OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Supermarket giant Kroger announced it will stop using plastic bags by the year 2025.
Kroger owns Pick n Save in our area.
The eco-friendly decision was the talk among shoppers at the grocery store.
Plastic or paper? Will soon be a question of the past.
“It’s part of our Zero hunger, Zero waste campaign,” said Jim Hyland, Roundy’s Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs.
That campaign started two years ago when Kroger bought the largest local grocery chain, Roundys, which includes Pick n Save stores.
“I was really excited walking in today,” said Alicia Alsberg.
Alsberg tells FOX 11 she’s been advocating to Pick n Save as well as local restaurants to get rid of single-use plastic.
“We have to take care of our earth.”
“Of the 100 billion plastic bags used every year, Kroger uses about 6 billion,” said Hyland
Hyland said plastic bags take a long time to decompose, in addition to the harm it causes to wildlife.
“We’ve heard a lot from our customers that it just doesn’t make sense to use a single-use plastic bag once then throw it away.”
“I do use plastic and paper I mix it up,” said Jill Neumann.
Neumann says she tries to reuse grocery store bags around the house, but she still has a surplus.
“When we get too many we just throw them away or burn them.”
Many have already made the switch from plastic to reusable.
Karla Stark tells FOX 11 she’s been using cloth bags for about five years.
“I think it’s a great idea. You drive by any landfill and you see a lot of plastic bag waste.”
Hyland said the goal is for Kroger to offer a variety of reusable bag options to customers in the future.
