Quick Take:
‘By committing to using reusable bottles, we can remove almost 70,000 single-use plastic, aluminum and glass bottles a year,’ Athena Petty, senior sustainability manager at New Leaf Community Markets, says.
New Leaf Community Markets announced today that it will eliminate the sale of all single-use water bottles from their stores effective on Earth Day, April 22, 2021.
“By committing to using reusable bottles, we can remove almost 70,000 single-use plastic, aluminum and glass bottles a year,” Athena Petty, senior sustainability manager at New Leaf Community Markets, said in a statement. “We’re starting efforts with still water in containers one liter or less because opting for reusables is an easy individual choice to help lessen our collective environmental impact.”
The stores will still offer one single-use water option, bottles from Pathwater, a company that sells water in a 20 ounce aluminum bottle meant to be reused. It retails for about $2.50. Containers over one liter will also be available, as well as some sparkling and flavored waters.
The move follows several county and statewide efforts to reduce waste, by banning or imposing a cost on disposable items such as plastic bags and single use cups.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, one million plastic drinking bottles are purchased every minute around the world, along with 5 trillion single-use plastic bags used every year.
Of all the plastic waste generated in the world, the UNEP says only 9% has been recycled, while 79% has landed in dumps, landfills, or the natural environment.