In an effort to promote their environmental commitment, big box mega-retailer Wal-Mart has announced their efforts in working with the Global Plastic Shopping Bag Commitment program.  Along with the Clinton Global Initiative and The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), the global giant stands to make a serious dent in the plastic shopping bag waste.

This commitment could eliminate 9 million plastic shopping bags per year from Wal-Mart stores. The EDF will help Wal-Mart develop strategies for recycling, reusing and reducing the use of plastic bags in its stores by an average of one-third per store (from 2008 levels) by 2013.  An estimated 290,000 tonnes of carbon emissions and energy consumption equal to 678,000 barrels of oil will be eliminated through this action.

For more information on how you can do your part to save paper/plastic and use more eco-friendly/reusable bags go to www.reusablebags.com.