Number
180743
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. JOHNSON
Title
Substitute resolution commending The Kroger Company for moving toward the permanent elimination of plastic shopping bags.
Analysis
This resolution commends The Kroger Company, the parent company for Pick ‘n Save, Metro Market and Copps stores, for taking a sustainable and environmentally-friendly stance by choosing to voluntarily phase out the use of plastic bags at its stores by 2025.
Body
Whereas, Each year, more than 4 million tons of plastic bags, sacks and wraps are generated in the United States, with the average U.S. family bringing home more than 1,500 plastic shopping bags per year; and
Whereas, It takes 500 or more years for a plastic bag to degrade in a landfill, where plastic bags break down into microplastics that absorb toxins and continue to pollute the environment; and
Whereas, Many municipal recycling facilities, including the City of Milwaukee’s, cannot recycle plastic bags, and instead recommend that consumers return used plastic bags back to retailers for recycling, where available, leading to less than 1% of plastic bags being recycled annually; and
Whereas, The Kroger Company (Kroger) which operates Pick 'n Save, Metro Market and Copps stores in Milwaukee, serves over 9 million customers annually in two dozen different grocery store chains across 35 states; and
Whereas, Kroger orders about 6 billion plastic bags for its customers each year; and
Whereas, Kroger recently announced plans to voluntarily phase out the use of plastic bags at its stores by 2025; and
Whereas, In eliminating plastic bags, Kroger is taking an important step toward operating in a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly manner; and
Whereas, Kroger’s actions are especially noteworthy given that in 2016, Wisconsin lawmakers enacted legislation to prevent local municipalities, including Milwaukee, from regulating the use of plastic bags at stores like those operated by Kroger; ...
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