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Apple to Phase Out Plastic Bags for Environmentally Friendly Paper Bags Starting April 15
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Plastic bag tax??? That must be in England as the 5p levy on bags that Scotland introduced way before England applies to plastic and paper bags.
Legislation was passed by ScottishParliament, on 20th October 2014, that requires ALL retailers (food and non-food) to charge a minimum of 5p for each new single-use carrier bag (including paper, those made from some plant based materials and plastic).
I've always disliked the function of the current bags. So from my point-of-view - please replace!
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This is the big point so many want to ignore b/c they must see Apple as a savior, not just a company looking to squeeze pennies. I do own Apple stock & I could care less about the bags they use. Paper, plastic. Either way there are + and - implications to the environment as you note. Not suppling bags would, but that would be awkward. I care more about when Apple is going to make all new products that make non-geeks buzz. That is where the real coin is. Plus shiny intuitive new tech is fun for all.
The problem is this is based on a myth that paper bags are better for the environment, here is just one of many articles that debunks this myth:
http://ecomyths.org/2014/05/27/myth-paper-bags-are-greener-than-plastic/
The problem really comes down to, which will get reused more after the sale, paper or plastic? Well, with Apple's really nice bags, it is a no brainer that the plastic will get reused over and over until it is falling apart, at which time it could be recycled. Paper bags, not matter how cool the design may end up being, do not have the same durability and will not get reused near as much.
Given their extremely high profit margins and if they really cared about the environment, they would give reusable bags for free when you purchase something from the Apple store and abandon paper and plastic all together.
http://ecomyths.org/2014/05/27/myth-paper-bags-are-greener-than-plastic/
The problem really comes down to, which will get reused more after the sale, paper or plastic? Well, with Apple's really nice bags, it is a no brainer that the plastic will get reused over and over until it is falling apart, at which time it could be recycled. Paper bags, not matter how cool the design may end up being, do not have the same durability and will not get reused near as much.
Given their extremely high profit margins and if they really cared about the environment, they would give reusable bags for free when you purchase something from the Apple store and abandon paper and plastic all together.
It's not an odd statement when you read where he lives and note that San Antonio is 250 miles North of him.
I think they should give reusable bags like the kind people bring to grocery stores. Cheap bags still and free advertising.
I live in the Rio Grande Valley, ZERO stores there.
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Thank you
9 pages about paper bags. I hope MR doesn't post an article about Cook or Ive's toilet paper.
Introducing iFlush, the world's thinnest and lightest toilet paper! Made with a *cough*durable*cough* 7000-series paper, the iFlush is 40% thinner and lighter than Cottonelle or Charmin.
Prices start at $99 for one roll, with an extra roll being added for $100 extra, culminating in a 12-pack at $1299.
But be careful, some people are reporting #FlushGate.
Current paper bags probably take up less space than the current Apple plastic bags. Not sure what a new Apple paper bag looks like. All materials take energy to process, and all recycled material take energy to process as well, so it's an environmental trade-off in any respect. Overall it's a net savings.
Reusable bags are a great idea...if they are actually used more than once. Anecdotally, I have never seen an empty Apple bag go into an Apple store. Besides, store security would probably frown on that (comes in empty, leaves with items, who's keeping track of what's been paid for?
I already tell the cashier to not give me a bag if I only buy a couple things. About time stores stop automatically putting only one or two things in a bag and ask if it's actually necessary.
Last year, I suggested to an Apple Store employee that Apple should give people reusable non-woven or fabric bags with the Apple logo on them. I would gladly add them to my arsenal of shopping bags I use every time I shop.
No - I love them too -- they are sturdy and have many uses. Guess I'll have to go and buy some stuff this week to get the bags and then return the stuff to a different store.
Apologies, it is England only, and only applies to plastic carrier bags.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/carrier-bag-charges-retailers-responsibilities#bags-you-charge-for
I was going to say! I scraped and saved to buy a first generation iPod Touch and it came in the most classy looking paper bag-- very crisp and sturdy, with the logo on it. I was so proud being able to walk out of an apple store with that in hand.
