Compostable bags make produce aisle greener

The Natural Grocery Co., a regional retailer with two stores in Berkely and El Cerrito, CA, has switched to new compostable produce bags to better align the packaging with its environmental commitment. The company's produce and meat departments are dedicated to organic and natural products. And its green initiatives include using solar energy, and ensuring its waste stream is diverted to compost and recycling wherever possible. Bob Gerner, general manager, says the enormous number of plastic bags the store was ordering every year was a primary driver to consider alternatives.

The new produce bags, printed with branding messages, are made primarily from cornstarch that's free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and compostable in consumers' yards and commercial operation. Excellent Packaging & Supply, which manufactures and distributes biodegradable and nature-based packaging for foodservice and other applications, has added this new line of domestically produced, clear produce bags designed for grocery stores and bulk food purveyors. The bags are available as a custom order from BioMass Packaging, which is known for its collection of stock green dinnerware and foodservice packaging.

Many grocery managers are looking for ways to eliminate plastic produce bags made from fossil fuels. Compostable bags have been available, but these bags tended to be somewhat opaque, making it difficult to identify the product inside. These new produce bags are made from an improved version of Mater-Bi, a compostable and primarily bio-based plastic. These bags offer good clarity of their contents, making them more convenient for shoppers and checkout clerks. The new produce bags also use 50 percent fewer raw materials and less energy to produce and ship than standard bags.

To further reduce waste, these compostable produce bags are available to shoppers from a single-hand dispenser of individual bags. BioMass Packaging provides these dispensers free with any purchase of the produce bags. The Pull-N-Pak dispenser has a narrow profile, making it easy to accommodate it within produce displays, and dispenses bags pre-opened for the customer. Additionally, the bags feature a wide opening that makes it easy to load large, wet items so shopping is more convenient for customers.

"We decided to switch from traditional PE bags to the new compostable bags made from Mater-Bi. It's never an easy decision to change to a more expensive product, but we wanted to do our part and help reduce the level of plastic going into landfills, the San Francisco Bay and, ultimately, the ocean," says Gerner. "Overall, the response from customers has been very favorable. People understand that these bags cost more and aren't quite as convenient, but they think we're doing the right thing. Someone needs to lead the charge and help change people's behavior. The bottom line is that eliminating about one million polyethylene bags from our stores is a significant benefit for the planet."

"Providing patrons of grocery, produce and bulk food stores a planet-friendly alternative to traditional plastic grocery bags can boost goodwill and loyalty-especially if the bags are branded with the store's logo," says Allen King, president of Excellent Packaging & Supply. "We're pleased to be able to give our grocery customers access to the first new innovation in the produce bag dispensing area in years, combined with a green solution to the proliferation of fossil-based plastic produce bags."

For more information, call BioMass Packaging at 800-317-2737.