Plastic Bags – A Thing of the Past?

The nationwide trend of imposing fees to deter the use of plastic or paper bags at grocery stores and other retailers (or banning them altogether) continues to pick up steam.

Many towns and cities across the country have imposed fees designed to curtail the use of plastic and paper bags at checkout.

• For nearly 10 years, Washington D.C. has required all businesses that sell food or alcohol to charge 5 cents for each carryout paper or plastic bag.
• In 2014, California imposed a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags at large retail stores, while also requiring a 10-cent minimum charge for the use of recycled paper bags, reusable plastic bags, and compostable bags. While the ban has been challenged, it remains the law.
• Most populated areas in Hawaii also ban the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags at checkout, as well as paper bags containing less than 40 percent recycled material.

Now we can add New Jersey to the list. In June, New Jersey lawmakers narrowly passed a bill to place a statewide 5-cent fee on single-use plastic and paper bags. The bill now awaits the governor’s signature. In the meantime, many municipalities have either already imposed or plan to impose their own, similar fees.

Businesses Respond

What is your company doing to address this growing trend … if anything?

• More and more consumers are preferring to do business with socially and environmentally-responsible companies. Offering your customers a reusable shopping bag shows that you care. A 2017 international study by global consumer goods company Unilever revealed that 1 out of 3 consumers now prefer to buy from brands they believe are doing social or environmental good.
• Reusable shopping bags imprinted with your company’s logo create brand ambassadors out of your customers, boosting impressions and building brand awareness.

• Plastic bags fill up landfills, take thousands of years to degrade, and are a major source of pollution on beaches and in waterways where they are ingested by marine life, causing injury and sometimes death.
• The United States uses 30 billion plastic and 10 billion paper grocery bags every year, requiring approximately 14 million trees and 12 million barrels of oil to produce. The average reusable bag has a lifespan equal to that of more than 700 disposable plastic bags.

Eco-Friendly, High-Exposure Solutions from Belvedere

Belvedere Exclusive is the premiere source for environmentally-friendly reusable tote bags, insulated cooler bags, canvas tote bags, and other related products. All of our products are recycled, recyclable, or biodegradable/compostable. We help companies reduce the use of plastic bags by their customers, which is not only good for the environment, but also a sound business strategy.

Our custom branded bags make the perfect reusable tote for your venue, event, or organization. Add your logo, your colors, and your design to our recyclable and re-usable eco-friendly bags to grab attention and make a lasting green impression on your patrons and everyone they encounter while they’re shopping and out and about.

Recycled polyethylene terephthalate (“PET”) eco custom shopping bags:

• Made from recycled soda & water bottles
• 80% post-consumer materials
• 125+ reuses and they’re washable and PET-1 recyclable
• Meet all state and local “bag ban” requirements
• Printing options for your name and logo start at minimum orders of 10 cartons.

Polypropylene (PP) Nonwoven custom shopping bags:

• These are the lowest price FOB USA bags in the market!
• 125+ reuses and they’re washable and PP-5 recyclable
• Meet all state and local “bag ban” requirements
• Start at 85c or less per bag, minimum 1 shipping pallet.

We invite you to get a no-strings attached quote on our bags, which are already in use with many high-profile brands around the country.