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Apple Stores to transition from traditional plastic bags to paper in latest environmental move

Apple has always been known for putting a huge focus on the environment, and over recent months the company has not been shy about its initiatives. At its press event last month, Apple dedicated stage time to detailing its environmental efforts. Now, Apple looks to be bringing its environmental focus to its retail stores. In a note sent to retail employees and obtained by 9to5Mac Apple has announced that it will be moving away from the iconic plastic drawstring Apple Store bags in favor of new paper bags made out of 80 percent recycled materials.

In the note, Apple says that the change will occur on April 15th, but adds that if stores still have plastic bags in stock, they should use those first before switching exclusively to the new paper bags. Apple also tells employees to first ask if the customer would like a bag before giving them one, again looking to limit the number bags that it uses to begin with. The new bags are said to come in medium and large sizes.

While the design of the new Apple Store bags is still unclear, it’s certainly going to be a change for die-hard Apple fans that have come to love and collect the plastic Apple Store bags since they were introduced years ago.

For special occasions, Apple has introduced various other retail store bag designs. For instance, when the Apple Watch launched, the company used paper bags with colorful rope handles. It’s certainly possible that Apple will use a design similar to these for the new bags, but that’s unclear as of right now.

Furthermore, the gift cards that Apple has been giving out to customers who recycle their iOS device in the Apple Store have been revealed. A handful of these “Apple Renew” cards have hit eBay, with the seller explaining that you are given them when you go into a retail store to recycle an old device. The cards themselves are made out of recycled paper, as well.

Last month, Apple’s VP of environment, policy, and social initiatives Lisa Jackson detailed the company’s continued environmental efforts. Jackson noted that 93 percent of Apple’s worldwide operations are powered by renewable energy. Furthermore, Jackson noted of Liam, the company’s new automated robot that can dissemble iPhones down to their very basic components to then recycle them. Jackson also noted that all Apple packaging will eventually move to paper.

Apple will begin the switch to paper retail store bags on April 15th. You can see the note sent to employees below:

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Comments

  1. tbsteph (@tbsteph) - 8 years ago

    I love it – traditional plastic! Maybe it’s a tradition for Apple but paper bags were the only bags for many, many years everywhere else. That is, until someone decided paper was an environmental hazard (Well, at least in the sense paper comes from trees and we all know, chopping one down is harmful to mother earth.) If you live long enough everything seems to go in cycles – kind of like tie widths. Enjoy your environmentally sound bag!

    • Charlypollo - 8 years ago

      Lol wut?

    • jrgibson1 - 8 years ago

      Some people really need to be drug tested before going near a computer… What are you on about?

      • strawbis - 8 years ago

        Some people really need to comprehend what they’ve read before dismissing others’ comments out of hand. @tbsteph makes perfect sense if you know how to read.

    • jamessmooth - 8 years ago

      YES! I was coming here to write the same thing. Truly amazing how not long ago paper was bad.. SO BAD! And we had to get rid of it, so we started using plastic. Now, plastic is bad… SO BAD! So we have to get rid of it to use… paper?
      Our society is so funny sometimes (read: stupid).
      “if you live long enough everything seems to go in cycles” You nailed it my friend. History really does repeat itself.

      • Trendon Ellis - 8 years ago

        The issue is that when environmentalists were pushing to plastic we were not recycling nearly as much as we are today, also we were using less environmentally sound logging processes. Now that we recycle(somewhat) and have stated to acquire timber in a better fashion, we have stopped focusing on the effect bags have on forests, and are starting to look at biodegradability and other factors.

    • Jurgis Ŝalna - 8 years ago

      I heard somewhere that some countries recycle too much paper, it’s just piling up as you still have to add at least 20% of fresh tree pulp.
      Also, from CO2 perspective, plastic containers have less environmental effect.

