Publix "green bags" gain popularity

LAKELAND, Fla. “Green bags” have become very popular at Publix supermarkets. In an effort to save the environment, the company introduced the reusable bags two months ago.

The bags are sold for $1.49 each and are so popular that they have sold out at some locations. The reason for the environmentally friendly bags was that, "Some customers were looking for alternatives to plastic bags, something reusable," said Anne Hendricks, a Publix spokesperson.

The key to this change of bagging groceries is that according to Worldwatch Institute, Americans discard 100 million plastic bags annually, which requires 12 million barrels of oil to produce.