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Apple eliminates plastic bags from retail stores

updated 10:55 am EDT, Mon March 9, 2009

Apple ditches plastic bags


Apple has put a formal end to the use of plastic bags in its retail stores, say reports. Instead of giving bags to customers for taking products home, the company is now said to be offering help to carry large collections of goods to a person's car. As an alternative, people can ask Apple clerks to hold on to various items while they continue shopping at other outlets in a mall.

The shift is said to be a part of Apple's push towards appearing green in the public eye, which has involved eliminating toxins from its products and reducing the amount of packaging used. More recently the company has taken to promoting the energy efficiency of its computers, for instance noting that the updated Mac mini consumes only 13W when idling. The decision to remove bags from retail may also be connected to municipal laws, however, namely a ban in San Francisco, which is home to a number of Apple Stores and not far from the company's Cupertino headquarters.

The switch coincides with a reported fire sale on older hardware, triggered by the arrival of new Mac desktops including the Mini. Such sales are not being advertised, but those looking to buy a new machine are allegedly being offered the choice of an old one at a sharp discount in order to clear out inventory; the company typically tries to eliminate old stock before introducing new gear. Third-party resellers are said to be selling older iMacs for as much as $300 to $500 less.


by MacNN Staff

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Comments

  1. dynsight

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: May 2005

    +1

    nice bags

    Funny, Apple Bags were actually a bit thicker than most bags, and had the rope handles. I often reused them several times... for storage, carrying things about or even cat pans (hmmm, Testudo will make a comment about THAT).

    Oh well, ultimately, it is the decision better for the environment.

    Paper apple bags, or No bags at all? Article sounds like bags will be completely eliminated.

    Actually, may make sense, since most people go to the Apple Retail Stores and only buy one or two items (anecdotal evidence only).

  1. mullum

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Oct 2007

    +6

    appearing ?

    "Apple's push towards appearing green in the public eye"

    surely if it was about appearance they would be making false claims, but these are actual green changes, not just appearing to be changes.

  1. byRyan

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jun 2007

    +8

    love those bags

    What!! I love those bags. I keep everyone of them and always re-use them because they are so sturdy. They're the best bags in the retail business. I am going to go to the apple store and see if I can get some extra before they are all gone!

  1. ttrostel

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jul 2007

    +7

    What !!??

    Thats great until you get home and have to carry many small items into your house or place of business.

    Using the right kind of plastic is also ... ironically ... highly recyclable. This seems to be a case of trying to do the right thing for the wrong reasons. How about a free apple backpack when you buy enough merchandise? Feel free to send me a free backpack for suggesting the idea .

  1. tcphoto

    Junior Member

    Joined: Oct 2004

    +2

    Paper, plastic, Employee?

    I think the policy is good. Ten days ago, I was at Lenox Square in Atlanta and noticed two Apple employees with hand trucks helping customers with their iMac and 30" display to their vehicles. It simply made the buying experience more appropriate to the amount of money spent.

  1. bsnoel

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Feb 2006

    +2

    Not Cool!

    I'll agree, that plastic may be a bad choice of material for the environment. But, why not switch to paper, instead of making things difficult for the customer? This is a bad idea IMHO.

  1. cmoney

    Mac Enthusiast

    Joined: Sep 2000

    +6

    Ack

    Wonder if this goes for NYC stores too? I was there Friday night and got a bag for my 3 items. Without a bag, there's no way I would've been able to walk home with them.

  1. robert_myers

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jan 2008

    +2

    Will they fix shipping?

    I've gotten a keyboard in a box big enough to ship a computer.

  1. rytc

    Senior User

    Joined: Jan 2001

    0

    Good idea

    The days of plastic bags for everything should be over. In Europe it is normal for people to bring their own reusable fabric bags for groceries or shopping at stores such as the Apple Store. There's no need for these disposable plastic bags. Buy a fabric one and use it for the next 10 years, it's time people thought more about the world we live in and do things to reduce their footprint. Reusing a bag is hardly a difficult step to make. Now the next one, how about catching the bus next time you go shopping...

    Comment buried. Show
  1. MyRightEye

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Apr 2008

    -11

    i am sick

    of you damn greenies making s*** like this happen. Those bags got reused and reused all the time. The science is in, global warming was and is a damn hoax, and you science deniers had better get with it or there's going to be a backlash from the thinking (not believing) people real soon.

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