In a surprising move, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has directed the LCBO to reinstate paper bags in its retail stores, just one year after the Crown corporation had eliminated them. The decision, announced via email on the evening of April 7, caught top LCBO executives off guard and set off a scramble to procure new supplies.
The LCBO had initially stopped offering paper bags in April 2023, a move intended to save 135 million paper bags annually and divert more than 2,600 tonnes of waste from landfills. However, Premier Ford’s directive, citing the financial burden on customers who would have to provide their own bags, reversed this decision.
“Last night, I was surprised to receive a letter from Premier Ford directing the LCBO to take immediate steps to reverse the decision to remove paper bags from our retail locations,” LCBO CEO George Soleas wrote to board members on April 8. “We were confident in making this move — which was approved by the government.”
The LCBO had terminated its contract with its previous supplier when it stopped offering paper bags. In response to the Premier’s order, the Crown corporation has posted a call for bids for a new supplier, with the deadline extended to June 17.
“While the removal of paper bags did reduce operational costs, this was about minimizing our impact on the environment,” Soleas noted. “Paper bags can be recycled, but they are not made from recycled material, so there is still an environmental impact.”