In December 2023, the Government of Canada will outlaw single-use plastics across the country, including Calgary Co-op’s 100% compostable shopping bags. This is despite the fact that our bags contain no plastic whatsoever and are engineered to break down at local composting facilities within a 28-day timeframe. Our bags are extremely popular with Calgary Co-op members and are often re-used as bin liners for household organic waste, constituting a second use. Furthermore, the federal ban as it stands now allows for Calgary Co-op to sell its compostable bags on store shelves but prevents them from selling these same bags a few feet away at the checkout, which makes little sense and does very little to limit their use.

Calgary Co-op and our members would like to send a clear message to Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault that our compostable bags do not constitute single-use plastic and are therefore worthy of an exemption to the upcoming ban. If you agree, please add your name to the petition below and help us keep compostable bags in Calgary!