Wegmans’ reusable bags step 1 (continued)
Sorry this is simply too funny.
So I wrote about Wegmans’ introduction of reusable bags a few posts ago and yesterday I needed to pick up some more groceries. Guess what? My reusable bags were in a place where, to put it kindly, they could not be used (i.e. at home)
So I buy two more and what does the cashier do? Well, they scan them and puts them in a plastic bag.
Geez. I suggested to the cashier that they might want to use them to actually bag the groceries and the blank look I got was priceless. Something like “Oh yeah”.
This of course leads to a packaging discussion.
To use the bags the cardboard wrapper which surrounds the bag needs to be removed. It is easy to remove - slides off really and one can only hope that the cardboard wrapper is recycled.
Heck, why even use a cardboard wrapper - these bags come from China remember (assuming with a wrapper) and after all need to be trucked to the distribution centers and on to stores. How much additional weight and space is added to the transport cycle? Carbon footprint anyone?
Hey Wegmans, since this a Wegmans branded bag, done for a program specifically for Wegmans - generate a slip of paper like those charity promos you have at each register and have the cashier simply scan it.
Well - at the bags are a start…
Here is the punch line
The point here, of course, is that you can continue to be profitable if you embrace sound environmental policies.
Let’s assume this change at Wegmans has the desired effect and reduces the amount of plastic bags. How it is viable from a business perspective?
1. It doesn’t cost .99 cents per bag so there is a margin in the sale of the reusable bag.
2. Monies saved in purchasing 1 way plastic bags
3. Monies saved in recycling the volume of returned plastic bags. Wegmans associates have to move these bags to the back and recycle the - there is probably a cost in removal as well
4. If they take the advice of reduced packaging - you potentially shipping more bags per container so shipping costs are reduced.
5. Oh - and doing the right thing and saving the planet one bag at a time.
What is next.
Related posts:
Simple reason for the cardboard packaging. It distinguishes unpurchased bags from the ones that customers are re-using.
I didn’t think of that, it is possible but a tag would do the same thing and it seems like over kill for an item that certainly doesn’t cost .99 cents.
Still - Overall packaging in general is probably too much don’t you think?
[...] I said when Wegmans introduced reusable bags - this is likely more of a business decision than anything [...]