Reuse–The New Black
It has been an interesting event to watch as the world begins its shift towards the end of unnecessary waste. Reusable products are popping up everywhere and while things here in the US seem to be moving slow, giant steps are continuously being made, ensuring that this trend is not a passing fad. Nowadays, if a company is looking for a way to improve, the fail-safe option is to go green. Using less paper, implementing an office recycling program or changing to compact fluorescent light bulbs are simple, yet popular upgrades. However, many of these changes have the added benefit of saving money-therefore not necessarily enacted for the sake of bettering our planet. While these changes do benefit environmental sustainability, the major, long-lasting changes occur when companies implement sustainable systems with the focus of resource savings rather than financial gain. Whole Foods’ Earth Day Promise A great example of a company making a truly green improvement is Whole Foods‘ recently announced plan to completely eliminate plastic bags in all of its stores by Earth Day this year. It is in no way a money saving change-their alternative bag option is a 100% recycled paper bag which is more expensive than plastic bags and non-recycled paper bags, plus customers receive a refund for every bag they bring in. “Eliminating disposable plastic grocery bags is just one step in a larger process of walking our talk about sustainability,” reads Whole Foods’ website. “We are continually evaluating more Earth-friendly bags and containers for our stores. For example, we replaced prepared foods containers with compostable non tree-based containers; we switched to 100% recycled paper bags; and we are researching options for replacing the plastic bags in our perishable and bulk departments. Plastic packaging is a much bigger issue, but one that is on our radar.” Worldwide, the US is still playing catch-up. Australia has recently announced plans to phase-out plastic bags beginning at the end of this year, while the entire country of China will prohibit companies from giving out free plastic bags starting this June. The list of countries with similar objectives goes on and on with the US still lacking any such proposed legislation. However, while the initiative doesn’t seem to be coming from the government for now, several individual companies are showing concern and taking the matter into their own hands. Reusing American Clay Bags Since the beginning, American Clay has put extra attention to eliminating excess waste. Most recently is our change in bag material. Originally made of burlap lined with vinyl, our bags are now made with an unbleached muslin fabric. Not only are the new bags more durable, the new material also allows for reuse. Following the trend of reusable bags, American Clay’s bags can now be returned to our manufacturing facility in Albuquerque, NM. Plus, if you are returning over 25 bags, we will pay for shipping. Already, several of our customers have taken advantage of this new option, electing to not dispose of a reusable material. If returning the bags is not convenient for you, remember that these bags can stand up to the challenge of reuse without question, so get creative! They can be used for all sorts of things: laundry, storage, or arts and crafts, to name a few. If you have already reused American Clay bags in a creative way, please share with us! We would love to know what our bags are up to. The shift towards reuse doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. New ways of implementing reusable products in everyday life is steadily increasing day by day, not just for companies but for individuals as well. And perhaps, someday, unnecessary waste will be a thing of the past. Are reusable products a priority in your life? How do you reuse? Let us know by commenting on this post. |
