Sobeys plans to end their use first at all Sobey stores across Canada by the end of January 2020.
By doing, it will become the first national grocery chain to eliminate plastic bags.
Dave Sobey, director of support services Atlantic, says it means 225 million plastic grocery bags will be taken out of circulation.
“We’ve been hearing consistently from our customers and our employees of the desire to reduce plastics within our stores and given the numbers, we understand the impact that it has on the environment.”
Focusing on reusable alternatives, Sobeys will take 225 million plastic grocery bags out of circulation at Sobeys’ 255 locations across Canada each year. (CNW Group/Sobeys Inc.)
He says the timeline will help everyone get used to the change.
“We’re going to retrain our employees and really remind our customers of the options to bring in their reusable bags to make it a smoother transition. We decided to act now instead of taking years to study and only make long-term commitments.”
Sobey says in a couple of weeks a line of reusable mesh bags made from recycled water bottles will be provided to customers as an alternative.
In August 2019, Sobeys will introduce a line of reusable mesh produce bags made from recycled water bottles. (CNW Group/Sobeys Inc.)
The elimination of plastic bags at Safeway will come a little later.
They will be replaced with the return of paper bags.
