<p><strong>Lakeland, FL</strong><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Publix Super Markets has made efforts to decrease the use of paper and plastic grocery bags used at checkout, since 2007. The company has supported these efforts by training front service clerks and cashiers to increase the number of items placed in each bag, implementing bag reduction goals for each store, holding communication campaigns to encourage the use of reusable bags while also donating reusable bags to non-profits and partner organizations throughout the southeast region, according to a press release. The company’s initiatives have reduced the use of paper and plastic grocery bags by over one million per day. Publix has achieved a milestone as of May 10, 2012 with the number of bags saved since mid 2007 exceeding two billion.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Maria Brous, Publix Director of Media and Community Relations, states, “At Publix, we are fortunate to have customers and associates who are committed to sustaining our environment.” Ms. Brous, continues, “That’s why we focus on the responsible use of environmental resources, and offering our customers and associates options when choosing paper, plastic or reusable bags. “<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> The company has a long history of sustainability efforts, offering in-store recycling of bags since the 1970s and in 2007, Publix introduced its first .99 cent reusable bags. Since the .99 cent reusable bags were introduced, over 21 million of the reusable bags have been sold at Publix locations. The company’s 2011 stats boast an overall recycling rate of 49 percent with 221,900 tons of cardboard, 8,800 tons of plastic and 3,200 tons of mixed paper being recycled by the grocery chain.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">www.publix.com</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
