Q: Some friends and I are doing an event in Vermont at Price Chopper to encourage people to use reusable bags. I am always astounded to see so many people here who do not bring bags. I think the store should have a banner saying, “The World Uses Almost One Million Plastic Bags per Minute.” —M.
A: The Co-op has given out about half as many disposable bags so far this year as we had at this point in 2006. Fifty percent of shoppers are using them.
Our approach is to help people remember their bags, because our research has shown that’s the number one barrier to reuse.
“One Million Bags per Minute” is raising awareness. We know that most of our shoppers are aware of this issue. We are, perhaps, in the next stage of change, which is getting used to a new behavior—namely remembering to bring bags into the store.
—Emily Neuman
Co-op Sustainability Coordinator
