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Last Updated: Apr 15, 2018 - 9:38:10 PM |
Volunteers in April 2016 distributing eco-friendly shopping bags at previous AML BYOB event
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Nassau, Bahamas - On Sunday, April 22nd, AML Foods Ltd. will commemorate Earth Day with its 3rd annual Bring Your Own Bag (BYOB) event. This weekend, the company hopes to distribute more than 10,000 free, reusable shopping bags to customers at grocery outlets on New Providence and on Grand Bahama. Participating stores include Solomon’s Super Center at Old Trail Rd, Solomon’s Yamacraw, Solomon’s Fresh Market Harbour Bay, and Solomon’s Fresh Market Old Fort Bay in New Providence and at Solomon’s Lucaya, and Solomon’s Freeport in Grand Bahama.
Started in April 2016, the initiative is aimed at reducing the number of plastic bags in circulation in The Bahamas. AML is partnering with representatives from Caribbean Bottling, Island Wholesale, Scotia Bank, the Grand Bahama Port Authority, Paint Fair, Pelican Bay, Nassau Agencies Limited and select international vendors to distribute the eco-friendly canvas shopping bags during Sunday’s event.
Shopper using recycled bags at last year’s BYOB initiative on Grand Bahama.
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Gavin Watchorn, President & CEO of AML Foods Ltd, said the BYOB event works to raise awareness and to bring the company towards its ultimate goal of eliminating the use of plastic bags in its overall operations.
“Currently, all of our retail outlets use biodegradable plastic bags. As a company, we are focused on reducing our impact even further by aligning with strategic partners to implement this green initiative. In the future, we see all of our locations operating without the use of plastic bags,” he said.
The push to reduce and ultimately eliminate the use of plastic bags is a key element for preserving the country’s natural environment. Earlier this month, Environment and Housing Minister Romauld Ferreira announced the government’s plan to ban plastic bags in the Bahamas by 2020.
AML officials estimate that if each customer uses two reusable bags per week, approximately two million plastic bags could be removed from local circulation annually. The company believes that in the long run, opting for more eco-friendly alternatives at the checkout counter could have a significant impact on the our island’s ecosystem.
Renea Bastian, VP of Marketing and Communications encourages the Bahamian community to come out and participate in Sunday’s exercise. “Through the BYOB program, we have been able to distribute more than 36,000 bags over the past three years,” Bastian said.
“We are aiming to reduce, reuse and recycle wherever possible and we want to encourage our shoppers to make the switch from plastic to reusable bags. In addition to the free bags that will be given away on Sunday, we also have additional eco-friendly canvas bags on sale at our locations to assist our customers with the transition.”
The BYOB distribution process will begin when AML retail outlets open on Sunday April 22 and will continue while supplies last.
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