What’s Happening?
There’s a new ban on pre-checkout plastic bags that took effect January 1, 2025. California SB 1046 places new restrictions on the types of pre-checkout bags that most grocery stores, retail stores with a pharmacy, convenience stores, food marts and liquor stores may provide to customers.
A pre-checkout bag is one that’s provided to a customer before checkout to contain unwrapped items like bulk foods or loose produce or protect a purchased item from damage or contamination.
How does this affect your shopping at BriarPatch?
We now only offer 100% recycled paper bags as well as compostable bags that fall under SB 1046 legislation for the Bulk/Unpackaged, Wellness and Produce departments. The Meat& Seafood department can still use plastic bags behind the counter for wrapping products, because this is not designated as pre-checkout, but is considered packaging.
We’ve got some great reusable bag and container options available for purchase, and you’re always welcome to bring your own from home. Please weigh your containers and mark them with the tare weight before adding your items to make sure you’re not paying for that weight when you check out. If you need help, just ask an employee who will be happy to help!
Want to know more? Then pack your bags! Why use recycled paper or compostable bags?
Purchasing 100% recycled paper supports recycling efforts and reduces the demand for raw materials, helps protect our forests and can make a big difference.
Manufacturing compostable packaging generally has a lower carbon footprint and uses less fossil fuels than plastic. Since compostable packaging is designed to break down naturally, it doesn’t contribute to long-term waste, whereas plastic can persist in landfills for hundreds of years, requiring energy to manage and often releasing harmful greenhouse gases as it breaks down.
Want more details on what kind of bags we can offer?
The legislation requires that, as of January 1, 2025, stores may only provide customers with pre-checkout bags that are:
Recycled papers bags, OR Compostable bags that meet the following requirements:
- Not display a chasing arrow resin code or recycling symbol.
- Not be labeled with the terms “biodegradable,” “degradable,” or “decomposable” and not imply it will do so in a landfill or other environment.
- Have a minimum 15-inch mouth width
These compostable bags must either:
- Be green and labeled with the word “compostable” on one side in one-inch lettering; OR
- Be labeled with the word “compostable” on both sides in either one-inch green lettering or within a one-inch green color band with contrasting lettering.
- Be distinguishable from other non-compostable plastic bags and consistent with the Federal Trade Commission Green Guides.
- Meet the ASTM D6400-19 standard specification, as verified by a recognized independent third-party, and is labeled with a certification logo.
- Be eligible to be labeled “compostable” or “home compostable”.
And, here’s BriarPatch’s packaging policy!
BriarPatch’s packaging policy states we will prioritize packaging made of recycled content. Check out our packaging policy here: Packaging-Guidelines.pdf (briarpatch.coop)