Reusable Shopping Bags at IGA Stores of BC

Let’s Talk About Shopping Bags

At IGA Stores of BC, we’re committed to helping everyone transition to reusable bags, making the switch as simple as possible.

While there’s no perfect solution, making mindful choices can help reduce environmental impact.

Since the ban on single-use plastic bags, shoppers have two primary alternatives. Let’s explore these options together.

*Note: This is an independent store initiative.*

Paper Bags

Paper Bags: A Closer Look

Paper bags are often seen as a more eco-friendly option since they are biodegradable and easily recyclable. However, their production requires cutting down millions of trees and consuming significant amounts of water and energy, leading to increased carbon emissions and environmental strain.

Pros:

Made from renewable resources.
Biodegradable and recyclable, helping reduce long-term environmental impact when properly managed.
Break down faster than plastic bags in natural environments.

Cons:

Require more energy and water to produce compared to single-use plastic bags. For example, manufacturing 1,000 paper bags consumes 23.2 kg of fossil fuels and 1,004 gallons of water.
Result in higher greenhouse gas emissions during production than plastic bags, with 1,000 paper bags generating 0.08 tons of CO2.
Heavier and bulkier, contributing to increased transportation emissions.
Less durable and not always suitable for multiple uses. In fact, a paper bag needs to be reused at least three times to offset its initial carbon footprint compared to a single-use plastic bag.

Fun Fact:

Single-use plastic bags were originally invented in 1959 by Swedish engineer Sten Gustaf Thulin as a solution to reduce deforestation caused by paper bag production. It takes an entire 15- to 20-year-old tree to produce just 700 paper bags. Based on our estimates, over 200 trees are cut down each month to meet the demand for paper bags at our stores alone—that’s more than 2,400 trees per year.

Reusable Bags

Reusable Bags: A Sustainable Choice?

Reusable bags, typically made from cotton or polypropylene, are designed for long-term use, meaning they can greatly reduce waste when used consistently. Their main advantage is that repeated use helps lower their overall environmental impact over time.

Pros:

Built for multiple uses, cutting down the demand for single-use bags.
Cotton bags are biodegradable and can be recycled.
Polypropylene bags are durable and require fewer uses to offset their production impact compared to cotton bags.

Cons:

Cotton bag production requires large amounts of water, pesticides, and fertilizers, contributing to a significant environmental footprint.
Polypropylene bags are derived from petroleum, a non-renewable resource that contributes to global warming and has environmental risks associated with extraction.
To match the environmental impact of plastic bags, cotton bags need to be reused 50-150 times, while polypropylene bags need at least 11 reuses. However, their impact decreases with continued use.

But Is There a Better Alternative?

Borrow A Bag

A Smarter Way to Shop Sustainably

While reusable bags are the more eco-friendly choice, many shoppers still find themselves relying on single-use paper bags. This often happens because:

They forget to bring their reusable bags and don’t want to purchase more, leading to an unnecessary collection at home.
They may not fully realize the environmental impact of single-use paper bags.

We know our customers want to make sustainable choices while also saving money, which is why we’re excited to introduce Canada’s first-ever Borrow a Bag program at IGA stores across British Columbia.

This initiative promotes reusable bag use while reducing dependence on single-use paper bags.

Shoppers at most IGA locations in British Columbia can borrow a reusable bag with a refundable $2.99 deposit. Once they’re done using it, they can return the bag to receive their deposit back. Each bag is cleaned and recirculated in-store as part of this closed-loop reusable bag system.

And if you forget to return them right away and accumulate a few at home—no problem! You can bring them back at any time to get your deposits refunded.