COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – About one year after debuting reusable fabric grocery bags, Giant Eagle is switching back to plastic at most of its Columbus stores. 

In May 2024, the Pennsylvania-based grocery giant rolled out free fabric grocery bags in the Columbus area and some other U.S. markets, eliminating plastic bags. However, Giant Eagle claims customers did not use the fabric bags as intended.

“Unfortunately, we have not seen strong customer adoption of these reusable bags, with most not being reused and many likely being discarded after a single use,” a Giant Eagle spokesperson told NBC4. “With this learning – and knowing that the fabric bags are not recyclable – we believe a change in approach is warranted.”

Now, Columbus stores are switching back to plastic, but with a twist. The grocery chain has introduced a new plastic grocery bag made of 75% recycled plastic. The company estimates the new bags will result in a reduction of nearly 4 million pounds of plastic. 

“This new single-use plastic bag is reminiscent of the traditional plastic grocery bag customers have become accustomed to over the years, but with a significantly better environmental impact,” the spokesperson said. 

Giant Eagle’s fabric bags were launched in select markets across its five-state footprint, totaling nearly half of its approximately 200 supermarkets. Stores in the Erie, Pennsylvania, and Cuyahoga County, Ohio, markets are also switching back to plastic bags. Some areas Giant Eagle serves have city legislation prohibiting the use of single-use plastic, so the fabrics bags will remain in those areas.

The new plastic bags will be implemented in all Columbus-area stores except for Giant Eagle’s Bexley Market District Express, as the city has a plastic bag ban that took effect in 2022. The introduction of the new plastic bags at Columbus stores began this month, according to the company. 

Giant Eagle’s fabric bags were part of a larger initiative to reduce plastic waste — a common effort among grocery stores. Whole Foods stopped offering plastic bags in 2008, becoming the first American grocer to do so, according to the company. Trader Joe’s followed suit in 2019 and Aldi in 2023. Seven years ago, Kroger pledged to eliminate plastic bags in its stores by 2025, but that goal seemingly fell flat.