Ralphs partners with ESCA to promote reusable shopping bags

ESCA continues to have a successful relationship with Ralphs with its promotion and sales of reusable shopping bags.

The cost of the bags is 2 for $3.  With each reusable shopping bag purchased, a 50-cent donation goes to benefit EarthShare California and its environmental charities. Customers will also receive 5 cents back each time they use their Ralphs reusable shopping bag.

During the first year of the promotion, from April 2007 to Dec. 2007, 215,886 reusable bags were sold, earning $107,943 in donations to ESCA and participating member groups.

Top 5 Reasons to Reuse a Bag:

• The petroleum in 14 plastic bags could drive a car 1 mile.
• Americans use over 14 billion plastic bags annually.
• It takes 70% more global warming gasses to make a paper bag than a plastic bag.
• Paper bags do not biodegrade in landfills.
• Cities spend up to 17 cents per bag in disposal costs.

EarthShare California and its environmental charities would like to thank the Ralphs/Food 4 Less Foundation for their generous $10,000 donation to kicked off the promotion.