Single-use plastics that were recently subject to growing municipal bans are now on the front lines of the COVID-19 response as retailers temporarily restrict the use of reusable items to help curb the spread of the coronavirus.
In Vancouver, the city’s first zero-waste grocery store is in the process of shifting to pick-up only after the pandemic halted its business model. “The zero waste movement I think has definitely taken a hit in the last few weeks,” said Nada co-founder and CEO Brianne Miller.
With shoppers no longer able to fill their own containers from the store’s more than 800 package-free and bulk selections, Nada is offering customers free, 100 per cent recycled paper bags, or jars for a deposit. “We have a lot of increased