GENERAL MEETING VOTE

Proposed by the PSFC’s Environmental CommitteeSupported by 600+ members and growing

Phasing Out Free Plastic Roll Bags on the Shopping Floor

Tuesday, May 28, 13

PROPOSAL: PLASTIC ROLL BAG PHASE OUT

To phase out the free distribution of plastic roll bags on the Coop's shopping floor by six months from the date of the GM vote.

Shoppers are welcome to reuse plastic bags already taken from the Coop and elsewhere.

During the phase out the Environmental Committee and other concerned Coop members will work with our General Coordinators to educate our membership, provide a wider range of light-weight, low-cost reusable bags for purchase, and determine the most equitable and sustainable adjustments for weighing produce and bulk.

Tuesday, May 28, 13

PROPOSAL: CLARIFICATIONS

To phase out the free distribution of plastic roll bags on the Coop's shopping floor by six months from the date of the GM vote.

The proposal is a phase out of the FREE and easily accessible distribution of plastic roll bags. The six month Phase Out time period was designed to ensure that members will be able to raise additional questions and concerns with ample time for these to be addressed before free distribution of plastic roll bags has ended.

Shoppers are welcome to reuse plastic bags already taken from the Coop and elsewhere.

This is not a BAN on plastic bags. It is a phase out of their FREE and uncontrolled distribution.

Tuesday, May 28, 13

PROPOSAL: CLARIFICATIONS

The Environmental Committee and others will provide six months of education during the phase out time period and beyond to help with the adjustment and transition.

Mechanisms for display, distribution and payment of all bags will be implemented in cooperation and coordination with the General Coordinators and concerned members during the phase out period.

Reusable bag options are available in the Coop now and more will be available when the phase out begins.

During the phase out the Environmental Committee and other concerned Coop members will work with our General Coordinators to educate our membership, provide a wider range of light-weight, low-cost reusable bags for purchase, and determine the most equitable and sustainable adjustments for weighing produce and bulk.

Tuesday, May 28, 13

RE-USABLE ALTERNATIVESThis proposal is not about replacing plastic bags with muslin bags or other types of free bag distribution (corn, paper). It’s not a ban on plastic. It’s about re-using bags!There are numerous no or low-cost options.

Tuesday, May 28, 13

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE PLASTIC REDUCTION EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

• educated members about concerns related to plastic consumption with floor signs, Gazette articles, blog posts, and public events.

• encouraged members to switch to reusable bags.

• asked General Coordinators to stock various and visible reusable bags options.

• requested ideas and feedback from members and administration on plastic reduction.

For 30 years the Committee has:

Tuesday, May 28, 13

PSFC ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

• Avoid toxic substances in a product's production process, use, and disposal.

• Minimize disposable products.

• Achieve environmentally sound packaging.

• Avoid companies that have demonstrated extreme levels of environmental irresponsibility.

The Environmental Committee is charged with researching and recommending best practices in order to uphold the Coop’s Environmental Policy.

Environmental policy aims to, in part:

These principles are violated by the Coop’s free distribution of plastic bags.

Tuesday, May 28, 13

PSFC MISSION STATEMENT

The Coop’s Mission Statement states, in part:

• We seek to avoid products that depend on the exploitation of others.

• We strive to reduce the impact of our lifestyles on the world we share with other species and future generations.

• We try to lead by example, educating ourselves and others.

• We oppose discrimination in any form.

These principles are violated by the Coop’s distribution of free plastic bags.

Tuesday, May 28, 13

COMMITTEE RESEARCHTRIPLE BOTTOM LINE: PROFITS, PEOPLE AND PLANET

1. Disposable Financial Waste

2. Environmental Devastation

3. Health Affects

4. Social Injustice

Our Mission Statement and Environmental Policy commit the Coop to what is known as a “triple bottom line,” or TBL. An accounting framework to evaluate the sustainability of business ventures, it integrates concern for the “3 P’s” of profits, people, and planet. The Coop is obligated to balance financial success with social and environmental sustainability.

Research:

Tuesday, May 28, 13

COMMITTEE RESEARCH1. DISPOSABLE + FINANCIAL WASTE

• British Petroleum• Halliburton• Chesapeake Energy• Dow Chemical• DuPont

Our research shows that the one of the most impactful steps toward lightening our footprint on the planet is reducing usage of disposable, “convenience” plastics.

