In collaboration with Meijer, Dow has enabled a new paving technique using recycled plastic bags to create a more durable parking lot for the retailer's Holland, Michigan supercenter. This recycled polymer modified asphalt parking lot is a three-phase pilot project that used approximately 12,500 pounds of post-consumer recycled plastic, which is the equivalent weight of 944,000 plastic grocery bags.
This project brings recycled plastic bags full circle, and also represents a long-term collaboration between two Michigan companies working toward a more sustainable future.
"Meijer operates under the philosophy that to be a good company, we must be a good neighbor and that often means working with other likeminded companies on a common goal," said Rick Keyes, president & CEO of Meijer, in a statement. "We are committed to lessening our impact on the environment and are pleased to partner with our customers and Dow in the largest in-state project of this kind to better demonstrate our commitment to a circular economy through recycling and reusing plastic to better ensure a more sustainable future."
All of the recycled plastic used for the parking lot pilot project was deposited by Meijer customers through the retailer's in-store plastic film recycling program. In 2014, Meijer placed a collection bin inside the front entrances of each of its stores for customers to deposit clean, dry plastic bags and films, including single use, bread, dry cleaning, produce and water softener bags. This year, Meijer expects to recycle 6 million pounds of plastics through this program.
"Lessening our impact on the environment through increased recycling efforts is an issue that's important to us, which is why we believe this pilot project is just one of the ways we can bring our current recycling efforts full circle while improving our customer shopping experience," said Vik Srinivasan, senior vice president of properties and real estate at Meijer.
Related: EPA Recognizes Meijer for Sustainable Freight Supply Chain; Kroger Expands Recycling Program.