The Kroger Co. announced Thursday that it will phase out single-use plastic bags and transition to reusable bags across all stores by 2025.
Seattle-based QFC will be the company’s first retail division to phase out single-use plastic bags. The company expects QFC’s transition to be completed in 2019.
“As part of our Zero Hunger | Zero Waste commitment, we are phasing out use-once, throw-it-away plastic bags and transitioning to reusable bags in our stores by 2025,” Rodney McMullen, Kroger’s chairman and CEO said in a press release. “It’s a bold move that will better protect our planet for future generations.”
Kroger says it will ask for customer feedback and work with community partners to ensure a responsible transition.
Kroger’s announcement follows several other Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiatives, including:
• Kroger’s goal to divert 90% of waste from the landfill by 2020. Of the waste diverted today, 66.15 million pounds of plastic and 2.43 billion pounds of cardboard were recycled in 2017.
• Kroger’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Food Rescue Program sent more than 91 million pounds of safe nutritious food to local food banks and pantries in 2017. Kroger provided more than 325 million meals to families in need last year, in food and funds combined.