“Paper or reusable bags” will be the new question at the Whole Foods check out line

Whole Foods will no longer use disposable plastic bags in its 270 stores in the US, Canada and Britain.  This includes the newly acquired Wild Oats stores.  They gave over 50,000 reusable bags, made from 80% recycled content from plastic bottles, to customers to promote being more environmentally friendly.  These bags are sold at each store for 99 cents.  Customers can also use paper bags, made from 100% recycled paper, free of charge.  Whole Foods plans on eliminating all of the plastic bags in its network by April 22^nd, 2008, Earth Day. 

Robin Burton, a spokeswoman for whole foods stated “A lot of countries are adopting bans or taxes on plastic bags. It's certainly not what drove this initiative, but there's a heightened awareness about it.  We're trying to act out one of our core values, which is supporting and caring for our communities and environment.” 

Customers who use reusable bags get a 5 – 10 cent refund every time they visit.  Other supermarkets are currently using similar practices, but Whole Foods is the first to implement a global green initiative.