Ninety Billion and counting. That’s 90,000,000,000.

October 20th, 2009

According to the Environmental Protection Agency or (EPA) ninety billion plastic bags are being produced annually in the United States. Recycling of polyethylene bags, sacks and wraps is also at an all time according to the agency with 380,000 tons recycled for the year ending 2007. That represents a sixty five percent increase from 2005 and a three hundred and seventy-five percent increase from 1996. Obviously consumers are concerned with the impact that the products that they buy have on the environment.

In a USA TODAY article by Bruce Horovitz titled “Target puts plastic bags in bull’s-eye”, he reports that Target will give consumers a five cent discount for every reusable bag they use to pack their purchases.

Also from the same article David Szymanski a marketing professor at Texas A&M University is quoted as saying “Retailers who want to connect with this generation have to go green”.

Target is not the only retailer to take steps in this direction, however they are the largest. CVS Stores of Woonsocket Rhode Island also has a program that rewards their CVS card holders with a bonus for not requesting plastic bags. Other retailers are buying bags with a higher content of recycled material in order to reduce their overall carbon footprint.

What are you doing to promote a reduction in your carbon footprint as a part of your socially responsible best practices? Do you have a CSR program?

We look forward to and appreciate your comments.

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