When the Woodward Corner Market by Meijer opens in Royal Oak later this month don’t expect to walk away with your groceries in the typical single-use plastic bags.
On Wednesday, Meijer announced the new market will open without those plastic bags. Instead, the store will offer two multi-use, recyclable plastic bag options for sale at checkout or customers can bring in their own reusable bags.
Both bags, depending on the weight inside, can be used up to 125 times, Meijer said, before being recycled. Woodward Corner Market is the first Meijer store to not offer single-use plastic bags and offer the reusable bag option.
“Meijer is committed to lessening our impact on the environment, and we saw an opportunity to reinforce that commitment by not offering traditional single-use plastic bags from Day One at Woodward Corner Market,” store manager Natalie Rubino said in a news release. “We understand this is not a common practice, but we believe this is the right move for this community and our customers.”
Both bags are low-density polyethylene (LDPE) made with lightweight plastic and 80% post-consumer recycled content, Meijer said. The bags are also 100% recyclable.
Recycling containers will be placed at the front of the store for the bags once they are worn out. The bags are white with the Woodward Corner Market logo one side and will cost 10 cents each. Recycling details are on the opposite side.
A reusable bag offered at the Meijer's Woodward Corner Market can be used 125 times.
A thicker, black LDPE bag is also recyclable through plastic bag recycling containers in the front of the store.
This bag features Woodward Corner Market logo on one side. On the other side, Meijer gives a nod to the Woodward Dream Cruise and features a car driving down Woodward Avenue — an image they said will also be featured inside the market.
A reusable bag offered at the Meijer's Woodward Corner Market include a nod to Woodward Avenue and the Dream Cruise.
The store is set to open January 29. Meijer says that the store is the first in the Midwest to offer the sustainable alternatives made to be used up to 125 times.
“We see more customers taking advantage of reusable bags available at all of our stores, so the opening of Woodward Corner Market provides a great opportunity to promote this option from the beginning,” Meijer President & CEO Rick Keyes said. “We will continue to look for ways to promote the use of reusable bags and reduce single-use plastics at all of our locations.”
Woodward Corner Market grocery store is located at in the Woodward Corners by Beaumont development at 13 Mile and Woodward. At 41,000 square feet, it’s the largest tenant in the development.
This is the second smaller-format store for the Grand Rapids-based retailer. Its first, Bridge Street Market in Grand Rapids, opened in August 2018. These new concept store are meant to have an urban feel and neighborhood grocer appeal. Woodward Corner Market will have fresh food and produce, prepared foods, bakery items, fresh meat and deli offerings. It will also highlight more than 2,000 local, artisan items.
Meijer is not the only game in town to initiate sustainable practices. In 2018 and as part of its zero waste campaign, Cincinnati-based Kroger announced it will eliminate offering single-use plastic bags nationwide by 2025.
Known as a being no-frills, Aldi stores only offer bags for sale or customers must bring in their own. Aldi, also charges 25 cents for the use of a shopping cart, that is refunded when you return the cart.