US: Kroger pushes reusable bags

20 April 2009 | Source: just-food.com

 

 US supermarket group Kroger has launched an online contest for consumers to design a reusable carrier bag in a bid to encourage shoppers to reduce the number of plastic bags used.

This is the second year that Kroger has marked Earth Day with a reusable bag design contest. Consumers are invited to design a bag until 15 May on the company’s website. Each person who designs a bag will receive a coupon for a free multiple use bag – worth US$0.99.

The winner of the contest will receive a $1,000 Kroger gift card and their bag design will be mass produced. Five runners up will receive $100 gift cards.

“Helping to sustain the environment and serve our communities is part of Kroger’s core values. We partner with our customers and associates to offer choices that can make a real difference in the lives of our customers and their families every day,” said group vice president of corporate affairs Lynn Marmer.

Last year, Kroger sold 6m reusable bags, proof, the company said, that its customers are responding “enthusiastically” to efforts to increase reusable bag use.

The company claimed that it has also made solid progress on a number of other environmental initiatives. Over the past year, Kroger recycled more that 16m pounds of plastic and almost 1bn pounds of paper and cardboard. Since 2000, Kroger said that its associates have saved enough energy to “power envery single family home in Seattle for an entire year,” the company added.