Plastic bags are soon to become a thing of the past at B.C. government liquor stores.
The B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch is planning to eliminate its distinctive, thicker-than-grocery-store plastic bags in favour of paper bags.
"We're committed to minimizing the impact of our operations on the environment, and to providing customers with checkout bags that are manufactured responsibly and widely recyclable," said spokeswoman Viviana Zanocco.
The Liquor Distribution Branch is one of the largest retailers and distributors of alcoholic beverages in Canada, with annual sales of $3.5 billion. It also hands out about 22 million plastic bags a year.
It's currently looking for suppliers that can meet the branch's requirements for paper bags, which could be offered to customers for the charge of an "environmental fee," according to a request for proposal issued earlier this month.
Among the requirements: The bags have to be approximately 16 to 17 inches in height, 9.75 inches in width and six inches in depth; be made of natural kraft paper; be 100 per cent recyclable and compostable; and more importantly, for practical purposes, be capable of carrying a load of 7.5 kilograms without breaking. That's equivalent to six bottles of wine or a six-pack of beer and two bottles of wine.
The switch would apply to all 197 government-run liquor stores in B.C.
Stores in five municipalities, including Tofino, Victoria, Ucluelet, Salmon Arm and Cumberland, have already switched to paper bags, said Zanocco.
"The response from customers has been very positive," she said.
Those paper bags can already hold a weight of 7.5 kilograms without breaking. They don't have handles, and Zanocco said there is likely no paper bags with handles that have the required tensile strength. They are slightly shorter than the request for proposal specifications.
The liquor distribution branch has not set a timeline for the switch, which partly depends on how quickly a supplier can be finalized and production ramped up.
At a downtown Vancouver B.C. liquor store, an unscientific poll of departing customers revealed about half opted out of plastic bags, tossing their purchases into their own bags, either cloth bags or an existing plastic shopping bag.
"I think it's great. It'll be good for the environment," said Erica Pizzacalla, who said she wouldn't mind paying a small fee to use a paper bag.
Everett Markus, who was returning his empties to the store, expressed concern about how paper bags might hold up in typical Vancouver weather. "I don't trust it. If it rains, the paper will get all soggy and it'll fall apart."
The best solution, he said, is to BYOB -- bags, that is.
Eddy Mascarenas, who owns a recycling company, agrees. While he thinks the switch to paper bags is overdue, he says people should bring their own reusable bags. "That's the best way to do it."
At Toby's Liquor Store, an independent retailer on Commercial Drive, the store is using up the last of its plastic bags as it transitions to paper.
It had switched to purely paper bags for a few weeks, but are now sourcing a better bag, which it wants to be compostable, recyclable, biodegradable, sturdy and with handles, said manager Rhonda Martens.
"Once the customers get accustomed to it, it becomes the norm," she said.
"Many have remarked that the paper bags are great for using in their compost bins as liners. I think it's all about perspective."
