Whole Foods Sacks Plastic Bags

After Earth Day on April 22, customers at any of Whole Foods' 270 stores will be taking home their groceries in a paper bag—unless they bring their own bag, reports the Austin American Statesman's Business Blog. The chain, concerned about the environment, is phasing out plastic bags. Experts say it's a bold move, but one that others may follow.

Billions of plastic bags are thrown away every year and restrictions on their use are growing. Whole Foods executives say the chain-wide move has had a trial run since San Francisco banned the bags. “It was paper for many, many years. It’s not really a hardship," said one executive. (More Whole Foods stories.)