Goodbye Sobeys bag : Grocer ditches single-use plastic bags on Friday

A spokesperson for Sobeys is recommending you write “bring reusable bags” at the top of your shopping list.

This as the grocery chain eliminates single-use plastic grocery bags from the checkouts of all of its 255 stores across the country on Friday.

A public affairs specialist with the Stellarton-based company, Violet MacLeod, says this should take 225 million bags out of circulation every year, which is enough to wrap around the earth twice.

MacLeod adds, as you get used to the change, if you happen to forget your reusable bags, you won't get stuck trying to carry your purchases out in your arms.

“They can purchase reusable bags, which we have at our check-out tills, and we will have paper as well for a charge of 10 cents.”

A portion of the proceeds from the paper bags will be donated plant trees across Canada, and if you buy a reusable bag and it rips or wears out, you can exchange it for a new one.

“And we are offering a line of reusable produce bags, which are made from recycled water bottles,” she says.

MacLeod calls the plastic bag elimination a significant first step for the grocer in promoting reusable, sustainable alternatives.

She says the company is also piloting a few ideas in other parts of the country. 

Customers in Quebec can bring in reusable containers for produce, bulk products and hot items, and a store in Northern Ontario is testing out alternatives to plastic utensils.

Here in the Halifax Regional Municipality, the parking lot at the new Sobeys store in Timberlea was paved with a mixture made of 6 million plastic check out bags.

MacLeod says customer feedback has been overwhelming supportive since Sobeys announced it would be eliminating plastic bags at the checkout.

“It's been a big thumbs up across the board, customers are embracing it and they're excited.”