Display & Design Ideas - December 2008 - (Page 30)

30 product spotlight green Bag it F Eco-friendly shopping bags green up retail By Jessie Bove, Managing Editor orget answering the age-old question of “paper or plastic?” In today’s eco-driven world, the answer is “neither.” In fact, Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has played off this idea with its reusable bags donning this very message. In October 2007, Wal-Mart began selling reusable bags in all of its stores for $1 each. Since the launch, the retailer has sold enough of its black reusable bags in the United States to eliminate the need for 1 billion disposable plastic bags. The black bags are made with recycled polyethylene terephthalate (RPET) plastic generated from soda or water bottles. As part of Wal-Mart’s commitment announced at the Clinton Global Initiative in September 2008, the company will reduce its global plastic shopping bag waste by an average of 33 percent per store by 2013. To help reach its U.S. goal of a 25 percent reduction, it has introduced a new blue reusable bag, which sells for 50 cents, and is made from non-woven polypropylene. When the reusable bags wear out, customers can return them to a local Wal-Mart store for recycling. A host of other retailers also have introduced shopping bags that are both reusable and sustainable. As part of the launch of Cincinnati-based Macy’s Inc.’s “Turn Over a New Leaf Campaign” last April, the department store retailer introduced eco-friendly merchandise, including a 100 percent natural cotton reusable tote bag, which was created in partnership with Cotton Inc. The cotton tote bag sold for $3.95, with $1 of the purchase price directly benefiting the National Park Foundation. Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods Market, which initiated a ban on plastic bags in January 2008, offers customers either recycled paper or reusable bags. In September, the chain teamed up with pop musician and environmental activist Sheryl Crow to create a special edition of its signature reusable shopping bag: A Better Bag. Launching in Whole Foods stores nationwide on Oct. 15, the design was created in support of the Natural Resources Defense Council’s (NRDC) Simple Steps program. The limited-edition bag is made from 80 percent post-consumer recycled plastic bottles and will be available through the holiday season. “On their own, our A Better Bags have been tremendously popular with shoppers,” says Whole Foods Market’s Nona Evans. Many other retailers have also taken steps toward eliminating the use of plastic bags in their stores, such as Swedish home furnishings retailer IKEA. With the introduction of its “bag the plastic bag” program in March 2007, IKEA set a goal of reducing its U.S. stores’ plastic bag consumption by 50 percent in the first year. Due to an overwhelmingly positive response and acceptance from its customers, IKEA made the move to only offer reusable bags as of Oct. 1, 2008. Retail just keeps getting greener, and with the bag being the only part of the retail brand that leaves the store with the customer, why not send a better message? http://www.retailenvironments.org http://www.retailenvironments.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Display & Design Ideas - December 2008

Display & Design Ideas - December 2008
From the Editor
Contents
News Watch
DDI’s Leadership Forum 2008
Consumer insights
Editor’s Choice
Snapshots
Alexander McQueen
Eye On: Luxury
Right Light
In-Store Technology
Product Spotlight
New York Report
DDI’s NADI Show Preview
New York Retail
New York Restaurants
Calendar
Advertisers
Classifieds
Shopping with Paco

Display & Design Ideas - December 2008