Category Archives: Green Issues

Reusable Grocery Bags Only Option in Ski Towns

October 28, 2011Green Issues, Plastic Bag BansEnvironmental, Plastics Reduction, RecyclingBulletin Bag

The Carbondale, Colorado, Board of Trustees voted 5-1 in favor of a plastic grocery bag ban, rather than adopting a usage fee. The ban takes effect in May 2012 and closely mirrors one passed by neighboring Aspen’s City Council.

For now, the new ordinance applies only to bags provided at grocery stores larger than 3,500 square feet. It prohibits the distribution of plastic shopping bags to customers and imposes a 20-cent fee for each paper bag shoppers opt to use. Currently, there is only one grocery store that exceeds 3,500 square feet in Carbondale.

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Plastic Bags & Big Tobacco: Switch to Reusable Bags Now!

August 11, 2011Green Issues, Plastic Bag BansEnvironmental, Plastics Reduction, RecyclingBulletin Bag

The August 4 issue of Rolling Stone (of all places!) includes an amazing article by Kitt Doucette about the lack of importance the US places on curbing—nevermind eliminating—single use disposable bags. Did you read it? Are you angry? You should be!

Guinness World Records has named plastic shopping bags as “the most ubiquitous consumer item in the world.” As we’ve been saying for a long time, they are also a leading source of pollution.

But did you know that while the rest of the developed world is fighting to curb or eliminate plastic bag usage, the US plastics industry is doing whatever it takes to defeat anti-bag measures nationwide? Among their tactics: political donations, intensive lobbying, misleading PR campaigns, and lawsuits.

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A Custom Reusable Bag Contradiction

June 9, 2011Green IssuesEnvironmental, Plastics ReductionBulletin Bag

We, of course, love the idea of everyone never, ever, ever using another plastic shopping bag. We are also realistic, and know that this is one wish that will probably not come true for a long while.

However, if you’re going to try to make the switch to reusable bags for shopping, and you feel the need to broadcast your efforts on a customized tote, make sure you abide by Dr. Seuss’ wise elephant, Horton, and “Say what you mean, and mean what you say!”
Contradicting your shopping bag choice is never eco-cool!

Thanks, Tosh.0 for sharing!

Town Sets Up Reusable Grocery Bag Kiosks

May 11, 2011Green Issues, Plastic Bag BansContests and Giveaways, Plastics ReductionBulletin Bag

In an effort to get half of its shoppers to use reusable bags, Wilton Go Green has set up kiosks to distribute free bags to shoppers.

Two thousand reusable grocery bags will be given away over the next several weeks from kiosks spread around the Connecticut town. The bags are adorned with a town image and designs by young Wilton artists, who won a recycling and conservation contest.

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Printed Reusable Bags Popular Earth Day Incentives

April 13, 2011Green Issues, Promotion IdeasContests and Giveaways, Environmental, EventsBulletin Bag

Earth Day is April 22, and it’s not unusual for retailers to offer special incentives to encourage their customers to think about the environment. As usual, we love to hear about reusable grocery bags as vehicles for these promotions!

Here are a few Earth Day-related promos that have hit our radar.

Chicago: Big Bowl restaurants are handing out free “Earth Matters” grocery totes on April 22 with every takeout order. Every time you reuse the bag to pick up food, receive $0.50 off for the life of the reusable bag.

Texas: H-E-B is giving away 250,000 custom printed reusable shopping bags on Saturday, April 16, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Customers who bring in five or more plastic bags for recycling will receive a coupon for one free reusable H-E-B shopping bag. Last year, H-E-B and its customers recycled 3.87 million pounds of plastic bags across the state!

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Grocery Chains Eliminate Reusable Shopping Bag Rebates

March 22, 2011Green Issues, Plastic Bag BansEnvironmental, Plastics Reduction, RetailBulletin Bag

Some supermarket chains, including Kroger and Safeway, believe that modest per-reusable-bag rebates at checkout have done little to remind customers to bring reusable grocery bags.

Kroger Co., the nation’s largest supermarket chain, had stopped (in many regions) giving 3- to 5-cent rebates or fuel discounts for each reusable bag. Company officials say they’re focusing more on promotions and educational efforts, as they found no significant difference between reusable shopping bag use in markets with rebates and those without them.

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Bag It: Filmmaker Tackles Plastic Bags In FilmBag It: Filmmaker Tackles Plastic Bags In Film

March 8, 2011Green IssuesEnvironmental, Plastics Reduction, Recycling, SustainabilityBulletin Bag

Bag It, a documentary produced and directed by Suzan Beraza, depicts Americans’ single-use consumption obsession of plastic bottles, plastic bags and to-go cups.

The film follows Telluride (Colorado) resident Jeb Berrier’s personal quest to learn more about the effects plastic consumption has on the environment and our health. It is an eye-opening glimpse into the usage of plastic and a wake-up call for how reckless its consumption is.

The ultimate question the movie raises: How does the brief usage of a disposable product that lasts forever make sense?

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How Fast Can You Bag Your Reusable Grocery Bags?

February 25, 2011Green IssuesEventsBulletin Bag

Last fall, we told you about the Best Bagger Championships. The contest shifted from plastic bags to reusable grocery bags at its 2010 event.

The 2011 Best Bagger Championships were held last week, and Krystal Smith, a bagger at the Hannaford supermarket in Burlington, Vt., was crowned the best grocery bagger in America. She completed her challenge in 38 seconds!

The contest is a year-long, nationwide program in which the best-of-the-best grocery baggers in the country compete for great prizes and the title of America’s Best Bagger. Contestants are judged on speed, bag-building technique, weight distribution between bags, and style, attitude and appearance.

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Two Ideas For Your Unwanted Plastic Bags: Make Gasoline And Beds!

February 17, 2011Green IssuesEnvironmental, Recycling, SustainabilityBulletin Bag

Now that you’re dedicated to using cool printed reusable grocery bags, what will you do with your surplus of plastics that have accumulated around your house? Here are two nifty ideas that made news this week.

1. Make gasoline! A Japanese inventor has created a machine suitable for home use that can turn plastic waste into fuel. Akinori Ito’s machine heats up household plastics, traps the vapors in a system of pipes and water chambers that cools and condenses them back into crude oil. The crude is suitable for use in generators and some types of stoves and can be further refined into gasoline.

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Ziploc and RecycleBank Launch Recycling Program

February 10, 2011Green IssuesPlastics Reduction, RecyclingBulletin Bag

Reusable sandwich and snack bags are becoming more popular, but there are still millions of American households that still use plastic sandwich bags. In response to that, Ziploc and RecycleBank launched a new recycling program to help reduce the environmental impact of Ziploc plastic bags. The new program includes a rewards component to customers who commit to recycling their used Ziploc bags instead of throwing them away.

SC Johnson, owner of the Ziploc brand, understands the recycling limitations of its products and is thinking of different ways to offset the environmental footprint of its plastic bags. Now, it’s easier than ever to recycle Ziploc bags. Consumers stop by any store that offers a plastic-bag recycling program and place used, clean, and dry Ziploc bags in plastic shopping bag recycling collection bins.

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