Greener Grocery Stores
July 24th, 2007 by Daniel Paper or plastic? We’ve all been asked that before at the grocery store, but how much thought have you ever really put into how that decision effected the environment. To be honest, I never really thought too much about my decision because I reuse the plastic bags for other purposes at home, so I have always chosen plastic. Whenever it has crossed my mind which choice was better, I never could really tell because they both seemed like they have their own pros and cons. So, when I had to stop at the local grocery store called VG’s on my way home today for some things and the guy asked me, “Paper or plastic?”, I made my usual choice. The difference this time was that I noticed a message that had been printed on the side of the bag that read as follows:
“I am made from recycled materials. I am made from at least 50% post-industrial waste. I reduce road traffic. One truck can carry 2 million bags like me. Fourteen trucks are needed to carry 2 million paper sacks. I’m cleaner. Producing me generates fewer pollutants than producing paper bags: 70% less air pollutants and 98% less water pollutants. I use less energy. Making me involves a quarter of the energy used for a paper bag. I help save trees. My material is created from plentiful natural gas rather than ever more valuable trees or oil. If you bring me back and reuse me, VG’s will give you $.03 or just bring me back and VG’s will recycle me.”
So, this not only made me glad that I have been choosing plastic bags all along, but also impressed me that the store was putting this message out to their shoppers along with the incentive to reuse the bags on their next visit. Soon, I hope that most people will begin recycling or reusing their bags or even bringing cloth bags with them to the store to shop with. The first step is to get the message out though, which I’m very impressed to see stores starting to do.
-LINKS-
VG’s Food and Pharmacy
The Institute for Lifecycle Environmental Assessment (ILEA)
