For anyone that has shopped in an Apple Store, and purchased something, you’ve walked out with a white plastic drawstring bag emblazoned with an Apple logo, which become an iconic part of the Apple experience. Starting later this month, Apple is introducing changes to its bagging policy, phasing out plastic bags in favor of a more environmentally friendly paper option.
According to a report published by 9to5Mac, beginning April 15, Apple will phase out its plastic retail bag in favor of a more environmentally-friendly option, paper. Moreover, those paper bags will be constructed from 80 percent recycled material. Apple’s executives informed retail employees of the upcoming change through an internal memo, which the original report cites.
In addition to handing out paper bags, employees are also being asked to adopt a new policy of querying customers as to whether a bag is needed at all instead of simply providing one.
“We’re committed to leaving the world better than we found it. One bag at a time. So on April 15, we’ll switch to paper shopping bags made from 80 percent recycled materials. These bags come in medium and large.
When customers are buying a product, ask if they need a bag. They may decide they don’t. And you’ll encourage them to be even more environmentally friendly.
If you still have plastic bags in stock, use them before you switch to the new paper bags.”
Instead of simply switching to the paper bags, though, Apple Store employees have been told to work through the existing stock of plastic bags, and, once those have dwindled to zero, start using the paper bags exclusively from that point on. Unfortunately, just what the paper bags will look like, and if they’ll offer a drawstring, remains to be seen.