page_title: Whole Foods Market
section_title: Eliminating plastic
hierarchical_section_title: Whole Foods Market / Efforts / Eliminating plastic
caption_attribution_description: English: Reusable bags made by KeepCool USA and sold by Whole Foods Market in spring 2018. The bags are a style known as the Kangaroo Tote, with a Whole Foods Market design.
context_page_description: Whole Foods Market Inc. is an American multinational supermarket chain headquartered in Austin, Texas, which exclusively sells products free from hydrogenated fats and artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. A USDA Certified Organic grocer in the United States, the chain is popularly known for its organic selections. Whole Foods has 500 stores in North America and seven in the United Kingdom as of March 4, 2019.
  On August 23, 2017, it was reported that the Federal Trade Commission had approved a merger between Amazon and Whole Foods Market; the deal was closed on August 28, 2017.
context_section_description: In January 2008, Whole Foods Market was the first U.S. supermarket to commit to completely eliminating disposable plastic grocery bags to help protect the environment and conserve resources, and many stores serve as a collection point for shoppers to recycle their plastic bags.
  On Earth Day, April 22, 2008, the chain eliminated the use of disposable plastic grocery bags company-wide in favor of reusable bags or paper bags made from recycled paper. The company also began offering "Better Bags", a large and colorful grocery bag made primarily from recycled bottles. The move from the traditional paper/plastic system to environmentally friendly and reusable bags has been packaged as an initiative the company calls "BYOB – Bring Your Own Bag". The campaign is aimed at reducing pollution by eliminating plastic bags and reducing waste by encouraging bag reuse with "bag refunds" of 5–10 cents, depending on the store.
  It still however offers plastic bags in its produce department.
caption: Reusable bags made by KeepCool USA and sold by Whole Foods Market in spring 2018
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