We applaud businesses that think beyond profit and work to create a more sustainable future. Red River Co-op is now charging for single-use plastic bags, encouraging you instead to bring a re-usable bag and donating profits to Green Action Centre.
On average, Manitobans use 160 million single-use plastic bags per year. These bags, which are made from fossil fuels, are harming our environment. The plastic litters our streets, landfills and water systems. As it eventually breaks down, it leaves behind microplastics which are consumed by wildlife and marine life. The microplastics fill our soil and water systems, and have made their way into the human food chain.
What does that mean? It means that the plastic from your single-use shopping bag will never fully go away. It means that reducing plastic is important.
Red River Co-op’s Partnership with Green Action Centre
Red River Co-op started charging for single-use plastic bags in their grocery stores and gas bars in October 2018. This decision was made based on their knowledge of the environmental impact of plastics rather than a desire for profit. Because of this, they have decided to donate all profits made from single-use plastic bags to Green Action Centre’s Composting and Food Waste Reduction Programming.
Green Action Centre is pleased by Red River Co-op’s decision to protect the environment, and is committed to helping ensure that single-use plastic bag sales decrease in Red River Co-op stores throughout the partnership.
Both Red River Co-op and Green Action Centre are encouraging shoppers to make plastic reduction part of their shopping experience. Remember to bring your reusable bags with you to the store! If you don’t have one, find a friend who has too many, purchase one at a second hand store, or visit a Red River Co-op store where they have reusable bags for sale.
Thank you to Red River Co-op for taking your environmental concerns to the next level by partnering with us! We are excited to assist you in your efforts to reduce single-use plastic bags in your store.
Love the Co-Op re-usable bag with the bear logo. Have one, but would like an explanation about the design. Just curious-like to hear how it was thought out. Thanks!
Hi Rosemarie, we actually weren’t involved in Red River Co-ops bag design. You’ll need to reach out to them directly about that one.
Way too many people are still using single-use plastic bags for groceries. I have tended to shop at Sobey’s, mainly because it is close to home. I will be shopping more at RRC.
Red River Co-op and Green Action Centre thank you, Richard! We have a lot more power than we sometimes realize in terms of our day to day actions.
We use the RRC reusable bags all the time. Terrific design, much better than plastic bags for carrying our groceries. Nice to see more and more stores charging for single use plastic bags. Way to go, Green Action Centre, getting into a partnership with RRC that will further waste reduction and generate revenue at the same time.
Trust that the transition will proceed with the “fewest bumps” possible