Meijer selling organic mini carrots in new compostable bags

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WJRT) - Meijer is the first retailer nationwide to sell a brand of organic mini peeled carrots that come in a fully compostable bag.

Bolthouse Farms, which packages the Earthbound Farm brand of carrots for Meijer's 500 locations across the Midwest, began offering a clear bag made of canola and soy.

An international organization certified that the bags will biodegrade by 90% in 26 weeks and by 100% in under a year if composted in a backyard heap or bin.

"We've been clear and vocal with our suppliers that we want to offer more sustainable packaging options, and if they can develop the packaging, we will partner with them," said Ron Lovelace, director of produce for Meijer.

Meijer already offers a How2Recycle label on 100% of its 500 True Goodness store brand items, which provides consumers information on how they can properly dispose of the package so it can be recycled.

The company is transitioning all Meijer store brand items to recyclable, reusable or compostable packaging. 

"We're committed to partnering with our suppliers on innovations that push the industry forward," said Erik Petrovskis, director of environmental compliance and sustainability at Meijer. "We're willing to go the extra mile to do what is right for the environment around us not because we have to, but because it's the right thing to do."