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02/29/2008: "An action that will make a difference for our planet!"

The Whole Foods chain has decided to eliminate the use of all plastic grocery bags throughout the chain by this coming Earth Day, April 22, 2008. Whole Foods estimates that they will eliminate 100 million plastic bags from our environment by discontinuing their use from Earth Day to the end of 2008.
Plastic bags are petroleum based and they fill landfills, harm nature and litter our communities. Since it can take more than 1,000 years for a plastic bag to break down in a landfill, polymers of every single plastic bag ever produced still exist on our planet. As they break down, plastic bags go through photodegradation—breaking down into small toxic particles that contaminate both soil and water, and end up entering the food chain when animals accidentally ingest them. It takes roughly 430,000 gallons of crude oil to produce 100 million plastic bags, and in the U.S. alone, about 100 billion plastic bags are thrown away each year (and only 0.6 % of them are recycled).

We just held a fund raiser at our school and sold canvas bags- I now own 6 (we keep 2 in each vehicle) so we do not use plastic or paper any more. Check them out at One Bag at a Time. If anyone wants a bag we are selling them for $2.50 each and they come in several colors. The petroleum in 14 plastic bags could drive a car a mile. At $3.09 and rising this might be a good thing.

We can all chip in and help the environment. Little things can make a big difference- how will you contribute?

Replies: 2 Comments

I would love something you screen printed so if you do one, I will buy one- you can't have enough canvas bags!

La said on Sunday, March 2nd @ 01 :13 AM CST

Yes, I ordered canvas bags to screen print, but alas with the move I have not had the time to do it. I did put my design on Cafe Press though for now. basie9designs

beth said on Saturday, March 1st @ 05 :58 AM CST