Value Village® To Phase Out Plastic Bags Across North American Stores

As a company rooted in the power of reuse, the decision to reduce plastic consumption is a natural extension of what it means to #RethinkReuse

TORONTO, Sept. 13, 2018 /CNW/ -- Today, the Value Village®, also known as Village des Valeurs® in Québec, announced the decision to phase out plastic bags from stores across Canada and the United States by the end of 2018. In place of the plastic bags, shoppers are encouraged to use reusable totes or paper bags at all stores.

Eliminating the purchase of plastic bags will keep millions of plastic bags out of landfills and oceans for years to come. This is in addition to the more than 700 million pounds of clothing and textiles Value Village® keeps out of North America's waste stream each year.

"For the last 60 years, Value Village® has been committed to reducing North America's clothing footprint by extending the life of garments," commented Tony Shumpert, vice president of Recycling and Reuse at Value Village®. "The decision to phase out plastic bags from our stores was a natural next step in our journey to improving our communities and our planet." 

According to National Geographic, approximately 18 billion pounds of plastic waste flows into the oceans every year from coastal regions, which is equal to five grocery bags of plastic trash sitting on every foot of coastline around the world. And in the Canada, the amount is enough to circle the globe 55 times. Plastic bags themselves make up a large part of the plastic in our trash, with scientists estimating that it can take 200 to 1,000 years for a plastic bag to degrade.

"Our commitment to Rethink Reuse goes beyond just clothing and home goods. Every choice we make can make a big environmental difference," said Shumpert. "The reality is that much like the environmental impact of the clothing and textile industry, the impact that plastic bags have on our planet is staggering ? it's up to all of us to be environmentally conscious in our day-to-day lives and business practices."

To learn more about the Value Village Rethink Reuse® initiative, visit http://www.valuevillage.com/rethinkreuse.

ABOUT VALUE VILLAGE^®

At?Value Village®, we believe good style is more than how you put together your closet and home ? it's being able to do good while looking good ? for yourself, your neighborhood and your planet. As a for-profit, purpose-driven retailer, Value Village® provides a wide selection of must-have?secondhand clothing, accessories and household goods at an affordable price and keeps more than 700 million pounds of reusable goods from reaching landfills each year. Learn more at www.valuevillage.com and join the #RethinkReuse conversation.     

SOURCE Value Village