How to Approach Your Local Retailer about Plastic Bags

For those of you who were able to come to the December 4th, 2018 Ideastream/ League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland’s panel discussion on Plastics and Lake Erie, thank you. As promised we want to help you approach your local retailers with the idea of supporting the use of reusable bags. Each year, 22 million pounds of plastics enter the Great Lakes, and there is something we can do about it!

Actions you can take today:

• Share this blog on social media
• Bring your own bag to EVERY store you go to
• Refuse disposable, single-use items (bags, bottled water, cutlery, produce bags, etc.)
• Approach your retailer with the idea of promoting a plastic-bag-free business because we all need clean water

Here is a template email or letter you can give to your favorite retailer (copy and paste):

Dear ,

Thank you for being a business that I trust and frequent often. Lately, I have been learning a lot about plastic bag bans or fees. I’ve realized that 60 countries in the world have gone plastic-bag-free as well as many retailers, cities, and states in our country. Cities are seeing an average of 80% drop in plastic bag pollution and retailers/ grocers are saving money.

We live near 20% of the world’s freshwater and I truly take personal responsibility for how we protect our Great Lakes. I am requesting your consideration of protecting our Great Lakes and community by incentivizing (and publicizing) the use of reusable bags (which you can also sell) or potentially charging a small fee (5-10 cents per bag).

I am bringing this idea to you as something I would love to be a part of, to make our community a better place.

Thank you for considering this request to become an even better partner in our community.

Your customer,

 

Phone:

Email: