Big Y Foods, Inc. announced today that it will eliminate single-use plastic bags at the checkouts from its more than 80 supermarket and specialty store locations.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Big Y Eliminates Plastic Bags at Checkouts Across All Locations on August 1, 2019
Grocer Encourages the Use of Reusable Bags to Save the Planet One Bag at a Time
Springfield, MA (July 11, 2019) — Big Y Foods, Inc. announced today that it will eliminate single-use
plastic bags at the checkouts from its more than 80 supermarket and specialty store locations in
Massachusetts and Connecticut on August 1, 2019. The grocer will offer discounts on reusable bags
through the month of August as customers transition away from plastic.
Big Y has been complying with single-use plastic bag bans in several Massachusetts communities since
2014. Coming off of recent changes to laws in various towns across the New England region, Big Y has
moved up its 2020 timeline to eliminate single-use plastic at checkouts in all of its locations in order to
streamline operations and to do its part to support sustainability.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency , more than 380 billion plastic bags are used in the
United States each year. When not disposed of properly, this plastic can end up in waterways and
forests where it can harm wildlife and our local communities. By removing single-use plastic bags at
checkout, and encouraging shoppers to use reusable bags for their groceries, Big Y and its customers can
work together to make a difference, eliminating the 100 million plastic bags that were previously
distributed each year from the grocer.
“At Big Y, beyond providing great quality, great prices and great customer service, we also try to be
smart about the resources and energy we use,” said Richard D. Bossie, Big Y Senior Vice President of
Operations and Customer Experience. “By working with our shoppers, we can further reduce
consumption to make a difference in and around the tight-knit communities that we serve across New
England.”
Shoppers can find a variety of easily accessible, reusable bags in fun, new designs and sizes by the
checkout counters. From local university logos to hometown sports icons and nautical themed bags,
there’s something for everyone.
Customers can keep their reusable bags in shopping-shape by washing them regularly with soap and
water or disinfectant wipes. Big Y’s team of Registered Dietitians share tips for reusable bag cleaning
online here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XDKyxuHU4Y .
For those shoppers who do not bring their own shopping bags beginning in August, a ten-cent charge
per paper bag will be added to their bill. This fee is in an effort to promote the use of reusable bags
instead of paper, which also cause harm to the environment.
Big Y is committed to making a difference in the communities in which its customers and employees live
and work. Supporting food banks across New England, Big Y has donated more than 6 million pounds of
food to those in need in the last year. The company’s keep-it-local approach also ensures local business
support and the highest quality products for its shoppers. Local products don’t have to travel far to store
shelves, which means less fossil fuel being used, resulting in fewer carbon emissions. With the addition
of new earth-friendly programs, over the last three years, Big Y has reduced its total energy
consumption by more than 5,000,000 Kwh. For more information on Big Y’s Green Initiative, visit:
https://www.bigy.com/Community/BigYsGreen