Source: NewSeasonsMarket

Grocery chain to ditch single-use bottled water—and not just plastic either!

Oregon and California supermarket chain to discontinue the sale of still water bottles—size 1lt or less in single-use plastic, fibre, aluminium, or glass containers—before Earth Day 2021, and offer more eco-friendly alternatives instead.

Grocery chain leaves single-use bottle water high and dry

As from Earth Day, April 22, 2021, New Seasons Market (a chain of 19 stores primarily based in Oregon) and New Leaf Community Markets (its California-based subsidiary), will no longer sell standard single-use bottled water. As part of their ongoing efforts to reduce waste, the company say this action alone will remove almost 200,000 single-use plastic, aluminium, fibre and glass bottles from our planet this year.

The chain will continue offering one refillable single-serve option of still water (Pathwater), single-serve bottles of sparkling and flavored water (you can’t get those from tap!), and larger jugs of water.
The stores will discontinue the sale of still water bottles, size 1lt or less in single-use plastic, fibre, aluminium, or glass containers. The chain will continue offering one refillable single-serve option of still water (Pathwater), single-serve bottles of sparkling and flavored water (you can’t get those from tap!), and larger jugs of water. Source: Facebook/New Seasons Market

If you can get it from the tap, you can’t buy it from these stores

Starting from Earth Day, April 22, 2021, New Seasons Market (a chain of 19 stores primarily based in Oregon) and New Leaf Community Markets (its California-based subsidiary), will no longer sell standard single-use bottled water. 

As part of their ongoing efforts to reduce waste, the company say this action alone will remove almost 200,000 single-use plastic, aluminium, fibre and glass bottles from our planet this year.

New Seasons Market, a chain of 19 stores primarily based in Oregon, and New Leaf Community Markets, its California-based subsidiary, will no longer sell standard single-use bottled water, starting on Earth Day, 22 April. 

Shelves that used to hold bottled water will be mostly empty, with plastic and glass bottles replaced by a smaller number of reusable bottles. Another empty shelf below it will be covered with a sign boosting reuse. New Seasons Market’s decision applies to all aluminum and glass bottles as well.

The stores will continue selling larger plastic jugs of both still and sparkling water. “We did a variety of analytics to decide what is the right mix and size of water bottles to eliminate from our shelf and decided to go with anything that you could get from the tap,” sustainability manager Athena Petty told FastCompany. “So that’s one litre and less still water.”

For customers who come into the store wishing to leave with a small bottle of water, a reusable bottle from Pathwater is a replacement. The stores also have refill stations. 

While its customers in sustainability-focused Portland and Santa Cruz might already be more likely than the average American to carry reusable bottles, the change will still make a difference: In a year, the stores have been selling more than a quarter of a million bottles of water.

Source: FastCompany 

Another empty shelf below it will be covered with a sign boosting reuse. New Seasons Market’s decision applies to all aluminum and glass bottles as well.
Shelves that used to hold bottled water will be mostly empty, with plastic and glass bottles replaced by a smaller number of reusable bottles. Another empty shelf below it will be covered with a sign boosting reuse. New Seasons Market’s decision applies to all aluminum and glass bottles as well. Source: NewSeasonsMarket/FastCompany

https://www.newseasonsmarket.com/sustainability/

New Seasons Market commitment to sustainability includes—but is not limited to—these actions below:


  • New Seasons Market is committed to reducing their food waste 50% by 2030.
  • They partner with over 50 hunger relief organisations, including Urban Gleaners and Oregon Food Bank, who are committed to providing quality food to those experiencing hunger in their communities.
  • Bag it Forward community donation program lets you donate a 5 cent reusable shopping bag refund to one of three nonprofits in your local store’s neighborhood.
  • Their Neighbor Rewards program offers environmental incentives, including e-receipts and bonus points when you shop with reusable bags.
  • They’ve eliminated single-use service ware and straws in all their stores, offering only reusable utensils to prevent waste before it starts.
  • As a partner of Portland’s own GO Box, they currently offer reusable takeout containers in all Portland area stores. With GO Box, customers can take their food in reusable to-go boxes and drop the containers back off for washing and reuse.
  • In-store customer recycling programs are offered for plastic film, cork, aluminum cans and Paktech plastic handles. 
  • 100% of their electricity was purchased through Renewable Energy Credit in 2020, avoiding 1,293 pounds of carbon emissions, or the equivalent of removing 400 cars from the road annually!

To read New Seasons Market suitability policies in full, click here.

Source: NewSeasonsMarket

Glass is more likely to be recycled but has a higher carbon footprint when bottles are delivered because it’s heavier. Aluminium cans are also more likely to be recycled but more than half in the U.S. still end up trashed. Making an aluminum can, even with recycled material, also has some environmental impact.
No more glass or aluminium single use bottles either. Glass is more likely to be recycled but has a higher carbon footprint when bottles are delivered because it’s heavier. Aluminium cans are also more likely to be recycled but more than half in the U.S. still end up trashed. Making an aluminum can, even with recycled material, also has some environmental impact. Source: NewSeasonsMarket/FastCompany

TOP 6 REASONS TO AVOID PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES

Top 6reasons to avoid bottled water are global in nature. Especially in the developed world — US and European Countries — there are many alternatives, mostly even better than bottled water. Choosing to be part of the solution to resolve plastic pollution and reduce carbon emissions while increasing access to drinkable water is a simple objective. It all comes to our choices.

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