Environmental Programs
Did you know that each year, an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide? That comes out to over one million per minute. Billions end up as litter each year. Jer’s Vision is committed to improving environmental sustainability within local communities and has sought to address leading environmental concerns through actively supporting youth based initiatives such as the Bring Your Own Bag Campaign (BYOB).
Initiated in the fall of 2007, BYOB is a youth driven campaign aiming
to reduce the use of non-recyclable plastic bags in Canada.
Currently, two levels of participation are offered:
(1) The first level of participation involves businesses providing either
a 1$ or 1% off discount to customers who bring their own reusable bag. In
return, businesses are provided with advertising space on the Jer’s
Vision website and sponsorship status with the organization.
(2) The second level of participation seeks to promote awareness of the program
and plastic bag use within the community. This involves businesses displaying
a BYOB support sticker in their window and encouraging the use of recyclable
bags amongst its clientele. In return for this level of participation, businesses
are provided with advertising space on the Jer’s Vision website.
Businesses Currently Participating in BYOB
Coming Soon…
Plastic Bag Facts:
- According to the EPA, over 380 billion plastic bags, sacks and
wraps are consumed in the U.S. each year.
- According to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. goes through 100 billion
plastic shopping bags annually. (Estimated cost to retailers is $4 billion)
- According to the industry publication Modern Plastics, Taiwan consumes 20
billion bags a year - 900 per person.
- According to Australia's Department of Environment, Australians consume
6.9 billion plastic bags each year - 326 per person. An estimated 0.7% or
49,600,000 end up as litter each year.
For more information, please contact us at: byob@jersvision.org
