Waste management
Waste management
Plastic bag reduction
Since any single-use bag – whether paper, plastic, or biodegradable – consumes significant resources for limited utility, Sobeys’ policy is to make it as easy as possible for our customers to switch to reusable bags. We continually encourage our customers to use our Green Bags for Life as an alternative to plastic bags. Through cashier training to increase the number of items placed in each plastic bag, plastic bag consumption is also reduced.
Each of our regions has implemented plastic bag reduction initiatives that are aligned with local market needs and conditions, such as the establishment of the Québec IGA Ecomunicipality Fund.
In Ontario a 5-cent per bag fee was introduced in mid-2009 across our network of stores, although the fee is required by law only in Toronto. During the first month following the introduction of the fee, plastic bag usage in the region declined by approximately 75% when compared to plastic bag use in the same month in 2008. At the same time, we experienced unprecedented uptake of our Green Bags for Life reusable shopping bags.
On July 22, 2009, Thrifty Foods ceased providing plastic carry out bags. Customers are encouraged to use reusable bags, but still have the option of being provided with paper bags. To ensure food safety, plastic bags will continue to be used in the fresh departments. This action is expected to result in a reduction of 27 million bags annually.
Employees at the Caledon East Foodland in Ontario reduced the use of plastic bags at their store by 65% in 2008 alone. The dramatic reduction in plastic bag use was achieved in part by the determination of employees like cashier Jessica Preston and co-workers who were shocked at the number of plastic bags used on a typical Saturday. They created a sign that asked customers to think twice about using plastic bags and encouraged them to use the re-useable Green Bags for Life.
Our national efforts in raising customer awareness of our Green Bags for Life reusable shopping bags, coupled with region-specific plastic bag reduction initiatives and the active engagement of our front line staff has resulted in an company-wide reduction in single-use plastic bags by more than 28% compared to plastic bag usage in 2005.
