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Whole Foods set to ban plastic straws

Chain says it will be first national grocer to do so

Russell Redman

May 21, 2019

2 Min Read
Whole_Foods_coffee_and_juice_bar_1000.png
A Whole Foods coffee and juice bar.Photos: Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods Market said it will be the first national supermarket chain to eliminate plastic straws from its stores.

The Austin, Texas-based specialty grocer said yesterday that, by July, it will remove plastic straws from all Whole Foods-operated venues, including Allegro coffee bars, juice bars and cafes. The ban includes the retailer’s locations in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Instead of plastic straws, paper straws will be provided with frozen drinks or on request, Whole Foods said. A plastic straw option will be available for customers with disabilities. The paper straws are Forest Stewardship Council-certified, recyclable and compostable.

Whole_Foods_freshmade_juice.pngAlso as part of its plastic reduction efforts, Whole Foods is replacing hard-plastic rotisserie chicken containers with new bags that use about 70% less plastic. The company noted that it also switched to smaller plastic bags in its produce department this year.

“For almost 40 years, caring for the environment has been central to our mission and how we operate,” President and Chief Merchandising Officer A.C. Gallo said in a statement. “We recognize that single-use plastics are a concern for many of our customers, team members and suppliers, and we’re proud of these packaging changes, which will eliminate an estimated 800,000 pounds of plastics annually.”

Related:Aldi steps up plastics reduction

Among initiatives to cut down plastic use at the store level, Whole Foods said it recently eliminated polystyrene/Styrofoam meat trays at all stores in the U.S. and Canada. The grocery chain also provides customers with environmentally responsible food containers for prepared foods, including salad boxes made of 100% commercially compostable material.

Whole Foods noted that, in 2008, it became the first U.S. grocer to end the use disposable plastic grocery bags at the checkouts of all its stores.

“We will continue to look for additional opportunities to further reduce plastic across our stores,” Gallo added.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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