Kroger, largest grocery chain in U.S., to eliminate plastic bags

The nation’s largest grocery chain has vowed to stop using plastic bags.

Cincinnati-based Kroger says it will phase out the plastic bags by 2025. The chain goes through 6 billion bags annually.

Six years to eliminate plastic bags, Kroger?? Disappointing. ♻️ https://t.co/yBRyEEGv9h

— Nancy Dinell (@Nancy_Advocate) May 22, 2019

The project will start at Kroger’s Seattle chain QFC, where CBS News reports that it expects to be plastic free by next year.

Seattle last week became the first major U.S. city to ban plastic drink straws and utensils, while similar proposals are under consideration in New York and San Francisco, CBS reported.

Thrilled that @kroger is getting rid of single-use plastic bags! Why are you dragging your feet, @Publix?

— Hide Your Airplanes, Hide Your Cows! (@ThusSpokeStella) May 22, 2019

The nation's largest grocery chain, Kroger, announced today they will phase out single-use plastic bags in their stores by 2025. Thanks @kroger for leading the way and reducing your plastic use! https://t.co/1h3IErQ4Gt

— PennEnvironment (@PennEnvironment) May 22, 2019

According to the World Economic Forum, humans have dumped 150 million metric tons of plastic into the Earth’s marine environments with an estimated 8 million more metric tons being dumped each year.

Many of those plastics break down into microplastics which can be a danger to marine life at all levels of the food chain.

Kroger, which serves almost 9 million people daily through its two dozen grocery chains, has more than 2,700 stores across the nation.

The company is encouraging its customers to choose reusable bags, the Daily Journal (Tupelo, Miss.) reported.

If you needed a small dose of hope for our environment, here it is:
- Dunkin' Donuts is phasing out polystyrene foam cups by 2020.
- Ikea is eliminating single-use plastic products by 2020.
- Kroger is phasing out use of plastic bags by 2025.

— Emmy Josephine (@emmyjosephine) May 22, 2019