press releases...
“Ditch the plastic.” Planet Organic pioneers again.
16 November 2007
Planet Organic supermarkets lead the way and find a carbon neutral solution to the plastic carrier bag.
As from Thursday, October 4th the UK's largest fully certified organic supermarket will be the only high street retailer to have introduced a naturally carbon neutral disposable carrier bag. The new bag is made from GM free cornstarch and is grown and manufactured in Italy. The bag is totally compostable and biodegradable - and can break down within six months. More importantly, it will not leave behind any toxic residues as a corn crop absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while it grows and then releases it as it breaks down.
About 10 billion plastic bags are given away at supermarket checkouts each year in Britain. In London alone, 1.6 million of these bags end up in landfill sites unable to decompose and polluting our environment. Every plastic bag that has ever been made is still here, as they can take up to 2000 years to break down. Every plastic bag that we use in our lifetimes will outlive us for hundreds of generations.
Big retailers on the high street have more recently implemented various soft alternatives to plastic bags, all of which continue to add to the environmental problem, despite some commitment to cut back in total number of bags being given out to shoppers. Alternatives have included bags made from 20% to 30% recyclable plastic, incentives for shoppers who refuse bags and encouraging customers to recycle.
Since they became available, Planet Organic has been using biodegradable plastic carrier bags, which are quicker to decompose. Although these break down much more easily, they are still made from plastic and end up in landfills across the UK, littering our streets or are often sent back to China for recycling. To organic retail pioneer Planet Organic, this is still an unacceptable solution.
"This simply cannot continue. We here at Planet Organic feel that we can no longer contribute to the problem while remaining true to our core environmental beliefs. We have taken the decision to stop handing out plastic carrier bags in all of our stores. We will offer our customers several viable alternatives and hope that they will support us in this decision," says Renée Elliott, Founder of Planet Organic.
As from today, Planet Organic will introduce the new GM free cornstarch bags that will cost customers 4p each. The charge is a 50% contribution towards the actual cost of the bags and Planet Organic will not profit from the sale. The stores continue to offer shoppers alternative carriers: long life organic, unbleached cotton string bags and heavy duty bags to purchase, free cardboard boxes and encouraging customers to bring in their own bags.
"The free plastic bag that shoppers are accustomed to picking up from the supermarket isn't really free. It comes at a huge cost to our environment and our planet is already suffering because of it," says Renée Elliott, Founder of Planet Organic.
Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London supports Planet Organic's new bag policy. "Planet Organic is setting a prime example for other retailers to follow. They are tackling a key issue in society today. Climate change impacts on the lives of every Londoner and we need only to alter everyday lifestyle habits to make a significant change and impact," says Ken Livingstone.
For Press information and images please contact:
Christian Konig or Ana Catarina De Neiva
Samphire Public Relations
T: 020 7616 8484 M:07710 146 740
E: christian@samphireuk.com / catarina@samphireuk.com
Notes to editors
Founded by Renée Elliott in 1995, Planet Organic transformed the retail scene by opening the first supermarket selling only natural and organic food.
Planet Organic is the perfect place for those seeking everything for a healthy lifestyle with thousands of organic products: fresh fruit and vegetables, groceries and meat, natural body care lines and household cleaning products.
Their kitchens prepare daily seasonal dishes made from organic ingredients to eat in its in-store café or to take home.
Experienced Health & Bodycare advisors offer one-on-one advice on a multitude of health issues and regular in-store health talks by leading industry figures cover interesting, topical and up to date issues.
Planet Organic offers a national delivery service and has three stores in London with plans to open further sites in the next two years.
Planet Organic does not sell products with artificial additives, preservatives, flavours, colours or sweeteners, GM ingredients or food with hydrogenated fat.