Solomon’s team member packs a reusable shopping bag, which reduces the harmful impact of plastic on our environment.

Freeport, Bahamas - At the 2nd Annual Bring Your Own Bag (BYOB) event in recognition of Earth Day, AML Foods Ltd. encouraged Saturday shoppers at their Grand Bahama stores to swap plastic bags for environmentally friendly, reusable shopping bags.

The company teamed up with the Keep Grand Bahama Clean Committee to give out 10,000 eco-friendly bags to customers at Solomon’s Queen’s Highway and Solomon’s Lucaya in an effort to reduce the negative impact of plastic waste on our natural environment.

The BYOB initiative started in New Providence and Grand Bahama last April. A total of 20,000 free reusable bags were given out over the course of one year. This year, in Grand Bahama, shoppers not only received bags from AML but also learned how to convert old T-Shirts into reusable bags as well.

AML has set a goal of distributing 30,000 bags in 2017 and is off to a strong start thanks to partners at The Tribune and Radio House, Coca Cola, RBC and Aliv, as well as international food vendors Organic Valley and Miracle Noodle.

Customer walks away with a reusable shopping bag, which has the potential to eliminate an average of 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime.

“We are committed to seeing this important community effort through, one bag at a time. Our ultimate goal is to have plastic-free zones in all of our grocery stores and we are off to a great start,” said Gavin Watchorn, President & CEO of AML Foods Ltd. “Together with our partners, we believe that the BYOB event could eliminate up to two million plastic bags annually from local circulation, which is a significant reduction in terms of the impact on the environment.”

Watchorn also noted that biodegradable plastic bags are currently being used in AML’s retail outlets as a way to reduce the adverse effects of plastic on the ecosystem.

"Partnering with companies like AML Foods in addressing the vexing problem of littering is encouraging and shows that there are corporations who share our vision of Bahamians unborn having equal access to what we have today,” said Jeff Pinder, Sr. Executive Sustainable Tourism Unit Ministry of Tourism Grand Bahama Island.

He continued: “Littering the environment with plastic, styrofoam and other non-biodegradable products is not only destructive but selfish; and leads to permanent damage to our ecosystems which affects how we live today, and our children tomorrow."

Customers interested in additional reusable bags can purchase them at all AML grocery outlets. Part proceeds from each sale go directly to the Bahamas National Trust.

customer completes her shopping trip with four reusable shopping bags

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