A&P Helps Reduce Waste, Teach Kids About Sustainability
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. Inc. (A&P) has teamed up with the Children’s Environmental Literacy Foundation (CELF), a Chappaqua, N.Y.-based nonprofit organization dedicated to educating children about sustainability. The net proceeds of each paper bag bought at the Mamaroneck, N.Y., A&P will go to CELF to further its sustainability education programs in the state’s Westchester County.
The partnership was established ahead of the village of Mamaroneck’s new law banning the use of nonbiodegradable bags in retail stores, which takes effect March 31. As of this date, A&P will discontinue the use of plastic bags to comply with the law, instead offering shoppers such eco-friendly bagging options as 100 percent recycled paper shopping bags for 5 cents each, or reusable shopping bags made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled material, also available for purchase.
To get customers up to speed, A&P will carry reusable shopping bags at a discounted price through April 20. Additionally, shoppers will receive a 5-cent rebate for every paper or reusable bag they bring to the store to pack their groceries in.
“A&P is committed to being Mamaroneck’s neighborhood store and has been on the forefront of reusable bag usage for the past several years,” noted Sam Martin, president and CEO of the Montvale, N.J.-based grocer. “We chose to partner with CELF to benefit the people and communities we serve in Westchester and to show our commitment to furthering the conservation of this area.”
“This partnership will serve as a platform to build awareness and support for CELF’s mission to educate K-12 students to become environmentally literate and prepare them with the critical thinking skills and intellectual framework to face the most critical issues of the 21st century,” added Katie Ginsberg, the organization’s executive director and founder.
On Saturday, March 23; Saturday, March 30; and Sunday, April 7, CELF representatives will be at the store to provide customers with educational information on sustainability.
A&P operates more than 300 stores in six Northeast states under the following banners: A&P, Best Cellars, Food Basics, The Food Emporium, Pathmark, Superfresh and Waldbaum’s.