Whole Foods Market® offers FSC certified paper bags at checkouts
Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFMI) announced last month that it is the first US retailer to offer FSC-certified paper bags at its checkout counters beginning in May.
Michael Besancon, Whole Foods Market Senior Global Vice President of Purchasing, Distribution, and Marketing said, “Whole Foods Market is thrilled to set the bar even higher in terms of reducing our environmental impact with paper bags that close the loop with 100 percent post-consumer reclaimed material.”
Mr. Besancon continued, “The chain-of-custody that our paper bags have attained means these bags can be tracked throughout the supply chain - from post-consumer waste through processing and distribution to the shopper toting home groceries, all the while reducing pressure on virgin forests and protecting biodiversity.”
FSC offers the most comprehensive standard for certification of forest products. FSC-certified paper can originate from post-consumer recycled fiber or from forests certified according to the FSC’s rigorous forest management standards. The FSC’s independently verified chain-of-custody system requires paper producers to track their certified fiber throughout the production and distribution process.
Corey Brinkema, FSC US President said, “Whole Foods Market’s decision to provide FSC-certified grocery bags sets a tremendous example for its industry peers. It also helps educate its customers about the importance of forest stewardship.”
Previously, Whole Foods Market was the first national retailer to offer 100 percent recycled (60 percent post-industrial/ 40 percent post-consumer) paper bags at its checkouts. FSC certification on paper bags made from 100 percent post-consumer reclaimed material is another first for the natural and organic foods retailer. Post-consumer reclaimed material typically comes from corrugated boxes that might have held food or other products that have been shipped to various retail outlets. This repurposing is important in a country that is the biggest market for paper products globally, producing 90 million tons of paper and consuming 100 million tons of paper each year.
Allen Hershkowitz, Senior Scientist, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) said, “While bringing your own reusable bag is always the best choice, Whole Foods Market’s switch to FSC-certified bags made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled content is a great step forward. This move virtually eliminates the bags’ impact on forests and also sends a strong signal to other businesses that making the right environmental choices is possible.”.
Mr. Hershkowitz continued, “Consumers want and deserve better environmental options when they open their wallets. Whole Foods Market is delivering those options, both with this new bag and with its previous efforts to promote reusable bags as well as protect endangered forests and prevent native forests from being converted to tree plantations.”
Learn more about Whole Foods Market's initiatives at blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/category/green-action/. Find more information on Earth Month activities at wholefoodsmarket.com/earthmonth.
Press contact:
Ashley Hawkins
Whole Foods Market
+1 (512) 542-0381
email: Ashley.Hawkins @wholefoods.com
Source: Whole Foods Market, www.wholefoods.com
