNEP released a report that identifies plastic as the most pervasive form of ocean litter. The report’s findings reveal that despite several international, regional and national ... Read more »

Reusable Bags Help Marks & Spencer Cut Plastic Bags by 80%

May 4, 2009October 18, 2009 by Sarah Roberts

After introducing a surcharge on disposable plastic bags and encouraging the use of reusable bags, British retailer Marks & Spencer has cut its disposable plastic bag purchasing by 80 percent. Another retailer, the National Trust, has similarly seen its plastic bag usage decline 85 percent, reports The Guardian UK. Whereas ... Read more »

Earth Day Helps Drive Green Efforts at Supermarkets

April 16, 2009 by Gina Roos

Earth Day is driving green efforts at several supermarkets around the nation, ranging from recycling paper goods and promoting the use of reusable bags to designing energy-efficient stores. Whole Foods Market claims to be the first national retailer to produce all of its national in-store Earth Month materials using “third ... Read more »

Fred Meyer, JCPenney Add Reusable Bags, Divert Plastic Bags from Landfills

April 7, 2009October 18, 2009 by Gina Roos

Fred Meyer Stores, one of the largest grocery and retail outlets in the Northwest, announced that it has diverted 20 tons of plastic bags from landfills two years after the launch of its reusable grocery bag program. Customers of the Portland-Ore.-based company, part of the Kroeger Company stores, used reusable ... Read more »

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