Kroger Invites Shoppers to Design Reusable Bags

CINCINNATI — In the lead-up to Earth Day, Kroger Co. here is inviting customers to participate in its annual “Design a Reusable Shopping Bag” online contest.

Beginning April 12 and running through May 21, customers can go online at www.kroger.com/green to submit their designs for Kroger's reusable grocery bags.

The winning designer will receive a $1,000 gift card and a chance to see the bag design sold in Kroger stores. In addition, four finalists will be awarded a $250 Kroger gift card and five runners-up will receive a $100 Kroger gift card.

During the contest, anyone who designs a bag and has a valid shopper card will receive an electronic coupon for a free reusable bag (99-cent value) loaded directly to their card, where applicable. Kroger has also partnered with Cafe Press so participating designers can purchase a reusable bag with their own design on it.

In 2009, Kroger and its subsidiary chains sold an average of nearly 13,000 reusable shopping bags per day. Every reusable bag has the potential to save 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime.

"By using more reusable shopping bags and engaging in more efficient bagging techniques, Kroger customers and associates diverted nearly 200 million plastic bags from local landfills — about 20% toward our goal of saving 1 billion plastic bags," said Lynn Marmer, group vice president of corporate affairs for Kroger.

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