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SYDNEY, N.S.

Sobeys began the Nova Scotia roll out of a new, free, environmentally-responsible, single-use plastic bag on Thursday.

It’s the next step in introducing a bag that uses 30 per cent less plastic to Sobeys stores across Canada.

The Nova Scotia rollout started with a select group of stores in northern Nova Scotia including six stores throughout Cape Breton — Sobeys 622 Reeves St., Port Hawkesbury; Sobeys 116 King St., North Sydney; Sobeys 95 Keltic Dr., Sydney River; Sobeys 250 Prince St., Sydney; Sobeys 3500 Emerald St., New Waterford; and Sobeys 144 Reserve St., Glace Bay.

The new bag is already in use in P.E.I.

As part of the rollout, Sobeys is also encouraging customers to use reusable bags to support the company’s commitment to the environment and sustainability.

“The bigger story here is our focus on moving toward reusable, more sustainable options to carry your groceries home,” said Paul McLeod, vice-president operations, Sobeys Atlantic.

“We are focused on making it easier for our customers to choose reusable bags and to make use of our on-site plastic bag collection bin program. We invite our customers to deposit any and all of their used plastic bags in our bins for reuse and recycling right here in Atlantic Canada.”

To kick off the launch of the single-use bag, Sobeys is giving away a free, reusable Bag for Life to customers who spend $50 or more and swipe their AIR MILES card, between June 21-27.

Sobeys was recently awarded the Environmental Leadership Award by the Retail Council of Canada.

The bags for the grocer’s needs across Canada will be produced in Atlantic Canada through a new contract with Inteplast of New Brunswick.

Sobeys has solidified a partnership with Inteplast to provide in-store plastic bag collection bins. Every week, Inteplast co-ordinates pickups from Sobeys stores and takes the bags to its plant in New Brunswick where they are recycled into other plastic goods.

Headquartered in Stellarton, Pictou County, Sobeys has been serving the food shopping needs of Canadians since 1907. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Empire Company Ltd. (TSX: EMP.A), Sobeys owns or franchises approximately 1,500 stores in all 10 provinces under retail banners that include Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, FreshCo, Thrifty Foods and Lawton’s Drug Stores as well as more than 350 retail fuel locations. Sobeys, its franchisees, and affiliates employ more than 125,000 people.

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