Kroger pledges to phase out single-use plastic bags in local stores by 2025

Kroger stores in Richmond will phase out single-use plastic bags and transition to reusable bags by 2025, the company announced today. The change is one that is being implemented across the Kroger group of stores as a part of the grocer’s “Zero Hunger | Zero Waste” initiative.

Some estimates suggest that 100 billion single-use plastic bags are thrown away in the U.S. every year. Currently, less than five percent of plastic bags are recycled annually in America, and single-use plastic bags are the fifth-most common single-use plastic found in the environment by magnitude.

Kroger will solicit customer feedback and work with NGOs and community partners to ensure a responsible transition.

“As part of our Zero Hunger | Zero Waste commitment, we are phasing out use-once, throw-it-away plastic bags and transitioning to reusable bags in our stores by 2025,” said Rodney McMullen, Kroger’s chairman and CEO. “It’s a bold move that will better protect our planet for future generations.”