Sometimes, the news is good. Like this story about how Target and CVS are going to pay customers to use their own reusable shopping bags. If you turn down their plastic bag, Target will take 5 cents off your purchase. And CVS drugstore plans to give a $1 cash bonus for every 4 times a customer doesn't request a plastic bag.
That's good news that will add up to a lot less plastic. And maybe get people more into the habit of using cloth bags.
A spokesperson for the Natural Resources Defense Council says the two retailers could keep billions of plastic bags out of the environment, as well as encourage other retailers to take similar steps.
Smaller chains like Whole Foods have been giving their customers incentives to use cloth bags for a long time, but this marks the first time a big retailer is following suit.
It's a giant step in the right direction, with no downside I can see. Even if the motive is to cash in on people's desire to go green, in this case market forces are working. A marketing professor in the article says these days, retailers who want to connect with the consumer have to show they're sensitive to environmental concerns.
Have you heard any good news on the environmental, green, or nonconsumer front lately? Tell us about it in the Comments section.
November 4, 2009
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4 comments:
Here in Texas the Brookshire's Grocery Stores and their discount store, Super 1, give a nickel off for every bag of your own you bring in, cloth or plastic. I am glad to know about CVS since that is the pharmacy we use locally. I try to take my cloth bags in there anyway but it will be nice to be rewarded for it.
At least here in the U.S. South I think there will have to be a penalty for taking your items home in plastic before people begin to bring their own cloth ones. (Plus there will have to be a lot of education.) The attitude is that we have a "right" to get free bags from the store and we're used to our plastic, doncha know? Not long ago I took my cloth bags into Super 1 and a lady who watched me check out told me in the parking lot that that made her angry — the STORE OUGHT to provide bags for me. I tried to explain that this was my choice but she didn't get it and left in a huff at the store.
See what I mean?
I hardly ever shop at Target, but I think this is good news. It saves customers money, it saves the company money, and it reduces trash. Win, win, win.
For years the two in-town (i.e. not at a mall) grocery stores have a bin of the boxes their stock comes in that customers can use to haul home their groceries. For the last couple of years a lot of stores have been selling reusable bags. One chain gives extra points above and beyond the ones you get on your purchase if you have their virtual bank card and use your own bag. Then a couple of months ago all of the stores began charging 5 cents for each plastic bag you use. I always keep my reusable bags with me or haul in my backpack or wheeled shopping tote.
Here in the northeast, Pathmark gives you 2 cents for every cloth bag you use and Hmart gives you 10 cents for every cloth bag OF THEIRS that you use
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