Gloucester Road, in North Bristol has launched the GRAB campaign to go plastic bag free!
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Download a letter to send to chain stores!
To mark International Plastic Bag Free Day we are asking people to contact some or all of the chain-stores represented on Gloucester Road, and to challenge them over their provision of plastic bags.
Above you will find a link to download a sample letter. Please feel free to personalise it, or if pressed for time, copy as is. Remember to add the store name and your own contact details at the top and bottom of your letters.
Whether you decide to email or post the letters, the companies are obliged to send you a reply, and we'd love to see them! Please forward any email responses that you receive to: grab.campaign@gmail.com.
2009 Update:
It's been a year since GRAB launched in September 2009, and really great things have happened in that time!
Hundreds of thousands of plastic bags have been saved from use along Gloucester Road already. Scoopaway have used 36,000 fewer bags than in the previous year and Joe's Bakery gave out 18,000 fewer.
Major reductions of well over 80% have also been seen in, amongst other places, The Breadstore, La Ruca, Totally Toys, St Peter's Hospice Shop and Bishopston Books.
There have been significant decreases in bag use, of at least 50%, in many other stores including: Bristol Tools, Dave Giles the Butcher, Pearces Hardware, Harvest, The Amnesty Bookshop, Murray's, Bishopston Hardware, Area 51 and Craftworks.
Please continue to congratulate all those shops and businesses that are involved in pushing this initiative forward. Notable additional examples also include: Iota, Sage, Playfull Toys, Brewer's Droop, Born, Bishopston Trading Company and Cartrige Right. The Law Shop and 18a Productions have also been indispensable.
Of course none of this could have happened without you, and your simple commitment to bring your own bag. So thank you, and please keep spreading the word to unreformed friends and local businesses!
What GRAB is all about and why we want to go plastic bag free
Which shops and businesses have signed the plastic-free-pledge (there are new ones added everyday!)
Where to find specific goods and services along Gloucester Road, in those outlets supporting the GRAB campaign, with links to their own websites
How GRAB is organising its plastic bag free campaign, and advice for other groups wanting to do the same
What you can do: Sign a shoppers' pledge, let us know what you think of the campaign and Gloucester Road etc.
Who helped us with the campaign so generously, and the services they provide
Which websites we found helpful, or think are relevent to the local area, plastic bag free campaigning etc...
What the launch party was like - lots of music, special events in shops, fun and games... see the photos
And that's about it! Please feel free to feedback any comments/ info/ tips etc.- we're all learning on the job!