....and I promptly had to hide it in my purse to ride on Muni because it was San Francisco and I did NOT want to get mugged, lol.
Not really. Caring about the environment is important. Its just too bad that most environmental organizations and efforts are based on fraud and deception, offer no real solution, and only exist to enrich the environmental group or move forward anti-capitalism.
For you disbelievers out there, you have to ignore the propaganda and advertising and look into what the owners and senior managers of these organizations actually do and think. They do not hide their beliefs or their desire to spend and pollute. You just have to look, the truth is on display with a little work. But I understand the disbelievers, it is really hard to have to spend the time to dig out the truth and much easier just to believe the press release. After all there is no reason why environmentalist would lie about the benefits other than money and power.
[doublepost=1459885067][/doublepost]Dang ... those drawstring bags are seriously nice ... make good laundry bag when I travel.
When a customer buys an Apple product in an Apple retail store, it's packaged in a white plastic drawstring bag emblazoned with an Apple logo, something that's become an iconic part of the Apple experience. Starting later this month, Apple is introducing changes to its bagging policy, phasing out plastic bags in favor of a more environmentally friendly paper option.
Apple is planning to switch from the plain white plastic bags to paper bags made from 80 percent recycled materials, which Apple says will further its goal of leaving the world "better than we found it." Apple informed employees of the impending change in a note, which was shared by 9to5Mac.
In addition to handing out paper bags, employees are also being asked to adopt a new policy of querying customers as to whether a bag is needed at all instead of simply providing one.
While Apple will begin offering the new bags on April 15, employees have been instructed to continue to use all of the available stock of plastic bags before switching to paper. Once the supply is exhausted, the new paper bags, the design of which is unknown, will be used exclusively.
Given Apple's focus on recycling, clean energy, and reducing its carbon footprint, the company's switch from plastic to paper should come as no surprise. Apple already focuses on minimizing packaging size for its products from iPhones to Macs and two-thirds of the paper used for packaging is from recycled content with the rest sourced from sustainable forests.
Article Link: Apple to Phase Out Plastic Bags for Environmentally Friendly Paper Bags Starting April 15
George Carlin:
The planet has been through a lot worse than us. Been through earthquakes, volcanoes, plate tectonics, continental drift, solar flares, sun spots, magnetic storms, the magnetic reversal of the poles … hundreds of thousands of years of bombardment by comets and asteroids and meteors, worldwide floods, tidal waves, worldwide fires, erosion, cosmic rays, recurring ice ages … And we think some plastic bags and some aluminum cans are going to make a difference? The planet isn’t going anywhere. WE are!
The planet has been through a lot worse than us. Been through earthquakes, volcanoes, plate tectonics, continental drift, solar flares, sun spots, magnetic storms, the magnetic reversal of the poles … hundreds of thousands of years of bombardment by comets and asteroids and meteors, worldwide floods, tidal waves, worldwide fires, erosion, cosmic rays, recurring ice ages … And we think some plastic bags and some aluminum cans are going to make a difference? The planet isn’t going anywhere. WE are!
About time, I'd fed up with paying £699 for a phone, then having to pay an extra 5p for a bag to carry only to see the local rivers choked full of discarded plastic bags. Give me a free paper bag anytime
apple is becoming a d-bag company, my god, I love their products but holy hell just stick with making the good stuff and quit blowing all this crap up our holes...plastic to paper WHO the helllllll cares..next thing apple will start charging us bag fees!
Most people don't upgrade RAM/Storage themselves, they get their Tech Savvy relatives to do it for them.
I've upgraded multiple MBPs, multiple iMacs, multiple Mac Minis, and the prior Macbook version. All machines prevented from being thrown away, errrrrr "Recycled". Which is the single reason Apple Glues components in now.
Look at the new "inferior" Mac Mini - Same case, glues in components. The only purpose that served, was for Apple's bottom line. Customers be damned.