Pharmasave helps customers go "Green" with new biodegradable bags

New bags are 100 per cent biodegradable and fully recyclable

• Pharmasave is the first Canadian pharmacy chain to introduce biodegradable bags
• Over 400 Pharmasave stores in nine provinces will replace all plastic bags at the checkout counters with biodegradable bags
• Pharmasave's new Biodegradable Bag program will prevent approximately 20 million plastic bags from potentially hitting the landfills each year

Vancouver, British Columbia - Pharmasave is the first national pharmacy chain in Canada to introduce 100 per cent biodegradable bags. Starting the week of July 21, 2008, over 400 Pharmasave stores in nine provinces will begin replacing all plastic bags at the checkout counters with biodegradable bags.

"Pharmasave is committed to being an environmentally responsible company and we are demonstrating this commitment by making all of our bags biodegradable and recyclable," said Sue Paish, CEO of Pharmasave. "We recognize that consumer awareness is growing and more people are looking for green options. These new bags are a sign of more initiatives to come from Pharmasave to help our customers reduce their ecological footprint, and to make it easy and convenient for them to take part."

Pharmasave's new Biodegradable Bag program will prevent approximately 20 million plastic bags from potentially hitting the landfills each year. Costing an estimated five per cent more to produce than regular shopping bags, the move to replace the old bags with the new environmentally friendly bags is an investment to sustain the environment. Customers can also participate in the company's existing Reusable Bag program by purchasing a bag made from 100 per cent recycled post-consumer waste.

"We are proud and excited to give our customers the opportunity to make an environmentally sound step each and every time they shop at one of our Pharmasave locations," added Paish.

In addition to being biodegradable in landfills they also biodegrade in home composts. Depending on conditions, the Pharmasave bags typically take between nine months to five years to disintegrate compared to regular plastic bags that can take hundreds of years or more to decompose in a landfill.

A unique feature of the new Pharmasave bags is that they are also recyclable - not typical of most biodegradable bags. While the bags are better for the environment, Pharmasave still encourages its customers to reuse them as much as possible to decrease the amount of energy that is used to produce all bags.

About Pharmasave

With more than 400 stores in nine provinces, Pharmasave is one of Canada's leading independent pharmacy and drugstore retailers. Since being founded in 1981, Pharmasave has focused on building a national platform of community based retail outlets designed to provide customers with exceptional service, products and advice.

Each Pharmasave store operates to serve its individual community, which ensures both programs and services tailored to the needs of local customers and a commitment to helping all customers Live Well With Pharmasave.

For more information and photos, please contact:
Georgia Tsoromocos
NATIONAL Public Relations
604-691-7394
gtsoromocos@national.ca