Look, it’s great that you’re not using plastic straws anymore. But what about the corporations, mmmmaaaannnnnnn? That’s where the real damage is being done.
Well, good news, because Canada’s second-largest food retailer has announced it will ditch plastic bags by February 2020.
Today we announced that we're eliminating plastic bags from all Sobeys grocery stores by the end of January 2020. This is just the first step in our journey towards a more #sustainable future. https://t.co/1XhaQ7lh6a pic.twitter.com/6MJuizgWI7
— Sobeys (@sobeys) July 31, 2019
“We really felt that the amount of avoidable plastic in grocery stores is shocking,” said Sobeys VP of Sustainability Vittoria Varalli. The company estimates the move will eliminate 225 million bags used annually at 255 stores nationwide. Varalli also also targetted plastic bags in the produce aisle as her next victim.
Sobeys says mounting consumer demand inspired them to make the decision, which comes one year ahead of a nationwide ban on single-use plastics.
What’s more, Sobeys operates half a dozen other retailers – Safeway, Thrifty Foods, IGA, Foodland, Freshco and Farm Boy – which will soon phase out plastic bags across their more than 1,500 locations.
“It’s time for change, and we will not stop innovating and bringing to market new ways to remove avoidable plastic from retail,” said Varalli. “We are working with our industry partners and key stakeholders on eradicating plastics from the system. There are many factors to balance like food waste and food safety when assessing the need for packaging in the grocery retail supply chain. It will take a collective effort to drive real, meaningful change for the future.”
