H-E-B celebrated Earth Day by giving away 200,000 colorful reusable bags to customers across Texas. On April 22, customers who visited any H-E-B in Texas were eligible to receive their complimentary Earth Day bag, which was designed by a San Antonio H-E-B Partner and made from recycled plastic bottles. Since 2008, H-E-B has given out more than two million reusable bags in celebration of Earth Day.

Recognized for its commitment to sustainable business practices and environmental stewardship, H-E-B has reusable bags available for customers year round. On Earth Day, customers received the first 100-percent recyclable bag for free, and shoppers had the option to purchase additional Earth Day bags for $1.50 each.

This year, H-E-B Partners (employees) provided the inspiration for the art featured on the Earth Day bag. As part of an internal art contest, the company received dozens of creative designs and chose a colorful composition by Julia Rojas, a 10-year H-E-B Partner who has a degree in Graphic Design from the University of Texas – Pan American. The McAllen-native’s design, Earth Day is Homegrown, features a rising sun shining over a field of bluebonnets and an intricately-designed state of Texas with symbols of eco-friendly activities incorporated into the illustration.

On top of the free bag giveaway, H-E-B stores across the state held family-friendly events, tree plantings and community cleanups to celebrate Earth Day. Additionally, stores have teamed with local schools to hold a recycling initiative to see who can collect the most plastic bags.

“Throughout the year, H-E-B educates our customers on ways to be environmentally conscious,” said Winell Herron, Vice President of Public Affairs, Diversity and Environmental Affairs. “As an environmental steward, we are always looking for ways to improve how we minimize waste, conserve energy and water, and protect air quality – positive decisions that benefit our environment, making everyday Earth Day.”

Last month, H-E-B launched a donation campaign to benefit EarthShare of Texas, a nonprofit that supports more than 70 respected environmental and conservation groups. Through April 30, customers can choose to donate $1, $3 or $5 at checkout to benefit the organization. Over the past decade, shoppers have raised $950,000 through the donation campaign. Additionally, H-E-B provides year-round support to several environmental organizations such as Keep Texas Beautiful and its Keep Texas Waterways Clean and Green Bag Grant programs.

As a company, H-E-B diverted more than 473 million pounds of waste from landfills in 2018 by recycling materials including cardboard, plastics, office paper, food waste, metals and truck tires. Our Organic Diversion Programs have diverted more than 47 million pounds of organics from landfills to compost, animal feed and landscaping applications. More about H-E-B’s environmental efforts can be found at H-E-B Newsroom.