      • Trendon Ellis - 8 years ago

        While you make a valid point, the issue is that recycling paper while moving to plastic causes the pileup. Also, losing a plastic bag in the street causes problems for years, losing a paper bag creates a biodegradable pile of soggy goo at the first sign of water, much better(environmentally). A reused plastic bag is better than a wasted paper one, however people, Americans especially, rarely reuse bags and wasted paper is far better than wasted plastic.

  2. ifunography - 8 years ago

    I support this move.

    Let’s leave the world in a better state than it was when we came into it.

  3. standardpull - 8 years ago

    I didn’t like those Apple plastic bags much. I’d like nice, robust reusable shopping bags like I can buy at many retailers. They are very useful, long-lived, washable, and greatly repurpose-able.

  4. Jake Becker - 8 years ago

    I despise bags, and their 1 hour life, and how everyone seems to need one all of the time for the smallest of items, but at least they can be not complete wastes.

  5. kpom1 - 8 years ago

    I’m not sure this is really more environmentally friendly. Paper bags take up more space and thus require more shipments to the store (in diesel-burning trucks). Also, the process of recycling uses energy, and the Apple plastic bags already were reusable (so they were allowed in cities like Chicago that have banned single-use plastic bags in another misguided attempt at environmentalism).

  6. taoprophet420 - 8 years ago

    I am sure all those bleached cardboard boxes iPhones, iPads and Macs come in are environmental friendly.

    They should switch packaging before switching the bags in the stores. 200 plus million iPhones in bleached white cardboard boxes a year.

    • jrgibson1 - 8 years ago

      Umm, you know Apple has done a lot around reducing waste when it comes to packaging. Perhaps you need to educate yourself before commenting.

      I have a great idea, how about we just head people a phone and the charger and have NO packaging.

  7. Rob Miller - 8 years ago

    First sentence is missing a “not”. Apple has *NOT* always been known for putting a huge focus on the environment. Steve Jobs famously was unwilling to spend 1 penny on anything environmentally friendly of company funds. Very inaccurate as written.

  8. cydianerd - 8 years ago

    I am not so sure about these environmental friendly bags, as they require more space and it will cost more in shipping these bags.

  9. pdixon1986 - 8 years ago

    ok…so paper is easier to recycle and doesnt use harmful chemicals found in plastic – so thats a plus… but i thought the excessive use of paper was also bad for the environment – instead of for landfill sites, it’s bad for forests and the animals that live there…

    Why doesnt the company invest in eco bags — youre already paying a lot for apple products so why don’t they offer you eco apple branded tote bags to take your goods home (apple will of course charge for these) so everyone is happy (you can get cotton and natural fibre without damaging the environment… you get a nice tote bag…apple get money)

  10. vkd108 - 8 years ago

    #176
    This is just another sly move to gain your favour. Of course, they are still hand-in-hand with the insidious jews who are ruling society, degrading society, de-culturising society, mongrolising society, turning citizens into mixed race clueless fools, blithering about with vastly overpriced bits of so-called technology in their hands, a senseless head full of mush, constantly perturbed by those ruling jews and their octopus arms involved in all media and politics and of course the lowlife that attack and maim and kill due to severe bewilderment, anger and brainwashing. Yes, Rothschilds, you are at the top of the pile, we know.

    • strawbis - 8 years ago

      I’ve read only two stories today thus far, and in the comments on both you’re hung up on “Jews”. Don’t you realise the only education you’re imparting is concerning the current state of your mental health?

    • Wow. You fall off you’re meds?

  11. Alex Hammerstein - 8 years ago

    The town where I live – Modbury, Devon, UK – was the first town to ban plastic bags a few years ago. I am glad to see that Apple are now following our example :)

  12. Bryan Grammatico - 8 years ago

    Has anyone seen the new bags? It doesn’t seem like any Apple stores have them.

  13. PhilBoogie - 6 years ago

    Two years afterwards, my Apple Store still doesn’t use paper bags.

Author

Avatar for Chance Miller Chance Miller

Chance is an editor for the entire 9to5 network and covers the latest Apple news for 9to5Mac.

Tips, questions, typos to chance@9to5mac.com