Another one bites the biodegradable dust. Trader Joe’s, the ultra popular grocery store chain, just revealed plans to nearly eliminate all plastic bags and packaging at all of its stores.

Trader Joe’s already eliminated single-use plastic bags at the check out line and replaced plastic produce bags with compostable produce bags for the convenience of carrying loose or “by-the-each” fruits and vegetables.

How Trader Joe’s will cut down on plastic at its stores

Customers at Trader Joe’s, and we know there are some here because their parking lot on 4th Street is always bumping, will also notice there are no more styrofoam packages in their produce section.

So, what are the store’s plans for the future. They recently outlined them in a press release:

• Reducing the number of items sold in plastic packages in our produce section, including apple, pear and potato bags.
• Replacing any remaining Styrofoam trays in our fresh meat section with PET1 trays that are highly recyclable.
• Switching the current plastic sleeves on our greeting cards with sleeves made of a renewable, compostable material.
• Changing the current plastic flower bags with bags made of a renewable material.
• Eliminating non-recyclable plastic and foil pouches from our tea packages.

Cutting more than a million pounds of plastic

This process should be complete by the end of 2019. Once these initiatives are fully implemented, Trader Joe’s will have cut more than 1 million pounds of plastic from its nearly 500 stores.

Trader Joe’s is located at 2742 4th Street North.

Do you want to see other grocery stores in the area take similar initiatives?

Featured image by Atlanta_Mom_of_Five from Pixabay