Loblaw customers use five billion fewer plastic shopping bags

Reduction underscores company's aim of respecting the environment

BRAMPTON, ON, April 9, 2013 /CNW/ - (TSX: L) - Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw) is proud to announce that with the support of their customers they have reduced the number of plastic shopping bags from their stores nationally by more than five billion since 2007. This reduction is a part of one of Loblaw's five principles of corporate social responsibility, Respect the Environment, and emphasizes its commitment to waste diversion.

"We started with a target of one billion just over three years ago. To have hit five billion fewer plastic bags this quickly says we are on the right track," says Bob Chant, senior vice-president, Corporate Affairs and Communication, Loblaw Companies Limited. "As one of Canada's leading retailers, we believe it is important to help look after the health of our environment and lead by example."

Since 2009 through to and including 2013, Loblaw has donated $5 million to WWF-Canada through partial proceeds from the sale of plastic shopping bags in their stores. These funds are invested in a variety of initiatives to help promote environmental sustainability and raise awareness. These funds help support programs that engage Canadians to positively affect the environment.

• Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup™- WWF-Canada and Vancouver Aquarium have embarked on the largest shoreline cleanup project in Canada to engage thousands of Canadians annually to clean up their local shorelines through removal of shoreline litter. Loblaw has been a presenting sponsor since 2011.
• National Sweater Day™ - Designed to demonstrate how simple changes in behaviour at work and at home can help our planet. In partnership with WWF-Canada, Loblaw corporate and participating franchise stores across Canada turned down their store thermostats by three degrees Celsius on February 7. Loblaw has been the presenting sponsor since 2010. In 2013, Loblaw had more than 700 stores, 31 store support centres and distribution centre offices and a total of 55,000 colleagues and employees that participated in National Sweater Day.
• Green CommUnity School Grants - Funded by Loblaw, the WWF-Canada Green CommUnity School Grants Program has awarded grants totalling $600,000 over three years to Canadian schools for environmental projects.
  

"WWF commends Loblaw for great leadership in helping Canadians make more eco-friendly choices in their shopping bags, home energy use and education," says Hadley Archer, vice-president, Strategic Partnerships, WWF-Canada. "We are excited to continue working with Loblaw to help Canadians live more sustainable lives."

In 2007, Loblaw became one of the first retailers to introduce bagless stores. These stores welcome customers to bring in any type of reusable shopping bag or box to pack their groceries. To date, Loblaw has seven stores across Canada where plastic shopping bags are not available.

Please visit www.loblaw-reports.ca to find out more information about Loblaw Corporate Social Responsibility. The 2012 Loblaw CSR Report will be available as of May 2^nd 2013.

About Loblaw Companies Limited

Loblaw Companies Limited, a subsidiary of George Weston Limited, is Canada's largest food retailer and a leading provider of drugstore, general merchandise and financial products and services. Loblaw is one of the largest private sector employers in Canada. With more than 1,000 corporate and franchised stores from coast to coast, Loblaw and its franchisees employ more than 134,000 full-time and part-time employees. Through its portfolio of store formats, Loblaw is committed to providing Canadians with a wide, growing and successful range of products and services to meet the everyday household demands of Canadian consumers. Loblaw is known for the quality, innovation and value of its food offering. It offers Canada's strongest control (private) label program, including the unique President's Choice^®, no name^® and Joe Fresh^® brands. In addition, the Company makes available to consumers President's Choice Financial^® services and offers the PC^® points loyalty program.

SOURCE: Loblaw Companies Limited

Public Relations Department, Loblaw Companies Limited
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