Walmart is Going Bagless in Some States

Misbar has discovered the internet chatter about Walmart going bagless is most likely in response to an initiative that the Walmart corporation is taking on July 1, 2021 in the state of Maine. According to Maine radio station 92 Moose, on July 7, 2021, they posted information that there will be no more bags in Walmart stores in Maine. 

A Walmart spokesperson told CBS 13: “With that ban soon taking effect, Walmart is converting all Maine stores to bagless on July 1. This decision only further demonstrates the company’s commitment to advancing sustainable initiatives that support people and the environment and to its ongoing efforts to target zero emissions in its global operations by 2040.”

This is not the first venture into bagless retailing for Walmart according to their corporate website. By the end of December 2020, over 72% of Walmart stores in Mexico were not providing plastic bags. Earlier this year, Walmart stores in Vermont also went bagless according to the Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center.

Walmart is committed to exploring ways to eventually replace the plastic bag nationwide with their “beyond the bag" initiative. They have joined a consortium with CVS Health, Target and others to reinvent the plastic retail bag. In the meantime, they will pilot initiatives in different markets to gauge feedback and possible solutions.