Whole Foods, others to stop using plastic bags

Plastic bags rox! Don't ban them!

They're great for doggie poo

Actually, Joey K, I have found that I am currently tossing many bags that serve for my cat poo just as well - insides of cereal boxes, pretzel bags, frozen veggie bags, cookie wrappers...
Our stores in Iowa have started selling reusable totes (5 for $6) and giving a nickle off for each bag each time. Many of us are switching and liking it. Plastic would be 'ok' if everyone recycled - but we don't

Anne-Marie Hislop wrote:

Actually, Joey K, I have found that I am currently tossing many bags that serve for my cat poo just as well - insides of cereal boxes, pretzel bags, frozen veggie bags, cookie wrappers...

Good ideas!

I think plastic bags are a nuisance - especially when blown high up into a tree and stuck there for years. I wonder about the 'core values' of Whole Foods though - up until a few months ago they had printed information near their checkouts saying that plastic bags were just as, if not really more earth friendly than paper. Seems like their core values might be just as biodegradable as any major business's.

There are corn-based biodegradable plastic bags and San Francisco has endorsed the use of them as an alternative to paper bags. The "plastic" bags are biodegradable and compostable. The bags are made of starch, biodegradable polymer and other renewable resources. No polyethylene is used in the production process. They meet the test of saving on truck fuel by requiring much less transporation space than paper. The effect on trees will be enormous if stores return totally to paper bags. Some restaurants in Chicago already use these biodegradable plastic bags.

"Residents of 6101 N. Sheridan Road East, commonly referred to as East Point were thrilled today at the announcement of the discontinuance of plastic bag use by the Whole Foods grocer. Residents of the high rise have been regularly wading out into Lulkin Lagoon, a man-made lagoon adjacent to their lake front property, rescuing buzzards that fell into the lagoon after being tangled up in the handles of plastic bags. Residents have routinely been nursing the injured buzzards back to health on their storied balconies. Said one resident "Without Lulkin Lagoon, we wouldn't be able to engage in the conservation work we do. Nurturing buzzards has become our reason-de-etre."" April 21, 2008, The Edgewater Post-Dispatch.

They're great for ALL kinds of poo, and they make an especially attractive decorative accent in trees.

Speaking of trees, the article mentions the important point that plastic bags save trees. Plus they're more easily shippable than bulkier paper bags -- saving fuel and air pollution.

Bottom line: recycle and reuse, reuse, reuse and plastic bags are the way to go.

kwofchi wrote:

I think plastic bags are a nuisance - especially when blown high up into a tree and stuck there for years. I wonder about the 'core values' of Whole Foods though - up until a few months ago they had printed information near their checkouts saying that plastic bags were just as, if not really more earth friendly than paper. Seems like their core values might be just as biodegradable as any major business's.

Myself I absolutely LOVE all the pretty colors of plastic bags I can see blowing along the sides of the expressways as I commute. Much better than looking at ugly green vegetation.

Whyen Whole Foods gets rid of all those plastic produce bags I'll believe it's more than a publicity ploy.

Sanford wrote:

There are corn-based biodegradable plastic bags and San Francisco has endorsed the use of them as an alternative to paper bags. The "plastic" bags are biodegradable and compostable. The bags are made of starch, biodegradable polymer and other renewable resources. No polyethylene is used in the production process. They meet the test of saving on truck fuel by requiring much less transporation space than paper. The effect on trees will be enormous if stores return totally to paper bags. Some restaurants in Chicago already use these biodegradable plastic bags.

See... There you all have it. These bags are EDIBLE, made from good corn goodness. Tomorrow night after you get home from the store, put your bags in boiling water and serve them with butter and salt.

david-0-selznick wrote:

"Residents of 6101 N. Sheridan Road East, commonly referred to as East Point were thrilled today at the announcement of the discontinuance of plastic bag use by the Whole Foods grocer. Residents of the high rise have been regularly wading out into Lulkin Lagoon, a man-made lagoon adjacent to their lake front property, rescuing buzzards that fell into the lagoon after being tangled up in the handles of plastic bags. Residents have routinely been nursing the injured buzzards back to health on their storied balconies. Said one resident "Without Lulkin Lagoon, we wouldn't be able to engage in the conservation work we do. Nurturing buzzards has become our reason-de-etre."" April 21, 2008, The Edgewater Post-Dispatch.

But without the plastic bags, they won't have any buzzards to rescue? Then what would the buzzards do? Pollute the beaches with e.Coli no doubt!!!

kwofchi wrote:

I think plastic bags are a nuisance - especially when blown high up into a tree and stuck there for years. I wonder about the 'core values' of Whole Foods though - up until a few months ago they had printed information near their checkouts saying that plastic bags were just as, if not really more earth friendly than paper. Seems like their core values might be just as biodegradable as any major business's.

I don't think that Whole Foods' aim in this is to all of a sudden say paper is better. Their aim is to get customers to use resuable bags. In fact, they ask each customer who doesn't bring their own bags if they would like to buy any. The guy behind me in line the other day bought ten bags when the clerk asked him. So, it's a step in the right direction. And besides being environmentally friendly, these resuable bags are also much more convenient to use...because they fill them fuller and you can put them over your shoulder...which means fewer trips back and forth from the car when unloading groceries. I think Whole Foods (and other stores) would be wise to start charging for disposable bags. That would likely deter their use somewhat. Reusable bags are the way to go! And don't stop at just the grocery store...use them at other stores where you buy lots of stuff...like Target, etc. Target sells their own resuable bags now, too.

Hrm, I wonder whether Whole Foods will be passing along any of the savings now that it no longer needs to provide bags? Somehow I doubt it.

what about wrote:

Whyen Whole Foods gets rid of all those plastic produce bags I'll believe it's more than a publicity ploy.

You can reuse these, too. Empty them of their contents when you get home from the store and throw them back in with your reusable grocery bags.

I can't believe this article didn't mention trees are a renewable resource. You can always plant more trees to get more paper. Plastic bags are made from petroleum. Petroleum is not renewable. You would think that with high oil prices, people or manufacturers would want to use something else. Does anyone know how much petroleum goes into a plastic bag? If the price of oil is so high, why would manufacturers continue to pay for something like plastic bags?

Right on. It's time to stop using "convenience" as an excuse to harm this wondrous planet.

"but are the [plastic] bags that bad?"

answer: yes. the arguments presented here are flimsy, at best. The decking guy will still get tons of plastic from Harris-Teeter, as they have not banned bags. And the petroleum industry doesn't care if their bags are "better for the environment" by "not using trees" -- they just want their money.

Ikea doesn't hand out bags anymore, unless you pay for them. Good for Ikea, and good on Whole Foods for eliminating plastic bags.

hey, stop bashing whole foods! the point is that BOTH plastic and paper have their downsides, and your best option is to use resuable bags (made of recycled material). whole foods DOES pass along the savings.. they give you 10 cents off for each bag you bring back, so after ten uses of your reusable bag, you're making money! Plus, with a baby in one arm, i love being able to sling the tote bags over my shoulder, and they hold a lot more and don't tear.

I have purchased the reusable bags at a certain Mega Store and I love them. I walk out with three bags in my cart that I will reuse over and over while I see others walking out with 15-20 plastic bags that will end up in the garbage. Makes sense to me! I hate having all those platic bags around the house.....especially since I don't recycle.