Waiheke, New Zealand, 2014-3-26 — /EPR Retail News/ — Four Square got behind Plastic-Free Friday by giving out 400 reusable bags to local Waiheke shoppers.
Plastic Free Friday is part of the BYO Bag initiative started by Debbie Lyttle last year to educate the community on plastic pollution and the harm plastic bags, in particular, have on marine life.
“Around one billion bags from all over New Zealand go to the tip every year and 10 percent of plastic ends up in the sea,” said Debbie.
“BYO Bag is feeling very proud of our community. It seemed everyone was taking part, including the visitors to the island. Oneroa was full of people strolling in the sun and shopping with their new reusable bags.”
Co-founder Jennifer Fountain was thrilled that 80-90 percent of people were bringing reusable bags, some of which dated back many years showing that people own bags but just need a push to continue using them.
“People really do not seem opposed to reusable shopping bags, they just need some assistance to remember them and keep using them. Plastic-Free Friday was a big help with that. We found most people felt really good about avoiding single-use disposable plastic,” said Jennifer.
Four Square Oneroa owner, Tim Baker was overwhelmed by the response to the reusable bags.
“It was fantastic to see such a high number of shoppers saying no to plastic bags and using one of our reusable bags, or bringing their own instead. We hope to see shopper’s continuing to use the reusable bags and do their bit to protect our environment.”
Foodstuffs is committed to sustainability and a key part of its Sustainable Packing Strategy is to promote reusable bags in store. All stores have reusable bags at the checkouts for customers to purchase.
As well as giving out 400 bags on Waiheke’s Plastic Free Friday, Foodstuffs also gave away thousands of reusable bags when PAK’nSAVE Blenheim opened last year.
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