In an effort to reduce the environmental impact of plastic shopping bags, starting April 22, Loblaw corporate and participating franchise stores stopped providing free plastic shopping bags to customers.
The company stated in an announcement customers will be charged five cents for each requested plastic shopping bag. Loblaw hopes to meet a goal of diverting one billion plastic shopping bags from landfills by the end of 2009.
"We are encouraged by our customers’ support of reusable bag practices to reduce waste," said Galen G. Weston, executive chairman of Loblaw Companies Limited.
It has tested various approaches in an effort to identify best practices in reducing plastic shopping bag use. The data revealed that its stores that have been charging a nominal fee for plastic bags distribute almost 55 per cent fewer bags per $1,000 in sales than those stores that provide plastic shopping bags for free. Loblaw stores that provide only a rebate to reward the use of reusable bags distributed approximately four per cent fewer plastic shopping bags.
Loblaw is working with WWF-Canada to further encourage Canadians to demonstrate support of the environment. For the next three years, Loblaw will provide a corporate donation and partial proceeds from the charge on plastic shopping bags from corporate stores totaling $3-million.
The remainder of the proceeds from the fee on bags will be used to cover the cost of the Loblaw plastic shopping bag reduction program and be invested back in the business in price and customer service.
Many efforts are being taken to assist customers in this transition, from the Bring It reminder sign campaign, in-store customer announcements, limited time promotional offers on reusable bag options and importantly a new, 33 per cent larger and heavier gauge plastic shopping bag.
The new bag is now made with 15 per cent plastic waste material recovered from the manufacturing process and the thicker larger bag makes it stronger, allowing for repeat use and more items per bag.
