Thursday, 10 October, 2019 – The MarketPlace Ltd has jointly collaborated with local grocers – Lindo’s, The Supermart and Harrington Hungreds – and insurer/reinsurer AXA XL to launch a green initiative to help reduce single-use grocery bags. Customers will receive one free bag with purchases over $50, and a maximum of two free bags with purchases of $100 or more. The front and back panels of the bags feature artwork, by local photographer Meredith Andrews, of plastic waste found on the island’s shoreline. This iniaticve, as part of AXA XL’s commitment to stem the tide of ocean risk, was launched to educate the public on ocean protection.

Patrick Tannock, CEO of AXA XL’s Bermuda Insurance Operations and President of AXA XL’s Bermuda-based philanthropic unit, the XL Foundation, said: “Research has shown that 80 percent of all marine debris is plastic and that by the year 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean. By collaborating with many of the island’s grocers in this new initiative we aim to increase greater awareness and understanding of how we all can and must do our part to protect the ocean for ourselves and future generations.” Read full statement here.

Seth Stutzman, President of The MarketPlace group of stores, said: “We are in full support of this initiative. As part of our ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability we are working aggressively to eliminate single-use plastics, continue to offer environmentally safe products for our customers and have introduced biodegradable take-out containers for our food court. The bags will be provided to customers for our online ordering service in addition to in-store availability.”