Mariano's grocery store, located in Naperville, Illinois, is in the process of eliminating single-use plastic bags, aligning itself with a global initiative to address the issue of waste. The decision is a part of a broader campaign led by Mariano's parent company, Kroger. This rollout is occurring initially at the Naperville branch found at 1300 South Naper Blvd, as per reports by the Chicago Tribune.
While Mariano's has yet to officially publicize this Naperville initiative, information about it has been provided to the Naperville Environmental and Sustainability Task Force (NEST). This group has held the role of an official advisory body since its formation in 2019. NEST representative and environmental advocate Anu Verma has publicly endorsed a citywide ban on plastic bags during a recent Naperville City Council meeting, stating the city is prepared to "rethink the status quo of (plastic) bags in the retail system," according to the Chicago Tribune.
Kroger previously rolled out their "Zero Hero" program, which focused on the recycling of plastic bags and packaging material. As described on their Mariano's website, this scheme encourages recycling of plastic packaging from their store brands like Kroger®, Simple Truth®, and Private Selection®, through their association with TerraCycle, a free, mail-in recycling program.
In a statement by Amanda Puck, a spokesperson for Mariano's, the spokesman reiterated Kroger's commitment to eradicating single-use plastic bags, expressing hopes that the Naperville pilot will advance Kroger's pledge to end both hunger and waste in the communities which they serve, as reported by Chicago Tribune.
The joint efforts between the council and the new initiative from Mariano's could formulate a progressive solution that benefits the local community and the environment as a whole, setting an example for other cities. As Mariano's refines the pilot's implementation details and the Naperville City Council deliberates over potential laws, progress towards this objective is evident and essential considering the current state of planetary health, as detailed in the Chicago Tribune.
