Navy Exchange Celebrates 65 with Eco-Friendly Bags

By Kristine M. Sturkie, Navy Exchange Service Command Public Affairs

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va (NNS) -- Navy Exchange (NEX) stores world wide are selling eco-friendly reusable bags as part of NEX's 65th anniversary and Earth Day, April 21.

The NEX 4RPLANETBAG, which will sell for 65 cents, is made of 100 percent recyclable fabrics and is 100 percent carbon neutral.

"Statistics show that consumers worldwide use 500 billion to one trillion plastic bags annually, of which only five percent are recycled," said Denise Pearson, Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) corporate service buyer. "The NEX reusable bags are a great alternative to plastic and paper bags. They are inexpensive and stylish to carry."

As part of NEX's ongoing commitment to the environment, NEXs gives a credit of five cents for each eco-friendly reusable bag used to bag a customer's purchase.

NEXs worldwide have sold more than 500,000 eco-friendly reusable bags since 2007. With this initiative, along with the refund and a re-emphasis on cashier techniques for bagging, the NEX Command hopes to dramatically reduce the amount of plastic bags used in its stores.