In doing so, we also reduce our monetary contributions to the oil, natural gas, and chemical corporations who produce plastic bags -- some of the biggest polluters in the world.

Tuesday, May 28, 13

COMMITTEE RESEARCH1. DISPOSABLE FINANCIAL WASTE

The majority of polyethylene feedstock produced for the Coop’s plastic bags is born from NATURAL GAS. The Coop supports the anti-fracking/renewable energy movement, because FRACKING threatens our food supply. Providing convenient, free plastic bags increases the demand for fracking.

=+

Tuesday, May 28, 13

COMMITTEE RESEARCH1. DISPOSABLE FINANCIAL WASTE

We use 383 bags an hour and spend thousands a year on plastic food bags!*

• Few members consistently pay for each plastic roll bags.

• Since reusable alternatives are available, by phasing out plastic roll bags on the shopping floor, the Coop could start saving $22,800 a year and put that money towards renewables.

• That’s a lot of disposable financial and plastic waste when you add it up over a lifetime of shopping.

* NOT including plastic garbage and recycling bags and plastic wrap.

Tuesday, May 28, 13

... A LIFETIME OF PLASTIC BAGS LASTS FOREVER

Tuesday, May 28, 13

COMMITTEE RESEARCH2. ENVIRONMENTAL DEVASTATION

Plastic is not part of the natural life cycle. Every piece of plastic ever made still exists today and will forever!

• UNSUSTAINABLE: Made from non-renewable and rapidly declining resources, like deep-water petroleum and fracked natural gas.

• POORLY RECYCLED: Unlike glass and metal, plastic is NOT effectively recycled.

• NEVER BIODEGRADES: Plastic doesn’t biodegrade into healthy soil for our food. Instead it leaches and bioaccumulates toxins.

• OCEAN POLLUTION: Plastic polymers currently contribute up to 90% of the waste floating in the oceans.

Tuesday, May 28, 13

COMMITTEE RESEARCH3. HEALTH AFFECTS

Despite having the image of cleanliness, plastic is actually quite dirty.

• A University of Tennessee study found that nearly ALL plastic, even that which claims to be BPA-free, releases chemicals that have estrogenic activity-- causing hormone disruption and contributing to the dramatic increase in chronic health problems.

• Thousands of possible chemical additives could be added to plastic products, but trade secret laws protect the plastic industry and they are not required to disclose the ingredients.

• It's impossible for consumers to know for sure if any plastics are safe since we don't know what chemicals have been added to them and the majority of chemicals in use have not been tested.

Tuesday, May 28, 13

COMMITTEE RESEARCH4. SOCIAL INJUSTICE

Our plastic consumption and convenience culture affects not only our community, but also the families living near and working in industry plants.

• In petrochemical centers, low-income families work in the plastic manufacturing and recycling industry. Toxic air, water and soil, and a high rate of cancer death is the norm.

• According to an EPA study, of the 47 chemical plants ranked highest in carcinogenic emissions, 35 are involved in plastic recycling or production.

• Our trash and recycling is trucked through and to low income communities for processing. These communities suffer from highest asthma and cancer rates in the city.

Tuesday, May 28, 13

CONCLUSION

The Committee feels that our findings are significant and urgent enough to warrant a phase out of free plastic bag distribution on the shopping floor.

• Reusable alternatives are available now and need not incur significant costs to members.

• Paying for whatever bags we use helps us to take responsibility for the catastrophic costs of plastic manufacturing, consumption, and waste, which are not passed along to us as consumers.

• States and countries are phasing out the distribution of disposable plastic in schools, markets, and stores.

• Other food coops around the world look to the Park Slope Food Coop as a role model. Our actions in this matter will not only positively affect our local community, but could have far reaching impacts, as well.

Tuesday, May 28, 13

PSAHOW TO SHOP WITH A RE-USABLE BAG

tinyurl.com/theshopperTuesday, May 28, 13

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!

Answers to common questions about this proposal can be found in the distributed Questions and Answers handout and on our blog, EcoKvetch.blogspot.com

Interested in Joining the Committee?

• Contact: ecokvetch@yahoo.com

Find us on Twitter and Facebook

• Facebook.com/EcoKvetch

• @ecokvetch

Want to be Plastic-Free?

• Visit: myplasticfreelife.com

Tuesday, May 28, 13